Big Brother Ben (week 203)

We took Christopher to the snow for the first time this weekend and he loved it. In fact, he loved eating it but that is the way that he experiences most of the world. Over the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the whole family loaded-up the Subaru and headed for Lake Arrowhead. Lucky for us, there was still a good deal of snow on the ground around Big Bear and we were able to spend a few days sledding, throwing snow balls, and eating the clean snow that what left. I fell a few times, took a snowball in the leg, and Christopher banged his head and face into just about everything he could find, but we had an awesome time and I was really sad when we had to leave.

We stayed in a cabin with two other families: our good friends the Modicas (Max and Lena), and the Joneses (Kaylen and Kora). We had fun playing on the pool table downstairs, watching movies, and eating popcorn at night. The cabin was fun because there were lots of staircases to run up-and-down, and you could see all the way to the ocean from the deck. I love playing with the girls who are about (6) days older than me; and Christopher loves to play with Max and Lena who are about (8) months older than him. At night we used to telescope to see the snow on top of Big Bear Mountain. Mama said it might have just been the white wall that we were looking at but I am pretty sure it was the big mountain.

Christopher and I have been getting a lot closer and playing together a lot more now that he is fully mobile. Every night, we chase each other for about 15 minutes around the living room and dining room table before going to bed. He laughs like crazy and waves his hands around in the air. During the day, we have been playing together a lot more. I have been showing him how to throw the ball through the field goal, or kick the ball into the soccer goal. We even like to sit on the couch together with the blanket on (for as much as 20 minutes at a time), watching a movie together. It is definitely a breakthrough and looks good for the future together of getting along well.

When we got back to Long Beach, there was a lot of laundry to do, cars to wash, and toys to put away. It was nice to be home though...and nice to go from the snow on the ground in the mountains (jackets and gloves), to 80 degree heat and beaches only an hour and a half away. As we pulled into the driveway we could still see the big snowy mountain from Long Beach.