We decided to head up to our favorite close mountain ski resort called Snow Valley near Big Bear Resort. It was a perfect day being mostly sunny. It was still chilly, but a gorgeous day.
Alexander got a new snowboard with boots on Saturday so he was all prepared. Also, he had been practicing a lot of skateboarding moves with his Rip Stick that he had gotten for Christmas last month, so that had helped him be more confident.
We got up there in time for half day (12-4pm). He was super excited. We got a parking spot in the front of the resort so that was nice. He got suited up and we followed him up to the base where he practiced for a few minutes.
Not long after, he was already to go onto the lift all by himself. He was a natural at it, as though he had done it all his life!
We waited at the base for him to come down. It took him a little while to get down. We could see him up at the top of the hill, working his way down slowly. He would stop to talk to other kids and adults (like the social butterfly he is) and he eventually came down to the bottom of the lift. He LOVED it.
He went up again and again and got faster and faster each time. It was fun to watch him. It was making us want to go too! We took lots of pictures and video of him.
Rudy and I then went to the car and sat in the warm car and watched him from our perfect view of the hillside from our seats as he went up and down the hill. Toward the end of the day, Alex asked if he could do the Sledding hill also before we left, so we got him a lift ticket for this fun hill and watched him go up and down this fun activity for a while before they closed for the day.
We had such a FUN and exciting day. Everything went so well.
We headed back down the mountain and we stopped off at our dear and good friends the Strong family who live in Mentone, CA which is at the base of the mountain. We first ate a super dinner at the good restaurant called Old Spaghetti Factory and then stopped to say hi to the Strong's. They were so happy to see us.
Amy Strong is my good friend and old neighbor. She loves my boys and always asks how they are doing. She loves to see Alex every time and we laugh about how much fun it was when we lived near her and had fun times. She said that Alex looks exactly like Jordan. She noticed that Alex is the same age as when Jordan left Mentone to go live with his dad, so she commented on how much Alex looks just like Jordan as she remembered him. Her husband just became the Stake President of their Stake in Redlands. Wow, that is a BIG responsibility and honor for them! They really are some of the best and most super people we have ever meet. We love them.
Then we headed home. It turned out to be a great day. Photos below.