Life with Lauren: SnowTastic

Hard to believe our little one is almost five years old. Really hard to fathom that in those five years, she's never been to the snow. Particularly because: (a) she's got a Daddy who grew up skiing a ton (never mind that Mommy was somewhat snow deprived) and (b) we live within 90 minutes of snow-capped mountains.

Determined not to allow yet another year to go by without a Katz family snowball fight, we arranged for a day trip to a resort with a very cool family of another girl in Lauren's class. Along with Annabella and her parents, we were joined by her 3-year-old sister Cassie.

It was an unbelievably gorgeous, warm day. It reached almost 80 degrees F at our house. We met at a local McDonald's to caravan up. Within 20 minutes of driving, the white-dusted peaks were in full view.

In just 75 minutes, we were in the parking lot at Mt. Baldy. The snow bunnies were suited up and ready to go.

During the brief walk up to the lift ticket shack, Lauren touched snow for the very first time.

Her reaction? "This feels like ice, Mom."

Our two families then captured the moment before heading up the mountain.

Our original purpose in going to the snow was for the girls to sled a little and play in the snow for an hour or so until their fingers and toes froze and they begged to go home. To that end, we brought little saucer sleds and, as the prior photos show, enough down-filled clothes on our babies to survive an Iditarod.

But as we drove toward the parking lot, the casual kiddie sledding areas by the side of the road were absolutely packed with tourists. Not to mention that it was so blazing hot (68 degrees at the base of the mountain!), much of the snow was melted in the lower areas and lots of rocks were poking through on the sledding hills. Not exactly kid-friendly.

So instead, we left our saucers in the car, purchased lift tickets (and this Mama was quaking in her borrowed snow boots, since I've only been on a chair lift once before and that feels like almost a lifetime ago), and up, up, and away we went.

To the top of the mountain, where the view was exhilarating.

We didn't brave the 50-year-old chair lifts to ski, though. We had something much better in mind.

The girls could hardly contain their enthusiasm after peering over the fence.

Tubing.

The girls first each went down the tubing hill with a parent in tow. It was so incredibly organized, with an attendant there to give each tube a push down the hill when the coast was clear (so no collisions). Plus it really wasn't very crowded, so nobody had to wait more than a couple of minutes between turns.

Pure bravery then overcame the almost 5-year-olds in the group, and they insisted on going by themselves. We weren't really sure if Lauren would actually go through with it.

Lookee here.

Enough to make a Daddy proud.

Of course, he still had to schlep down the hill to tow her back up.

Then brilliance struck, and Lauren and Annabella realized they could both fit side by side in an inner tube.

Sheer glee and hilarity ensued.

The Daddies continued to get their cardio in.

Countless tube rides later, we finally convinced the kids to take a rest.

So Lauren could make her first snow angel. Took a while, but she eventually got the hang of it.

Then it was back onto the rickety chair lifts to descend the mountain (where Mama gained enough courage to lessen her death grip from the chair lift bar long enough to snap a few photos).

Of Annabella and her mom huddled close.