January 7, 2019

Keystone Adventure Here We Come

Keystone Adventure – the Road Trip

This is part of a series of sponsored posts. Keystone Resorts provided complimentary activities for our family to enjoy during our stay.

Keystone Adventure: Day 1

For years, the boys have begged for a “cold vacation.” They wanted snow, skiing, snowboarding, pond hockey, and sledding. They wanted hot coco, and apple cider! So, after a little research and planning, we chose Keystone, Colorado for our first venture into the world of winter vacations. Being on a budget means flying at Christmas is out of the picture. Road trip it is! Mapping out our route we realized 16 hours in a car, longer with stops for gas and food, was not a good plan. I don’t know about you, but I can only handle so many, “Are we there yet? He’s on my side! He’s looking at me. He’s touching me!” If we were to do all 16 hours, longer with stops, I don’t know for sure that we all would survive the trip. The half way point was Amarillo, Texas.

We left before sunrise. The boys slept in the car for a large part of the morning. We stopped for a late breakfast/early lunch at Whataburger. We ventured into the local Wal-Mart to purchase spray paint to take to the Cadillac Ranch. Each boy got to choose a color to take out to spray paint the old cars that are part of a public art installation. It’s totally allowed and encouraged. You just don’t want to have to get your paint at the gas station nearest the Ranch. We paid about $4.00 a can at Wal-Mart for our Poppy Red, and Fluorescent Green paint. Also, it’s a good thing we went into the store with them. The boys aren’t old enough to purchase spray paint by themselves. I didn’t know you had to show ID to buy spray paint.
Coming soon – Check out my guest post on The Educational Tourist about cool stuff to do in Amarillo, Texas!

By the time we made it to Amarillo, we were all ready to be out of the car! And, boy had the temperature dropped! Between Houston and Amarillo we went from being in the upper 50’s to the upper 30’s!

Boys in front of big Texan Steak house — Everything’s bigger in Texas!

After we checked into the hotel, we had dinner at https://www.bigtexan.com/. The menu is huge with options for even the pickiest eater. They had a robust beer list, as well. We thought the “Whoop your Donkey” was the funniest name for a beer. Our steak was amazing! And, while we didn’t attempt the 72 oz. free steak challenge, we did see a guy giving it a try. You have one hour to eat a 72 oz. steak, 3 fried shrimp, a baked potato, a roll, and a small salad. My hubby watched for a bit. Apparently, you need a strategy. The guy divided all the food into four parts. If he ate one part every 15 minutes, he’d complete the challenge in the allotted hour and get it all for FREE! After we ate, and took in some of the Big Texan sights, we headed out to check out the Cadillac Ranch. The boys were most excited to spray paint cars and not get in trouble! After such a long day in the car, Amarillo provided a nice evening.

Keystone Adventure: Day 2

Up and going the next morning, we drove through a ton of little towns. Realizing gas stations can be few and far between we opted to get gas if we were at half a tank, and came across a gas station. I can tell you when a community is known for cattle, or chicken processing – you do not want to get stuck there! Wow! That was a smell like no other. We crossed into New Mexico, and watched the sunrise behind us over the Rita Blanca Grasslands.

Sunrise over the grasslands in New Mexico.

After hours of boys watching downloaded videos on their phones, a few games of Uno, a round of pop-culture trivia, we were ready for a break. By lunch, we were almost to Denver. We managed to to get the boys to hold out until the Mile High City. We all needed to stretch our legs, and the Denver Diner provided the perfect opportunity. We had a great lunch and got to see the Mile High Stadium. My hubby gets excited about seeing football stadiums. He was bound and determined to get a photo. I realize the photo isn’t the best, but when the husband is doing 70 mph on a freeway in Denver while insisting, “Take a picture! Take a picture!” It’s the best I could do. It’s the same with the frozen waterfall. “Hey! Hey! Hey! Look at that! Did you get a picture!?!” And….”Don’t forget to watch for the Air Force Stadium. I really want a picture! It should be coming up. Do you have the camera ready? Boys – get your phones ready! Harley, I think it’s on your side. Did you get one?” Does anyone else practice photography this way?

Denver’s Mile High Stadium
Denver Diner’s Club Sandwich!

Frozen waterfall & wagon wheel
Air Force Stadium

Keystone Adventure: SNOW!!!!

So, if you know anyone from Houston, or the Southeast Gulf Coast area, you know they don’t see snow. Even if it “snows” it usually turns to light tan sludge pretty quickly. It isn’t light, fluffy, deep, powdery snow. And, while we are experienced at driving through torrential, hurricane wind and rain; we shut down everything at the first sign of snow or ice. Before leaving, we did make sure I had all weather tires. Side note: I didn’t know they made different tires for different seasons. A friend from Denver asked what kind of tires I had. My response, “Round, rubber, black ones.” Also, we (meaning the hubby) made sure to add antifreeze to wherever that goes. The one thing we forgot…..the water for cleaning your windshield. Evidently, there is a chemical you can add to it to prevent freezing. We forgot to add that part. So. . . . this was the view from our front windshield once it really started snowing:

At first we could see snow capped mountains. Before too long, snow was everywhere. It was snowing!

Snowing!

Not being familiar with the area, or the various routes, we followed along with the navigation system. We ended up on the Loveland Pass. If there were guard rails, they were covered in snow, or maybe there were no guard rails. There were ominous warning signs about falling rocks, and avalanches! The road was icy, and the route was a series of zigzag, hair pin turns around and up the side of the mountain. Even at 15 mph, we still slid a few times. If we had gone off the road, we either would land in the snow covered trees, or plummet to our death. For a while we had a slow moving snowplow in front of us. You can see it in the photo through our filthy front windshield. We were thankful for the sand he was putting down on the road. But eventually, he pulled off to the side to help a tanker truck. We were left to continue our perilous journey at a turtle’s pace. I can only imagine what the local drivers thought of this crazy Texas family moving along at 10 to 15 mph. We survived the heart pounding, white-knuckle gripping, treacherous ride through the pass. After about 30 minutes to get through the pass, praying the whole entire time , our hotel was a welcome sight! Of course my husband had to quote the movie “The Hangover” with, “But, did you die?”

Thankfully, we didn’t plummet to our death, or land in the snow covered trees because our true adventures were just getting started!

More adventures found @ http://adventuresbymom.com/keystone-adventure-we-made-it-now-what/

January 2, 2019

Adventure Awaits: Skiing in Keystone, Colorado

This is the first of a series of sponsored posts. Keystone Resorts provided complimentary activities for our family to enjoy during our stay.

My boys have begged for years to take a “cold vacation.” They want to go where it snows. Harley wants to snowboard, and Harrison wants to ski, snowboard, and play pond hockey. Reading about and seeing all the photos from my sister and cousin’s travels inspired me to venture outside my comfort zone; to see the world beyond the house of the mouse (aka Disney); to try new things.

My sister, Julie- the self-proclaimed slacker mom, went to Keystone, Colorado last year. My niece and nephew had a blast! The photos were beautiful. There were no major catastrophes. She said they had everything you could want or need in a small area, and plenty of resident experts to help newbies. Snow – check; skiing – check; snowboarding – check; pond hockey – check. Looks like this could work. We decided to give it a go.

The 5 acre lake at Keystone Resort and Spa. — A frozen 5 acre lake is perfect for a pick up game of pond hockey!

I reached out to https://www.keystoneresort.com/ for information about ski vacations. They were super helpful, and incredibly knowledgeable. Once we had our dates narrowed down, they provided recommendations of places to stay, along with information about ski lessons, snow tubing, and other activities. I was grateful for the suggestions!

I knew skiing, like other sports, requires specific equipment. Pants/ski bibs, jackets, boots, hats, helmets, goggles, gloves, multiple layers with moisture wicking, and special socks that are thin and stay dry. I had no idea how much it would be to outfit a family of 4. We were going to need a small loan! Thank goodness for friends with children about the same size who are willing to loan out their gear. With the exception of a few odds and ends, I think we have everything for everyone covered.

We’ve mapped out our route, so we have a general idea of where we are going. We plan to drive from Houston to Amarillo. Take in some local Amarillo sights such as the Cadillac Ranch, and the Big Tex. The next morning we’ll head to Keystone. Google shows the drive to be sixteen hours without stops. Hopefully breaking it into two days will help. I’ll be sharing our adventures, along with what I learned on three different blogs – all from a different point of view and for a different purpose. You can follow along with me at http://adventuresbymom.com/ , https://theeducationaltourist.com/, and https://pixiedustqueen.com/.

Our adventure begins now! http://keystone-adventure-road-trip

August 7, 2018

Back to School: Are you a boo hoo, or a woo hoo?

Boo Hoo, or Woo Hoo

Back to School: Two kinds of moms

Over the years, I’ve noticed there are two kinds of moms when it comes to school starting each fall. There are the moms who are looking forward to their littles venturing back into the world of academia. They are the Woo Hoo moms. Then, there are the moms who dread the first day of school. They are super worried, and anxious about what will happen when their little steps into that building we call the school. Some moms know exactly which category they fall in, while others aren’t exactly sure. Let’s see what characteristics and activities you identify with to help determine if you are a Boo Hoo, or a Woo Hoo.

Back to School: Boo Hoo

You might be a Boo Hoo mom if:

You dread the school year starting.

You are anxious about letting your little one go, to the point that every time you think about it – you end up in tears. You think homeschooling is a great option, except you really don’t have the resources. You’ve been known to cancel date night with the hubby because you couldn’t bear to be away from your little. You are hesitant to leave your little one with grandparents, or other trustworthy family members. Basically, the idea of your little one growing up sends you into a tailspin of anxiety and panic.

You don’t know what to do or who to be without kids underfoot.

You haven’t had time to yourself in so long…what will you do? How will you feel? You haven’t had any job that didn’t relate to your child in so long you can’t remember what it was like?

You love kid stuff so much you think your life will be boring.

You love colors and crayons and Barbies and bows. You love long conversations on your 3rd and 4th favorite dinosaurs. You dread having to talk to grown ups in the grocery store and without your little one to distract you…you might make eye contact with someone. They might want you to talk to them!

You are the ONLY one who understands your child.

You worry that no one will be able to understand your child and his/her needs. Who will listen? Who will know when they are hungry? Who will help them with their shoelaces and buttons and buckles?

You will be held to a higher standard of cooking and cleaning around the house.

Have you been using the mantra “Cleaning the house while the kids are at home is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos.”? (Yeah, me too.) Have you been saying you don’t have time to run those errands or make the bed or clean out the pantry because of the kids? Are you worried that now you’ll either need to clean the pantry or get a new excuse?

You’ll be expected to have a hobby or exercise.

People will ask you what you do with your free time and expect you to have something besides “look at pinterest” and “manage the dust bunnies” to say for it! Are you not ready to wear yoga pants like you just got back to the gym?

You will be asked to volunteer.

Do you panic at the thought of being asked to volunteer in the classroom? Do you panic at the thought of having to come up with Pinterest worthy ideas for games and teacher gifts?

Back to School: Woo Hoo!

You might be a Woo Hoo! mom if:

You count the days.

You start counting down the days until school starts – on the first day of summer. You have an entire months worth of lunches planned. School supplies purchased as soon as the first display goes up. New backpack and lunch kit bought in late July. You love your children, but they are exhausting to keep up with all day. You are elated to send them back to teachers, who can get their brains going and growing; back to coaches who will make them exercise; back to friends who entertain them. You have your annual “Back to School Brunch” already planned with some of the other Woo Hoo! moms.

You miss ‘me time’.

Summer means you can’t remember the last time you had your hair done and your makeup done. Summer means you have long, long long conversations about battles on Fortnite and memes. You watch other people play games on Youtube.

You miss exercising.

Summer means no schedule for exercise. You can’t button your pants because the kids hate staying at the kid’s area of the gym and they insist on cookies for snacks and they don’t finish all the cookies so you do.

You miss adult conversation.

Talking about which superhero is the toughest and which dinosaur would be able to win a fight between the T-rex and the Brontosaurus (T-Rex, duh) and pretending that the floor is lava and you must jump from pillow to pillow to cross the living room is all fun, but remember discussing …..anything else? Politics? Favorite show? Fashion? Wine? Yeah, me neither.

Back to School: Can I be a bit of both?

Absolutely, you can. A lot of moms start out as a boo hoo mom. But, as the little gets bigger, you both become more confident in your abilities to be away from each other. You also become more confident in the ability of others to care for you child.

Some moms, are boo hoo moms for the major transitions – Kindergarten, Junior High, High School, and College.

The random years that don’t mark milestones are Woo Hoo!

But when the bigger changes come – so does the realization that the little is no longer so little. In fact, the little may now be taller than you! So my fellow moms, no matter which group you may fall in – when the first day of school arrives, give them a tight hug, take their picture, and let them begin the next chapter of their lives.

Back to school meme

July 1, 2018

Freshman Tennis

The Tennis Tournament

Teen-man-child playing tennis

Parenting is an adventure. We know this. We all have funny parenting stories to tell. This particular adventure involves one of my two boys; the one who is a high school freshman who joined the tennis team. Freshmen boys are not known for their organization, time management, or communication skills. In fact, there seems to be a complete lack of all three. My oldest demonstrated this recently. A mid-weekday morning in our house involves people getting up, dressed and out the door to school or work in a timely, haphazardly manner. (While I would love to say we are extremely organized, and getting everyone to work or school is a piece of cake – well, some days are better than others.) This late February day was not one of the best.

6:45 AM – his phone rings. Now, I’m wondering who on earth would call him at such an early hour. Then I hear, “Today!?! Do I need to dress out? The bus is where!?”

Insert deep mom sigh here.

Me: What do you need? Where do you need to be? When do you need to be there?

Him: (panic stricken) I forgot I had a tennis tournament today. I need my uniform, and to be at school ten minutes ago. The bus is getting ready to leave.

And, up the stairs he goes to change clothes. I begin making him a lunch, as he normally buys something at school. He comes zipping back down to the kitchen, grabs his tennis gear, and demands, “Let’s go! I am already late!” It’s a good thing I understand his brain is not fully developed, and in the teen years, it is normal for teens to be self-centered. Even so, I took a deep breath, and asked, “Do you need a lunch?” “No, mom. I just need my tennis gear. We play all day. I don’t need my backpack or anything. I just need to go. I got this. I just need to get to school.”

Handsome hubby and I look at each other, sigh and shake our heads. Hubby takes the teen-man-child to school, and drops him off. Upon hubby’s return home, he said, “He wasn’t the only one late. Others were still getting on the bus.”

Now, my brain has a chance to slow down and think about how his day will probably go. Then, I realize, he doesn’t have lunch, or money for lunch. He didn’t take anything to drink, no water or Gatorade. He didn’t take any kind of snacks, or even have breakfast. So, I text him. Because, of course like the majority of teens in America his phone is embedded in his hand.

Me, 7:20: What do you need for lunch today?

Him, 7:43: I need my lunch, or money.

Me: Where and what time?

Him: The CF Educational Support Center. And soon, please.

Me: Are you on the bus? Do you need sweats and hoodie, too? (I mean, it is February and a little chilly outside.) Would you like some snacks, too?

Him: yes and yes.

Me: Ok. I’ll meet you there by 10:00 AM.

Him: Never mind. Moving to a different place. Text you where when I find out.

Grateful my youngest had a great morning, and was self-sufficient in getting himself up and dressed for school. We grab our things and head out of the door. I drop the youngest off at school, and head to work. Once I get settled, I text the forgetful tennis player.

Me, 8:00: I kinda need to know where I’m going. I’m at work, but will have to go home. Get your stuff. Then find you.

Him, 8:30: I’m at CF High School.

Me: Are you sure that’s the name?

Him: Yes – come soon- cold.

Me: GRRRRRRR

He didn’t reply.

I explain to my boss the situation. Being a mom, and having been in similar situations herself, she is very understanding. I hop in the car, head home, and gather up the needed items. Get back in the car. The Google Maps lady telling me where to go so I can find my cold, hungry, tennis playing son.

An hour later

Me, 9:35: I made it. Where are you?

Him: At the back of the school.

Me: I’m at the back of the school. I see the tennis courts near a baseball field and a football stadium. I don’t see you.

At this point a coach notices the lost mom and takes pity. I’m not sure if it was the look of bewilderment, or frustration, I was just thankful for a helpful adult.

Coach: Can I help you?

Me: I’m trying to get this bag (holds up bag) to my son. He plays for KHS.

Coach: What division?

Me: (Blank stare to quizzical look) Division? (I’m thinking – wait, this is tennis – not math….)

Coach: Grade? Singles? Doubles? Mixed Doubles? The students are scattered among the ten high schools in our district depending on the division they play.

Me: I’m not sure. He just said he had a tennis tournament. He. . . .

My phone rang. It was the teen-man-child.

Me: What division are you playing today?

Him: Ummm, not sure.

Me: What school are you at?

Him: Ummm, not sure.

Me: Ask a grown up who looks like a coach. Use these words, “Excuse me, can you please tell me what the name of this school is?”

Him: CFF High.

I thank the coach for helping a lost and clueless mom. She smiles, shakes her head and walks away.

Back to the car I go. New address in the gps. Fingers crossed it isn’t too far. Jack pot! It’s ten minutes away.

10:15 – I finally find my child and deliver the needed goods.

Jump to the end of the day. Around 6:00 PM, I get the “come get me, we are back” text. When I get to the school, he is helping unload things off a bus. He goes to the locker room, grabs his gear, and walks over. “How was it? How did you do?” I ask. He sheepishly grins, pulls a medal out and said, “I got 2nd!”

And that is the agony and ecstasy of parenting. Now, shopping with boys is another story.

To wear underwear, or not to wear underwear? That is the question.

April 26, 2018

Boys! What was I thinking!?!

I always wanted two boys and I had such daydreams of what that would be like.

It would be fun to watch them grow up playing trucks and trains together. They’d be on the same sports teams as they got older. I just knew people would ooh and aahh, and say things like, “Oh! There’s Harley’s and Harrison’s mom. They are such good boys. I don’t know how she does it.”

I would stand on the porch and wave to my boys as they headed out with their dad and grandpa to go hunting, fishing, and camping. I had this idyllic picture in my head of what it would be like to be the mother of two boys.

Holy Crap! What was I thinking!?!

My sweet mental picture did not include clothes scattered from one end of the house to the other. I didn’t think about the Lego’s, the Hot wheels, and all the other little things that can cause serious injury to a bare foot. My picture did not include the arguing, and fighting, the constant use of the words like “wiener, pee pee, junk, penis, butt, booty, bootocks, and poop.”

Now I know better.

Boys are great fun. I love them dearly and wouldn’t trade my adventures for anything. If I hadn’t had boys, I wouldn’t have been able to say things like:

No, you may not put your crayons in the toaster oven.
Put your clothes back on, and LEAVE them on!
There will be no sword fighting with the ceiling fan.
Hot wheels do not go in the salad spinner.
Let go of your wiener. I promise it’s not going to fall off.
You may not attempt to get to your room by climbing on the counters, and furniture. You are not Tarzan, or George of the Jungle. You will walk! On the floor!!

If I hadn’t had boys, I would never have been able to create the rules for fighting:

Someone will get hurt.
There will be no crying.
There will be no tattling.

Are you sure you want to play fighting? Of course they play fighting. . . someone gets hurt. . .there may be minimal crying. . . but nobody dares tell momma!

I’m off to enjoy my boys! More adventures await.