Mammoth

We headed up here to Mammoth Friday AM as J & I both took the day off (as well as Monday). There was a storm scheduled to hit CA so we weren't sure what to expect on our drive up. Wound up being really pretty nice right up until the last 1/2 hour when it started storming as we were climbing into the mountains. It was a crazy snow storm - boys were soo excited but I have to admit I was a little nervous driving (J was actually driving) in it. So happy (we all were!) when we arrived safely and got to the hotel.

We had planned this trip super last minute. J did rent the boys their snow boards and boots ahead of time which was nice. We rented our hotel room two days before we headed up here and lucked out getting a two room suite so we had plenty of room to spread, have the kids separate for naps, etc. There was even a kitchen but with all the snow and crazy cold, we haven't managed to make it to the grocery store. It's been room service all the way! I think the boys love that (and who can blame them, especially since we've been letting them watch a DVD during dinner).

Anyway, we got up here late Friday afternoon and it was crazy storming (and sooo cold!). The boys didn't care how cold it was and just wanted to play in the snow so badly. We put on our snow gear and ventured outside. Snow was everywhere and still falling and the wind was blowing in very strong gusts. Boys were in heaven but to be honest I couldn't take it very much. So cold! We headed back in with the promise of hot chocolate. We headed into the hotel restaurant and proceeded to order hot chocolates, fresh chocolate chip cookies, a taster thing of ice cream with 9 flavors, and these fancy restaurant s'mores. We got all sugared up, which after our Carl's Jr lunch and no nap, probably pushed us completely over the top for excessive vacation day! S did say it was his best vacation ever and we had just been here one afternoon.

We did manage to get everyone into bed pretty early so we could have a fresh day the next morning. After a room service breakfast, we geared up (so much stuff to put on!) and headed over to the gondola which would take us directly to the mountain/ski area. S did mention he was a little nervous taking the gondola but he (and N) did great. We found our instructor for their private lessons. We lucked out and got a very nice guy and the boys really liked him. Off they went. J & I hung out and watched and took a bunch of pictures. Eventually, we left them to finish their lesson. The instructor did wind up taking them up the lift and they did great getting down. After three hours of lessons, they had to be tired but were doing really well. The mountain was also giving free snowmobile rides for the kids. S really was so excited and couldn't wait. N wasn't so sure at first and hung off to the side for awhile but once he saw S go off, he changed his mind and decided to go too. They wound up going on 6 -7 rides and probably would have kept going but we told them we needed to get back to the hotel (it had started to snow again).

We got back, the boys watched a DVD while we waited for our lunch room service, and then we had a quick lunch. Naptime for both boys. S didn't want to leave the hotel room again (he was happy to color, watch the DVDs, and have room service). N did want to go out and play in the snow some so he and J went out for a little while and had a great (but cold!) time. Room service dinner and DVD time again... tomorrow we have them signed up for a second day of lessons with the same guy and this time J's going to join them as well. I'm not sure what to do with my morning.