Life According to Z: Family Time and Joslyn's 1st Snow!

When we decided not to go to San Jose for Christmas this year, my mom brought up the idea of renting a cabin in the mountains after Christmas so she could have all her children under one roof, the best gift she could get. We found a great cabin in Lake Arrowhead and hoped that while we were there Jos could experience snow for the very first time. We got even more than we hoped when it started snowing on Saturday and kept snowing the entire day! It was a wonderful few days with my family. We rarely get the time to just enjoy each other's company like that without having a million things on the agenda. We even managed to finally open the Christmas Story Monopoly my mom bought years ago and played an entire game. She ended up winning and we confirmed that my brother Brian is a very sore loser.

Before we left for the mountains, Jos got to open MORE presents. This girl is spoiled.

Uncle B got her a scooter. It was a big hit.

On our way to Lake Arrowhead!

She's old enough to handle her own luggage :) Ga got her this super cute Minnie suitcase for Christmas!

John and Lauren got right to work shoveling the driveway as soon as we got there.

Jos loved the loft lookout.

Hayley made the trip from Nor Cal to join us at the cabin.

Lauren makes an awesome breakfast!

Getting crazy with Uncle B

Love for Uncle D

When we 1st got there, there was mostly ice on the ground but Jos had fun making snowballs with it.

My new favorite family picture.

We went to the village area to walk around and look at the shops. Jos had to take charge of walking Hayley.

Jos was in heaven when we discovered there were rides! And she was tall enough for them all!

On Saturday morning, it started to snow but by the time we all got dressed it had stopped.

Jos still had fun sledding on the ice though :)

Then the snow really started falling and by late afternoon, everything was covered with a layer of beautiful white snow.

I had to wake up Jos from her nap so we could go out and play in it.

I took a moment and looked around at all the people I love with smiles on their faces, acting like kids playing in the snow for the 1st time. It was one of those perfect moments that are so rare and so very special when they happen. We threw snowballs at each other, made snow angels, built a snowman and just enjoyed this special moment together.