98 Caramels: Winter Wonderland

Growing up in Michigan, I had all the snow I ever wanted, and then some. So my California kids' snow obsession is kind of funny to me. But I get it, to them it's something in storybooks and holiday TV specials. It may as well be dragons, or tooth fairies. Add to that a certain little boy's regular reports that so-and-so from his class went skiing in Tahoe last weekend, and when were we going to go to Tahoe, we haven't been to Tahoe in such a looong time...

So when the Pineapple Express storm brought actual snow, it seemed as likely a time as any to plan a trip to the mountains. Our neighbors were in, too, so there would be playmates for everyone. And, in Brennan's defense, the last time we went to Tahoe was for Kristin & David's wedding. (Let's go back in time and enjoy the Brownie Video again, shall we?) They'll be celebrating their 5th anniversary in July, and have two sons, aged three and one. Maybe we were due back.

Of course, by the time our trip actually happened, most of the snow at lake level had all melted.

There was at least some ice -

a hot tub under the stars -

and if you were willing to change altitude, snow to be found.

The ski resorts also were making enough snow to keep the season limping along. We went to Diamond Peak, on the recommendation of a school buddy, and Lucie and Brennan went to ski school for the first time. Go HERE to watch Lucie go down the bunny slope. Sort of.

Even if the snow wasn't quite all we'd hoped for, it was still nice to get away to mountains and spend time with friends.

While the drought is killing the ski resorts, teaching my kids to shriek at each other for wasting water, and keeping me awake at 4 am after reading an articles titled things like "California Has a Year of Water Left", it has provided a number of really lovely January & February days for hiking with Roux -

-as well as some very pretty morning bike rides to the top of Twin Peaks.

Thanks to some unique scheduling by the school district - sure, we'll move President's Day to a Thursday, and close for Lunar New Year on Friday - we had a long weekend to go find some real snow.

First stop, Boulder - here's lunch on Pearl Street, at Foolish Craig's Cafe, while we waited for Audrey & Grace to finish school:

Foolish Craig can't be that foolish, as he seems to have his finger on the pulse of the eating habits of the under-10 set.

Then it was off to Vail, where the Colorado Rockies not only delivered snow-covered trees, houses, etc -

but also an actual snow storm, featuring SNOW FALLING FROM THE SKY!

While the kids were clowning around Vail Village (under the very generous supervision of Audrey & Grace's father), Daddy & I were up on mountain, coming to grips with the fact that an intermediate run there was a different animal than at little Diamond Peak, and falling repeatedly.

The next day was Ski School, where we were able to check another box off Brennan's "I want to go to the mountains" list - riding the gondola.

After a long day on slopes, it was time to retire to the lodge, lounge in our base layers, and enjoy treats.

Here's Mommy's treat:

The kids thought the snow was pretty special - a popular game was rolling in it before returning, screaming, to the hot tub; also eating it, making snow angels, and dumping handfuls of it into the hot tub.