Stace couldn't drop work that quickly, but he was happy for the girls to ski again, so he was fine with us going. So, on Wednesday, Jeff and Jenn booked a house and we packed up and left!
The house we rented in Big Bear was amazing - since it was still available, and midweek, we got a great deal. It had a loft with some games for the kids, a hot tub on the deck and a SAUNA inside! I never knew I needed a sauna, but now, it will be on my list of must-haves in any rental house.
(The night that Jeff and Jenn and I enjoyed the hot tub, it was of course chilly when we got out, and it was LOVELY to warm up in the sauna after our cold walk indoors!)
We had some wildlife, too - a child left the sunroof open in Jenn's car, and in the morning we saw raccoon prints on the outsides of the cars, and a mess of a leftover jam sandwich on a seat! This little guy was still hanging out across the street.
We also spotted a coyote on the street, and pretty Stellars Jays.
Jeff took Cora and the boys to Snow Valley, a different ski resort than the one we went to in March. This one was less fancy, and less expensive. The snow is now all man-made, since it's been a while since it snowed for real (and it's in the 60s in the day!).
Violet didn't want to go skiing, but then, for the last few months, she hasn't wanted to do much of anything that brings her out of the house. We tried to have her go, but she then got sick at the rental place, so I went and picked her up.
Cora really enjoyed her day. She and Zach were up and down the runs, all day long, since it was so empty on an April Thursday.
Here's Cora and Dylan.
Cora tried some jumps - why not, it's her second time on skis! Once, she hurt her knee, and took some time to rest (and eat lunch). But she did land one once!
Cora took this from the top of the mountain - beautiful! It was surprising to see so much snow on some of the mountains,
Meanwhile, Violet felt better after lying down for a while, and we three ladies went out for a wild burro hunt. Jenn's friend had told her about the wild burros, descendants from burro races in the 1950s.
Later, we enjoyed a charcuterie board in the backyard by the fire pit.
When everyone got home, Cora and the boys needed to relax - they were exhausted! We later played a little pre-dinner Trivial Pursuit.
We made a few stops on our way home Friday - a park with a zip line, a little nature walk and a part of Big Bear Lake with a cool-looking island.
It was a great couple of days! More memorable than sitting at home would have been. And we're happy Cora was able to ski again.
