Big Bear

We had a nice little weekend away in Big Bear.  On Saturday afternoon we watched the Kentucky Derby.

Noah was stuck to Geeps like glue.  He doesn't get to see Geeps nearly as much as he sees me. 
Since it was Cinco de Mayo, we went to a new Mexican food restaurant for dinner.  If you are familiar with Big Bear, you know that it is a beautiful place.  However, it is not known for it's eateries.  We chose a place we had not been to yet, but heard it was good.  Jacalito's.  NOPE.  Not good.  No bueno!!!!   When they brought the chips and those tasted awful, we should have left.  Crossing that place off of our list!! 
We went back to the cabin and watched a cute kids movie.  Monster House.  Noah loved it. 
We woke up to a chilly clear skied morning.  It was 32 when I got up, but warmed a bit when I took this.

Ducey helped us put peanuts out for the birds.

Noah loves to feed the birds.

After a lazy morning in the cabin, we got ready for our day.

We went to our one and only favorite place to eat on the mountain, Blanca & Pierre's for breakfast.  Delicious as always!  They are located in Boulder Bay, tucked in between the little Boulder Bay Market and a Realty.  She makes the best food!  We go every time we are in town.  Her burgers are the absolute best!!!  And she makes incredible pies and sweets.  We always wind up bringing something home with us. 
After breakfast we took Noah up to the zoo in Moonridge.  We always enjoy seeing the animals. 

The bald eagles mesmerize me.  I have only seen one in the wild once.  It was at Bass Lake.
None of my other pictures of the animals turned out too well, because I was using auto and the shots focused on the chain link, and not the animal.  But one of my favorite exhibits is the bears.  These bears were all relocated from Yellowstone after the three strike rule.  They had become aggressive towards humans.  

Noah rushed us through the exhibits a little, but he seemed to enjoy it too.

When we were leaving, he spotted this tube of cars in the little gift shop.  Who gets "cars" at the gift shop when visiting the zoo?   NOAH does!!!

I was a little bit surprised at the amount of snow left  up on the hillsides.  This is Bear Mountain Ski Resort, right next to the zoo.

I think the mountains are so beautiful.  In every season.  But Spring time just may be my favorite.  The lilacs come up wild everywhere.  Although we missed the lilacs this time, the daffodils put on a show every place we went.

We decided to take a new way back to the cabin, and drove along all of the side streets where pretty cabins dot the lake.  We were trying to decide which one to buy.  ( We wish!)

In about 10 years, we will retire to our favorite mountain community.   So we love to drive around and dream about where that will be.  However, it will most certainly not be right on the lake.   Darn!!
We made a stop at Boulder Bay and walked out onto the dock, and then through the park.

There were some guys having real good luck right off of the dock there.  Greg was wanting to "wet a line" real bad!!!  I took Noah and Geeps picture with Louie, and then we headed back to the cabin.

 

We took a couple more nature walks, and poked around before heading back down the hill.

Walking downstairs, I took this picture of a quilt I left up at my Mom's place.  This was not my first quilt made, but one of the early ones.  A large block sampler from Thimbleberries.  

 This is a photo I have always loved of my parents.  I think that they had this done at Octoberfest up here one year.  It hung in our other cabin too.  

It captures the sense of "fun" that we always had with our parents.  So many great times.  I was recently talking with our oldest daughter Gennifer, about how much work it is for the parents when planning and packing for a trip away.  Even if it is overnight.  But then, you get there, and you see the fun the kids have,  and it is always worth it.  My brothers and I have a childhood full of wonderful memories from the trips we took with our parents.  Of course, as a kid, we were never made aware of the countless hours spent planning, shopping for, packing for, and preparing for, these trips.  All we knew was the fun we had when we were there.  These great times from countless trips, fill our memories with happiness of our time spent as a family.  And THAT is why we do it.  THAT is why the work to pack and prepare, and plan, are always worth it.  My parents gave us that gift.  We gave our kids that gift.  And now, our kids are giving their kids that gift.  Thank you Mom and Dad for always giving us that!!  My Dad is no longer with us, but the memories that we have are priceless.   Luckily for Greg and I, we get to make some memories with our grandkids too, just like my folks did with all of our children.

We got back home yesterday afternoon, with just enough time for a quick shower, and then we shared a delicious dinner with Gennifer and Jake and the girls at their house.  And then, we ate pie!!!!

XO  Kris