Madd Max Heads Out To The Slopes

While the driving looks easy here, it was actually quite difficult to get out onto the main road.  Enough so, that for awhile there was a fear we would not be able to leave for the day - luckily, there was enough food to tide us over.

Once out in town, the Kender-Page hit the inner tube slopes.

The kids were thrilled that they both got to tube on their own.

Whee!

Back at home, men in their layers (Eric is the only one of the group who actually hit the real slopes on his snowboard).

Madd Max Settles In

Some Pictionary.

Some homemade pasta.

Some time on the climbing wall in one of the bedrooms.

Kid dinner.

Adult dinner.  What's not to love in all these faces.

A birthday cake for Jess.

And some fine game playing.

Madd Max Head To Big Bear Take 2

But first some breakfast to prep for all the traffic.

What we did see upon arrival was pretty amazing.  Snow everywhere, and a few snowmen already standing.

The kids loved shoveling the deck off.  In bare feet.  With no pants.  And some plumber's crack.

John explains daylight savings to K-Dub.

Thankfully upon arrival drinks and food were plentiful.

And the hot tub was warm.

So relaxing with 7 kids.

And inside birthday celebrations were just beginning with more apps.  Aarin seen here playing sous chef to Sam.

Madd Max Head To Big Bear

At 3:30pm, Jess and the kids headed out in the pouring rain.  At 8:00pm, Jess put on snow chains in said rain all by herself.  At 8:10pm, the car got stuck in the snow and began to slide towards the edge of the mountain.  At 8:20pm, Jess took off the chains in the pouring rain and headed to a local restaurant.

And then a local-ish hotel.

Slappy Heads To Planned Parenthood

 Where she worked on her sign for the Women's March (she came up with what she wanted to say by herself) and Jess filled out letters to her various Congressmen and Senators.

"Obamacare is important to us so KEEP it!"

Madd Max Take Down Christmas

 And got to open their tree presents once everything was down.

Which revealed Lego sets, which kept the kids busy for 2 1/2 hours while Taisie wrote out Christmas cards.  Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Madd Max Bring In The Year

At Great Uncle Rick's with the addition of Uncle Wills and Aunt Ally.

Happy 2017, Great Grandma!

On the flight home, Max got to pick out his meal.  He choose Lunchables, something he has never had before.  It was bliss.

Back in LA.

Where we got to baggage claim and got another surprise - the Page-Bethels were on there way to New Zealand and stopped by for an in-person goodbye.

It was wonderful.

Cousin-love.  Which later led to Maddie sobbing because she did not want them to leave, but it was still worth it.