Boulder Family Events: May 10 to 13, 2013

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What is your family up to this weekend? Share your plans or other fun things going on around town here [comment here] or on our Facebook Page. 

Friday, May 10

What is happening today? Some ideas: Family movie night, take a hike on the Annie U. White Trail, Bike at the Valmont Bike Park, Walk along the Bobo Link Trail

Saturday, May 11

  • Kids’ Bike Day at Community Cycles. Free event which includes bike tunes for kids bikes, a bike rodeo, bike safety, and lots of other fun stuff. Every kid who participates gets a prize! No need to register just make your way over. 11:00 to 3:00.
  • FREE Day at the Longmont Museum
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.
  • Dinosaur Day at Chautauqua Millions of years ago, they stalked the earth! Drop by the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage to see and touch fossils that tell the stories of Boulder’s prehistoric creatures.  Help assemble a life-sized replica of a duck-billed Edmontosaurus skeleton! Feel a real dinosaur track, and a tooth from the awesome T. rex, and visit with naturalists who will show you pictures of what Colorado used to look like in the days of the thunder lizards. (Hint: prepare to be amazed).  Dinosaur costumes and clothing, and lots of questions, are encouraged. Free event. 10:00 to 2:00
  • Boulder Home and Garden Show at 29th Street Mall. Lots of great ideas and products, food trucks, and an Alpaca Petting Zoo. 10:00 to 4:00
  • Best of Mary Sue and Cari Be ready to clap, stomp, sing and enjoy “The Best of Mary Sue & Cari” From buzzing like insects to dancing like fairies, these talented musicians will captivate you with their original kid-centered rhythmic music, relevant to kids and parents alike. Lauded by Downtown Boulder as, “The best kids music in Boulder!” this is a concert you won’t want to miss. Free event. 11:00am at the George Reynolds Branch Library AND 3:00pm at the Meadows Branch Library.

Sunday, May 12 

  • Midsummer’s Night Dream performed by the Boulder Ballet. At the Boulder Theater. 2 shows: 11:00am and 2:00pm. 
  • FREE Day at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
  • Walking Through the Language of the Landscape Shapely mountains, textured meadows, communities of plants – these are the voices of the landscape, patiently waiting for an observer to discern their stories. Join naturalist Lynne Sullivan as we learn to read the language of the landscape for the subtle and significant stories of our beloved wildlands. Meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage with water and snacks for this 3 mile moderate hike. Attn: appropriate for teens and up. Free event. 9:00 to Noon.
  • Bach 4 Kids Concert at the Main Boulder Library. The Annual Bach 4 Kids Concert opens with a performance of a movement of Bach’s “Double Violin Concerto” by Boulder Suzuki Strings under the direction of Amy Gesmer-Packman. The Boulder Bach Trio–Benjamin Tomkins-violin, Ysmael Reyes-flute, and Karen Terbeek-cello–follows with a hands-on demonstration of how Bach ornaments his music by “decorating” it with added notes and trills. Kids will create and “decorate” their own melodies, using the aria from Bach’s “Goldberg Variato”.

Monday, May 13

  • Rain, Mud, and Bees! Celebrate moisture, mud and May as naturalist Ellen Orleans reads lively picture books at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. Your children (or grandchildren!) can join in the fun with pitter-pattering, foot stomping, buzzing, and the color of the week. At 10:30, we’ll take off for a kid-friendly “Signs of Spring” hike. Wear clothes to match the weather and bring a snack if you like. The story portion of this program is wheelchair-accessible. Free event. Geared toward 3 to 6-year-olds. 10:00 to 11:00.

Boulder Families Kid’s Review: Boulder Opera’s Production of La Cenerentola [Cinderella]

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Screen Shot 2013-05-07 at 2.32.01 PMIn April, Annelies was selected as the Boulder Families Reviewer for Boulder Opera’s production of La Cenerentola. A BIG thanks to Annelies for this thoughtful review!

Hi, my name is Annelies and I’m 11 years old. BRAVO! BRAVA!

What Did You Review? I went to go see Cinderella but in Italian. It was actually called La Cenerentola and it was all opera. There was no one speaking with real voices. In opera they sing really fast and really loud.

What Was It About? It was about Cinderella trying to go to the ball and she does get to go and at the end Cinderella gets married to the prince.

What Was Your Favorite Part? My favorite character was the evil sister Clorinda. She could sing the loudest and she was really funny. She came to the audience and walked around and sang really loud and almost sat on a dad.

What Surprised You About This Opera? All the singers had very different opera voices and I thought that they would have the same voice.

Would You Recommend It To A Friend? I would recommend it to a friend if they liked opera or music or funny plays. It was boring in some parts but still good.

Anything Else You Want To Say? There were a lot of kids even a lot of little kids and they could dance in the aisles. There were also good cookies, cupcakes and water for sale.

If you are interested in upcoming events by the Boulder Opera Company, please visit the Boulder Opera’s website.

Family Night at the Rapids: What Made It Magical!

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IMG_0827We are not a team sports family, but this past Saturday we all set off, just our family of 4, to watch the Colorado Rapids play Toronto. That’s when something magical happened. I purchased tickets last minute and we were off to do something magical. Just the 4 of us. It felt good getting in the car and heading out of Boulder. My oldest son asked if we could go to Domo before–very cute since this is not your average kid’s food [if you’ve never gone, then it is a real treat for the whole family!]–but since we weren’t heading to Downtown Denver it didn’t work out.

The Dick Sporting Goods Stadium was the perfect size. Not too big, not too small. It was IMG_0834clean and easy to find our way around. The excitement was palpable as the game was getting ready to start with all the pomp and circumstance expected. Ahhh, we found our seats and sat down. My youngest is the soccer kid, so he started out by telling us a few thing about the team and then answering my questions about why things were being done this way or that. He never gets tired of my soccer questions which is very kind of him!

We made it through the first half and it really was a beautiful game! Then half time and the need to spend money at the team store and buy really bad food: Dippin’ Dots, cotton candy, french fries, etc… But you only live once, so we got the goods. Second half. We got back to our seats and still excited we watched this tied game [0 to 0] until the moment happened. The Rapids scored. They scored! They haven’t won too many games this season [or so I gather], so we were witnessing something great. When they scored we all jumped to our feet as though we had done this all our lives. But the magic happened when I looked over at my two kids who were hugging each other and jumping up and down. Not at all self conscious. In the moment. Not wondering where their friends are. It was all worth it!

IMG_0832This may not sound like a big deal, but at 9 and 11 my kids don’t know they are lucky to have a sibling. They fight. They bicker. They are independent dudes. We all agreed this was one of the best things we have done together recently. And we will certainly do it again. What are the pieces that made this family time so magical:

  1. It was just our family: no distractions, no posturing with friends
  2. It was new and different: my youngest is the only one who has ever seen a Rapids game live.
  3. We were engaged [albeit from the sidelines] in an activity that is important to one of our family members.
  4. Our youngest felt empowered: he quickly and competently filled us in on what was happening on the field.

The Rapids offer family friendly pricing on some games. For example there are Colorado Screen Shot 2013-05-06 at 3.44.29 PMRapids Family Nights:  4 seats, 4 meals & 4 drinks for $52.80. In the end you may pay a bit more if you want better seats, but it is still a deal for a sporting event!

Boulder Family Events: May 3 to 5, 2013

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Photo - Red-winged Blackbird

Photo credit: City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks

The snow may still be on the ground, but warmth is in the air. Please do share your plans or other fun things going on around town here [comment here] or on our Facebook Page. 

Friday, May 3

Saturday, May 4

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream Storytime.  A special storytime reading of selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, presented by ballerinas from the Boulder Ballet Company! Free. Boulder Bookstore at 11:00am.
  • Boulder Jazz & Artfest. Head to Pearl Street for live jazz and shopping from unique artisans. Fun for the whole family!
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.
  • FREE Day at the Denver Art Museum. Great opportunity to explore the DAM.
  • FREE Day at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Check out all the cool train cars and much more!
  • Family Day: Digging in the Dirt at the CU Museum of Natural History. Much of what we do at the museum starts with digging in the dirt. We’ll explore artifacts and fossils dug up by archaeologists and paleontologists. But it’s not just scientists who dig in the dirt – lots of animals dig for food or to make their homes. And we won’t forget the plants, whose roots bring food and water from the dirt. Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty as we explore the world under our feet! Free entry. 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Sunday, May 5

  • Wild Earth Day. Join the Wild Bear Mountain Center to enjoy Boulder County’s largest Earth Day celebration. Hands on events for kids. Central Park in Downtown Boulder. 11:00am to 4:00pm. 
  • Boulder Jazz & Artfest. Head to Pearl Street for live jazz and shopping from unique artisans. Fun for the whole family!
  • Marsh Songs. Listen for bird songs in a local marsh with naturalist Dave Sutherland and hear selections from the orchestral work. Early birds should meet at Sawhill Ponds, on 75th Street about 0.6 miles north of Valmont Road, for this easy hike. This program is free and open to the public. Beginning bird watchers strongly encouraged! 8:00 to 10:30am.
  • Nature for Kids & Parents: Birdsong. Find out why birds sing and where each bird gets his song.  Learn a song, dance, and game while observing the many local birds.  Go on a bird hunt to listen to the song the birds are singing, so you can tell exactly what is on his mind. Meet at the Lehigh Street entrance to Shanahan Ridge (map search 1903 Lehigh, where Lehigh and Lafayette Streets intersect) for an easy hike.  Parking is available along the street. Ages 6 and up. 1:00 to 3:00pm.

Top Family-Friendly Bike Rides in Boulder

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Photo Credit: SMBA

Boulder is a bike town. No doubt. My son is riding with Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures [SMBA] and were we in for a surprise when we showed up. The kids on the team have nicer bikes than my husband and me combined. Really. 10 year olds with really nice full suspension bikes. But that’s okay, they are getting out to ride together and that is what counts [fancy bikes and all!]. Here are some of Boulder’s top bike rides for kids.

Top Bike Rides for Kids

  1. Valmont Bike Park: Ride the fun trails, try some bowls, learn to ride the stairs, take the downhill courses. The best part about this park [other than it is free] is that it has something for everyone!
  2. Marshall Mesa: This is a tame ride on some rolling terrain. There is some uphill and some downhill, but they are easily walkable if necessary. There are many options here. There are also interpretive signs along the way showing how this area was a coal mining site and the fires that burned here in the past. This ride can be good for many ages and abilities.
  3. Boulder Valley Ranch/Boulder Reservoir: This is great for kids because it is relatively flat, gets them close to a working ranch, and does go by a few ponds. It is open and exposed, so in the mid-day this may not be the best option. This has seemingly endless options for extending the ride for older kids.
  4. Harlow Plats Park: This South Boulder gem has a 1 mile look as well as a shorter loop. It also has a wonderful lake, Viele Lake. Then there is a park for after ride play. Great for young kids!

Boulder Biking Resources:

Upcoming Bike Event: kids bike day

Kids Bike Day at Community Cycles, May 11, 2013

Sunscreen: Keeping Our Kids Safe from Sun AND Chemicals!

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The sun is out in full force these days. Around here we went from winter to spring conditions in what seemed like a day! No longer are we thinking about how to shovel out from the over 46 inches of snow we saw in the Boulder area, but we are turning to the age old question of sun protection. I feel like I have to educate myself again every year!

It doesn’t have to be confusing what we put our skin and our little ones. Here is a Glossary of Terms to help get started:

  • UVA: the rays that cause skin cancer
  • UVB: the rays that are responsible for burns
  • Mineral sunscreens: those containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
  • EWG: Environmental Working Group is a consumer group that tests cosmetics, including sun screen to let the public know what’s safe and what’s not
  • SPF: Sun protection factor which is a measurement of the UVB rays only [not UVA]
  • Nanoparticles: EWG states that they are safe in lotion, but not in sprays because nanoparticles can get into your lungs and cause harm.

The most effective protection for UVA is zinc oxide, but it’s tough to put on the kids and leave your skin white and pasty looking. The reason this works so well is it that it reflects the sun and doesn’t allow penetration. But don’t be fooled by companies that use nanoparticles to get sheer coverage because these could be harmful. For more specific information on your sunscreens head to EWG’s Sunscreen Guide.

So What Should a Family To Do? The best thing to do is avoid the sun during the middle of the day. Find shade then and head outside early or late. If you cannot do that then avoid nanoparticles, and use mineral sunscreens. The most effective protection for UVA is zinc oxide, but it’s tough to put on the kids and leave your skin white and pasty looking. The reason this works so well is it that it reflects the sun and doesn’t allow penetration. If you and your kids can stand these sunscreens they are the best.

Delicious Living Magazine recommends the following sunscreen products:

  • Badger SPF 34 Baby Sunscreen
  • Goddess Garden Sunny Body
  • True Natural All Natural Tropical Tan Self Tanner

You can find Delicious Living’s full article on sunscreens here.

Spring Heritage Days at Walker Ranch: Well Worth the Trip for the Whole Family!

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I was not going to do a special post on Spring Heritage Days, but it such a fun event that I decided I needed to go ahead and do it. This is such a treasured Boulder event I wanted to ensure everyone got the message: Go! It’s a great family event! And it’s happening today!

A few times a year volunteers dress up and teach us about what it was like to be a homesteading, pioneering family. Today is that day! Here is what’s happening just up above Flagstaff from 10 to 3 today.

Spring is the beginning of so many new things–garden planting, repairing buildings, bringing baby animals into the world– and that was true for ranch families in the Victorian days also. Join the volunteers at Walker Ranch homestead for a peek into pioneer living in springtime. Smell what’s cooking in the log house, chat with the blacksmith, and do hands-on old-fashioned activities. 

On-Going Activities
Blacksmithing Demonstration Blacksmith Shop
Calf-Roping East of Log House
Children’s Games Field Across from Log House
Laundry West of Granary
Log Hewing and Wood Cutting South of Wagon Barn
Log House Meal Preparation Log House
Butter Churning North of Granary
Field Plowing Field southeast of White House
Live Music Barn Dance Singalong Machine Barn

Special Activities 
Guided Tours 11am; 12pm; 1pm; 2pm In front of Granary
One Room School Session 12noon; 2pm Wheat Barn
Wool Washing 10am-12pm Wheat Barn

Details:

  • 4/28/2013
  • 10:00am to 3:00pm
  • Walker Ranch:  7701 Flagstaff Rd, about 7 miles west of Boulder
  • Free!
  • More details here.

Boulder Family Events: April 26 to 28, 2013

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I think spring has sprung here in Boulder, Colorado. Hopefully! There are so many great things going on this weekend! I hope your family has a joyous weekend. Please do share your plans or other fun things going on around town here [comment here] or on our Facebook Page. 

Friday, April 26

  • Live Alpacas at the UMC at CU. An educational experience for audiences of all ages! Meet, greet, photograph and learn about the huacaya (pronounced wah-KI-ah) alpaca. The alpacas are a sustainable animal with even their manure going back to the garden and pasture as an outstanding fertilizer. Meet some of the cutest creatures, live near the fountain on the CU Campus. Free. 2:00 to 5:00pm. 

Saturday, April 27

  • Tulip Fairy & Elf Parade on Pearl Street Mall. Bring your sweet ones down to join in this hugely popular event. Kids love it. Parents love it. There are many different activities and productions during the event. It’s just fun! Free. 3:00 to 6:00pm. 
  • Wake the Bears Concert with Jeff Kagan and Paige Doughty featuring hilarious nature songs for children. There will also be an official from the Colorado Division of Wildlife to remind us what to do if we see a bear, lion or coyote in the wild. He will have a mustache. Free. 4:00 to 4:45pm on Pearl Street Mall.
  • La Cenerentola [aka: Cinderella] is the current Boulder Opera kids production. This is a short, 1 hr, production that has been highly anticipated. It should be a great show!
  • Prairie Saga Puppet Show at the CU Museum of Natural History. Bring your family to  explore animals that live in the ground. The Prairie Saga Puppet Show will take you through a day in the life of a prairie dog colony. We will have real specimens and a hands-on activity to round out your museum experience. Free. 1:00pm.
  • Shakespeare Storytime with the Boulder Ballet. Bring your children to enjoy Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with one of Boulder Ballet’s dancers! They’ll get to meet the delightful Puck, played by Melissa Heslep, hear her read the classic story, enjoy her beautiful costume and toe shoes, and even dance with her and the other kids! Free. 11:00am at Barnes & Noble.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.

Sunday, April 28

  • Spring Heritage Days at Walker Ranch. Bring your family up to really learn what it was like to be a homesteading family. This historical enactment is a great event for families. There are hands on opportunities and fun demonstrations. I think this is one of the best events of the year in Boulder!
  • La Cenerentola [aka: Cinderella] is the current Boulder Opera kids production. This is a short, 1 hr, production that has been highly anticipated. It should be a great show!
  • FREE Day at the Denver Art Museum. The Art Museum has something for everyone! Even kids enjoy this museum and there are always rotating hands on exhibits.

We Are What We Eat: The 2013 Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 Lists Are Out!

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Every year the Environmental Working Group [EWG], a non-profit advocacy group, updates their list of the fruits and veggies that are most pesticide-ridden “The Dirty Dozen Plus”, and therefore best to avoid, as well as the “Clean Fifteen” which are those fruits and veggies best to choose when possible. EWG is offering the public the science behind what we eat. These pesticides they are identifying are hormone disrupting and they are showing up in the most unusual places–such as on our plates and in our bodies. The idea is that with the knowledge of what to avoid when possible, and what to purchase when available, we can reduce your family’s exposure. For a complete list of the Dirty Dozen Plus and the Clean Fifteen click here.

Here is a sneak peek at the Dirty Dozen [listed in order of most to least residue]:

  1. Apples
  2. Strawberries
  3. Grapes
  4. Celery
  5. Peaches
  6. Spinach
  7. Sweet Bell Peppers
  8. Nectarines
  9. Cucumbers
  10. Potatoes
  11. Cherry Tomatoes
  12. Hot Peppers

Alternatively EWG publishes a list of the Clean Fifteen which are the fruits and veggies with the least pesticide residue. Here is a sneak peek:

  1. Asparagus
  2. Avocados
  3. Cabbage
  4. Cantaloupe
  5. Corn
  6. Eggplant
  7. Grapefruit
  8. Kiwi
  9. Mango
  10. Mushrooms
  11. Onions
  12. Papaya

EWG video takes you on a trip through the grocery store to identify which fruits and veggies are safe and which are not: Click Here

If you have a tough time remembering what is on the list EWG is happy to send you a laminated copy of the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce for a small donation. Or you can download an app for your iPhone or Android here. Head to EWG for more info.

Get Ready, Get Set: Screen Free Week Is Coming…

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Screen Free Week is coming up, April 29 through May 5, 2013. This is the nationally organized week dedicated to getting us all to turn off electronics and commit to play, read, create, and get physically active!

But wait, how could we get along in this world without our multiple gadgets and screens? How many times do you find yourself just checking that last email as you are trying to rush your kids out the door? Let’s take this week and power down! Let’s roll model how to be present and unplug!

I was excited to hear that the City of Lafayette’s Bob Berger Recreation Center is offering kids K-12 a free week pass to the Rec Center if they register and commit to go screen free. More information and to register for the FREE REC CENTER WEEK PASS here.

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Want more information on how to go screen free? Ideas for homes, schools, and communities can be found at screenfree.org. http://screenfree.org or visit them on Facebook.