Snow Day in L.A.

We had been promising Kate we'd drive up to the mountains and go sledding since December. Three months later, we finally made good on our promise. We drove to Angeles National Forest towards the site we went camping last summer. As we climbed higher and higher, Chris and I noticed the mountains were bone dry. "When are we gonna see the snow, Momma?" "Um... soon?" Kate was very excited. Up to this point, her only experience with real snow was touching a dirty clump outside Newark Airport two years ago. Later on, at elevation 5,000 feet, we saw a backhoe clearing the fallen rocks from the road, but no sign of snow. "This may not work out, Kate!" We tried the same thing last year, but after packing a carful of sweaters and long underwear, we discovered that the road up the mountain was closed. And our snow play day turned into a hike. Not this time....all of a sudden, 2,000 feet higher...SNOW! Whoo hoo! We parked along the side of the road, and found... ...the perfect spot for sledding! It was sweet to see how happy Kate was to be finally playing with real-life snow. "Momma, let's pretend we have to go around and collect the snow in buckets! Momma, let's pretend we're snow girls, instead of flower girls, and we're at a wedding!" "Appa, can we take some snow home??" Kate and Chris got started on a little snowwoman. Mom inserted some hair. Kate added the eyes and buttons (coffee beans). Kate's first snowperson: "Snowy," the Snowwoman.

Chris couldn't wait to try out the new sled. Kate was content just playing with the snow, but he persuaded her to make the maiden voyage with him.

Chris was really thrown by how fast they zipped down that dinky little slope.

At this point Chris thought they were headed for a big wipe-out. I was thoroughly enjoying the expression on his face.

Kate seemed completely unfazed by the speed. I think she was busy trying to catch air in her bucket.

Luckily, they stopped before reaching the highway.

"Let's do it again, Appa!"

The intrepid sledders.

Next, it was Momma and Kate's turn. Chris was able to get the last laugh. It was a lot faster than I expected:

Kate wanted to do it by herself. Dad gave her a push. Kate "Nanook of the North" Weyant on her solo ride. A brief rest under the blazing sun. Snow angels: We took a hot cocoa-marshmallow-string cheese-apple break. Then, more sledding! Chris and Kate tried out a much steeper hill. Surprisingly, the sled moved at tortoise-speed. More videos! Chris and Kate getting the hang of it: This is one of Kate solo. Chris and I both thought she was going too fast so I intervened with my foot: This one is of Chris and Kate trying out a new hill unsuccesfully. Poor Kate: She got snow up both nostrils and in her boots and cut her lip. She cried for a few minutes, then was fine again. When I showed her the video at home, she cracked up at her face plant. "Let's watch it again!" We watched it over and over, like the Zapruder film. And finally, Kate going solo and cackling all the way down: We had a wonderful snow day in sunny L.A.