A Mama's Rant

Arenacross comes to Denver

What is it with boys and bikes? Well, you may want to come to Arenacross to find out. (See below for a discount ticket code to make it affordable, too!)

Arenacross is the official feeder system for Supercross, and attracts the best up-and-coming riders in the world, all set to prove that they can make it to the top tier of the sport. Staged in intimate arena settings, Arenacross tracks are among the tightest in the world, filled with difficult challenges, amazing airtime, intense speed, and all the close-contact racing you’d expect from these hungry superstars-in-waiting. Oh my!

The scheduled riders for the National Series include: Brock Sellards, Casey Barret, Chad Johnson, Gray Davenport, Jim Neese, Josh Demuth, Cory Green, Derrick Brister, Ricky Dreper, Tyler Bowers, and Nathan Skaggs. However, riders are subject to change without notice.

This will be our first year going courtesy of Feld Enterainment. I know my son, Nathan, can’t wait!

Performance Schedule:

• Friday, March 26 –7:30PM (Professional Racing)
• Saturday, March 27 –7:30PM (Professional Racing) – Champions of 20 city Arenacross tour crowned
• Sunday, March 28 – 10AM (Amateur Racing) – general admission

Note: Doors are 1 hour prior to Professional Racing and 2 hours prior to Amateur Racing

Ticket prices:

All tickets are $2 more on the day of the show, so buy early to save $2 per ticket!

• $20 Adults – all seats for all three days
• Kids’ tickets are ½ off! ($10) – kids two years of age or older must have tickets to attend.

Service charges, facility and handling fees may apply.

Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1.800.745.3000. You can also buy tickets at the Denver Coliseum Box Office starting on Monday, March 22. Prior to that date all ticket sales are through Ticketmaster only.

Discount ticket code for Areanacross:

You can save $5 on Adult tickets by entering the code: RIDER3 at: Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. (Kids’ tickets are only $10 – no code required.)

(Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.)

Arenacross Track Party:

Did you know you can meet riders and get autographs at the Track Party? It’s from 5 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 ONLY. To attend the track party:

• You must have a ticket to the Saturday show.
• Or you can recycle any Monster Energy Can at the gate entrance for FREE admission.
• Or you can purchase a pass at the box office for $5 on the day of the show.

Don’t forget to bring your autograph book and camera!

____________

Disclosure: I have a working relationship with Feld Entertainment and have received free tickets to other Feld shows. I am receiving complimentary tickets for my family to attend Arenacross from Feld Entertainment to thank me for posting about this event.

Disney on Ice is back in Denver with 100 Years of Magic

Denver Moms, Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic is playing the Denver Coliseum March 10-14, 2010. If you’re a Disney fan – or have been enjoying Olympic skating, this one is for you! (Keep reading for information on a special ticket discount code.)

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

You’ll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and all the Disney Princesses. Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you’ll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

I’ve been to a couple of Disney on Ice shows in the past few years and we’ve always had a great time. It’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, though older elementary school kids will enjoy it, too.

Disney on Ice Performance Schedule:

• Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 PM
• Thursday, March 11 at 11:00 AM & 7:30 PM
• Friday, March 12 at 7:30 PM
• Saturday, March 13 at 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM
• Sunday, March 14 at 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & (Spanish performance at 7:30 PM)

Disney on Ice Ticket information:

Opening night tickets are only $13! (That’s the Wednesday, March 10th performance. This offer excludes Front Row and VIP seating.)

For the fastest and easiest way to buy tickets, log onto Ticketmaster.com or DisneyOnIce.com or call 1-800-745-3000.

For most performances, ticket prices start at $15, with tickets also selling for $20, $25, $42 VIP, and $62 for the front row. (Service charges and handling fees will apply.)

Disney on Ice Discount Code:

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday performances or receive $4 off weekend tickets by entering the discount code: MOM4 at Ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000.

(Minimum purchase of four tickets required for four-pack. Additional tickets above four can be purchased at $11 each.) This offer not valid on Front Row or VIP seating, and cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.)

____________

Disclosure: I have a working relationship with Feld Entertainment and have received free tickets to other Feld shows.

Disney On Ice Worlds of Fantasy: Denver Pepsi Center Review

My family and I went to see Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy last Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. I wasn’t expecting a Broadway show since it’s supposed to appeal to little kids. However,  I was very impressed with the costuming and lighting, especially during the Lion King sequence. Very imaginative.

The Cars part of the show was a bit silly since it featured the characters from Cars driving around the ice. Not exactly ice skating though it was interesting to figure out where the driver was inside the “costumes.”

The Little Mermaid part was fun since I knew the songs and story. However, I didn’t get much out of the Tinker Bell performance, which took up the second half of the show. I haven’t watched the movie though my kids have, so that was part of the problem. In fact, I actually felled asleep, more from the medication I was taking for my bad back (my husband drove) than the show.

What was really important was the kids’ reaction to the show. They loved Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy! My daughter, Lucie was screaming, “It’s Minnie. Mommy, it’s Goofy. Oh look it’s Ariel!” My son, Nathan thanked me for taking him and said he enjoyed it very much.

It was a nice way to get my kids pumped up for going to Disneyland later this month. Next time, I’ll be having a double latte before the show begins, or I’ll bring a blanket and settle in for a nice nap. Either way, I know my kids will have a grand time for any Disney on Ice show.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey coming to Denver September 30 to October 11

Yay, the circus is coming to town! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is presenting ZING ZANG ZOOM at the Denver Coliseum September 30 to October 11.

My family goes just about every year that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey come to Colorado. It’s become sort of a tradition, along with my husband wearing a silly clown mask, the kids getting high on cotton candy, and me making sure that I bring tissues and antihistamines. (What is it about circus horses that may my nose run? I have no problem at the National Stock Show. Weird.)

A special offer for Denver area families!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey wants to make going to the circus an affordable treat for all families. They’re working with Mom Central and moms like me to get the word out that you can purchase a 4‐pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows, or receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.

(Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday‐Friday matinee, or $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code MOM in the MC promotion code box on Ticketmaster. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Not valid on VIP Gold, VIP, and Circus Celebrity seats or combinable with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.)

Denver Show Dates

• Wednesday September 30: 7:30pm
• Thursday October 1: 7:30pm
• Friday October 2: 7:30pm
• Saturday October 3: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Sunday October 4: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Wednesday October 7: 7:30pm
• Thursday October 8: 11:00am, 7:30pm
• Friday October 9: 7:30pm
• Saturday October 10: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Sunday October 11: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

I Love my kids more when they’re at camp

Listening to The Prairie Home Companion this weekend, I heard Garrison Keillor say about the first weeks of summer:

“Monday was the first day of vacation….Parents were left with their children, already feeling cranky just after a week of being with them…

Parents are not meant to be with their children all the time…Children are supposed to go off to camp.The more camps the better…

We love you. It doesn’t mean we want to see you. Sometimes it’s best to love you in absentia.”

Garrison must have been reading my mind about how I feel this summer about my kids. Check out my latest at Rocky Mountain Moms Blog - In praise of summer camp for all the details.

My daughter is boy crazy and other tall tales

Not only is my six-year-old boy crazy, but her nine-year-old brother is just as bad. You can read all about it at my latest post at Rocky Mountain Moms Blog, Playground Romance.

In fact, I thought Nathan wasn’t interested in girls his own age, but just the other day he announced he has a girlfriend – Molly – and that she likes him, too.

Molly, who I met while chaperoning a recent field trip, seems way too quiet and serious for Nathan. Then again, maybe opposites attract. Or maybe she thinks goofballs are kind of cute.

Ah the whims of third grade girls.

The test from the Black Lagoon

We just went through our first CSAP testing rounds and are glad that it is over.

I say we because they were a bit of a family project. Still, the whole process was ridiculous and nerve wracking at the same time.

You can read more about it at Working hard or hardly working? Parenting in the time of CSAPs, my latest post at the Rocky Mountain Moms Blog.

Cowboy up with The Rocky Mountain Moms blog

I forgot to share with you that my latest story, Little tract house on the prairie, is up at the Rocky Mountain Moms Blog.

Check it out and find out what my part of Colorado really smells like. (No, not teen spirit. More like turkey butts.)

And yes, that’s my two youngins all dressed up for the National Western Stock Show. Mighty fine bunch of kids I got.

Attention Denver area parents: High School Musical the Ice Tour $10 kids ticket discount code

Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour is now selling kids tickets for only $10!

Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour is coming to the Broomfield Event Center Dec. 5 – 7, and the Denver Coliseum Dec. 10 – 14. Now tickets for children age 12 and under for all performances are only $10 with the purchase of an adult ticket at regular price.

There is a limit of up to four children’s tickets with the purchase of one adult ticket, and ticket buyers must use the code HOLIDAY to receive the discount. The discount does not apply to front row or VIP seating, and is not applicable to previous purchases.

This special offer is available at www.Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster retail locations, including Macy’s at Cherry Creek Mall, or by calling Ticketmaster at 303-830-TIXS.

They've been eating candy all weekend

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

My husband was out of town, so I was the one who took the kids out for Halloween this year. (I usually stay home, keep warm, and pass out candy.) We had unusually warm weather here in Colorado. It was in the mid-50s. So no freezing your rear end off, wearing thermals under your outfit, or trying to figure out if an umbrella goes with your costume.

The neighborhood was packed. Quite a change from last year when only four kids showed up at our door. Entire families were out and people were sitting on their porches and passing out goodies to the little ghouls. Very pleasant.

After hitting the block behind us and stopping by the house to dump off their full pumpkin baskets, the scary children and I walked a few blocks away to a friend’s house. We trick or treated the whole way up, but since they were tired, didn’t bother on the way back.

And this is the final tally:

One gigantic salad bowl of sugary goodness. No wonder Miss Power Ranger is grinning like a maniac.

Like this post? Subscribe to A Mama's Rant.