Snowtime.

Our annual weekend cabin trip in Strawberry with our friends Victor and Nena and Emma was more memorable than ever.

We got more snow time in than before, and somehow, it seemed more relaxing than the previous two years that we have rented the cabin. I'm thinking that it was because the kids are getting older and easier to manage in that away-from-home environment. Plus, we have become pretty efficient with the packing in and packing out.

It was a really busy weekend. We made three separate outings for sledding and snow play this year. Sarah won the award for most daring this year, [when you see the photos you'll know why, yikes!] We all had a blast, it was so so worth all that good effort.

Pinecrest Lake was frozen and frosty and I had time between all the snow throwing, picture taking and sliding down hills to remember my first visit there at about this same time of year with my dear old friend Sabrina. That trip was more than twenty years ago. It's also the same place we camped in our tent last June and nearby is the Girl Scout camp that my big girls and I have spent a weekend in October for the last two years. In the summer photos of the lake taken from the shoreline, you can see round white buoys in the distance and we uncovered a few of them in the snow while we were playing.

The most relaxing time for us adults is the time after the kids have their dinner, their pj's on, and begin to wind down with a movie. That's when we finally get to sit down together for good food and really enjoy the evening all together. Victor brought my most favorite thing to drink, Frangelico, and, for that, I will always be grateful. Heaven, it truly was.
After a short trip to the neighborhood ski resort, the men think it's time to get onto the slopes with the kids, [ahem] so we'll see what happens next year.

The only kink in the goodness of it all was that crazy mixed up daylight savings meanie! [Who's idea was it to move it up to early March and what are they trying to do to us?] It stole an hour from us as we were trying to enjoy our Sunday morning in the mountains. We packed up and cleaned up the cabin with so much speed it left me spinning. Then it was a short drive to another little mountain town called Twain Harte for mass. I admit, when I visit a church I have never been to it sort of leaves me with a different feeling about the experience of the mass, somewhat more inspired, as if I have seen a new beautiful light in my faith that wasn't there before. Lovely, for sure.

One more stop in Sonora for pizza and ice cream was just like good butter cream frosting on the chocolate cake. The cake here of course is a perfect weekend [only one or two meltdowns] with my sweet family and my very good friends. Happy, I am.

Getting great pictures with my tired and battle scarred little camera makes me happy too.