Snow... Maybe Not!

Lorielle has waited with anticipation for our first 2009 trip to the snow! We had planned to go during Christmas vacation, but with Logan being sick we postponed... and then postponed again. So finally... it was here! We had "big" plans for our special day! We packed the car... jackets (check)... mittens (check)... hats (check)... boots (check)... extra clothes (check)... snacks (check)... sled (check)... oh, and of course the camera (check)... Big Bear here we come! Lorielle could barely contain herself... she was so very excited! And, if "sissy" was excited... well of course, Logan was excited, too! It seemed as if the ride there took extra long... and as we drove up the mountain... Bob and I noticed more and more cars... and with the cars, we saw people everywhere. If there was a patch of snow... there was an ant hill of people attached to it! HHHmmm... I began to have second thoughts... but, Bob was certain once we reached the top of the mountain we would have plenty of snow and not so many people. Uhmm... NOT! Yes, there was snow... but, the higher we went... the more people there were. We circled the lake... and... (Bob) "Ohhhh finally... there is snow.... it is perfect... and there is no people!" (Lisa) "Uhm Honey... the sign says it is closed to preserve the Eagle Habitat!" ... So, we drove some more... went through the very crowded town... and circled the lake again! By this time, Lorielle was past excitement... and Logan... well, he just wanted out of his car seat! So, we pulled into a campground. Quite a few people had pulled in... and at least there was snow. Maybe not the perfect sledding spot, but after hours in the car... this would have to do. It was windy outside and oh, so cold! Dressing little ones in snow gear when they are grumpy and dying to touch the snow isn't an easy task... but, finally we were ready! We stepped foot out of the van, and up pulled the ranger. "Sir, you are going to have to move... if you stay here I will have to charge you $52 for an overnight camp site!" You have GOT to be kidding me? Are you serious? Bob talked to him for a bit... but, he wouldn't budge. He told us of a day use area on the other side of the lake that we could try. We very quickly let the kids "touch" the snow... and then had to put them back in the car. Talk about disappointment! After driving for 30 mins. longer, we finally found the day use area... but, there was no parking... none for blocks... and there was absolutely no way we were going to walk with the kiddos on the barely snow plowed streets that could barely fit one car, never less a family of 4! By this time Lorielle was in tears... Logan was hungry... and Mommy and Daddy were down right ready to head back down the hill! We stopped for snacks... and away we went. Boy did Daddy ever feel bad! A not so good snow day... but, at least we were together... and that always makes a day special! Next fresh snow fall... we will try again... promise! Sorry Lorielle and Logan!


Hurry! Quick!!! Look this way... the Ranger is on his way back! "Cheese" (or not!).


Logan had decided he had already had enough snow... "Who needs this? I'm outta here!"


"Cheese"... "Now please, take off my space suit!"

Lorielle on the look out for snow... and NO PEOPLE!

Logan has had enough!