A boring two hour drive got us to the resort where I turned off to the upper ski area.  Almost at the parking lot, an attendant stopped us cold in our tracks.

Attendant: You guys going up to the ski area man?
Me: Uh, yah, is there anything else up there?
Attendant: No, but you can't park up there dude.
Me: Ok, so how do we ski at an area, we cannot drive to, that is open?
Attendant: Oh!  There is a shuttle that can take you dude!

So I turned around and made the trip back to the resort.  We parked at the resort, but did not see a shuttle.  Instead, we warmed up by playing in the snow.

It took Johnny a few minutes to figure out what to do in this weird, white, cold fluff.  Once he did, he dove in, thrashing and stomping in it.  He soon figured out that it was pretty good to eat as well.

The shuttle arrived as the driver had about 30 people in a half-assed kind of line waiting to get up to the ski area.  Apparently, there were no places to park, according to the driver.  Everyone boarded with Amber, Johnny and I, being the last ones in,  standing at the door, holding onto the pole provided.  Five minutes later, with aching biceps, we arrived.  There was ample parking available as I figured that was the case.  We quickly scouted the area as I have never been here while it was in service.

Area scouted and a mental list primed for adventure, we quickly made our way to the tube wheel so Johnny and Amber could get warmed up for the larger "rides".

Johnny jumped in, then Amber, and away they went.  Amber loved it as Johnny just could not figure out why this was fun.  I asked the attendant to stop so he could get out.  We stood there for a while watching Amber as she came around in different positions on each rotation.

It was cold.  Real cold.  A bracing 25 degrees, not taking into account the wind chill.  I felt Johnny's hands and they indicated it was time to go inside for some food and to warm up a bit.  We fumbled our way into the lodge that was well supplied for a family in need.  Pizza, hot cocoa, root beer, and for me,  a banana nut muffin fit the bill.  Finding an available table was harder than expected.  Just then, a nice lady who was up with her son taking ski lessons, offered us a spot at her table.  She worked at Lays and proceeded to tell us how they chopped the potatoes so fine, so fast. With the food rapidly consumed, it was time to play.

It started easy.  It started innocent.  It started with wonder and fascination.  It then turned downright callous.  Johnny found out just how much he likes throwing balls of snow at Daddy and how Daddy cannot do a darn thing about it.  Every snowball thrown was with accuracy.  Every hit brought forth laughter that sent the little man tumbling.  Don't let his innocent face fool you; that child has an arm.

We climbed to the top of the burm, overlooking the main corner of the inner tube slide.  Amber decided it was next on the list of things to do as we made our way to buy a ticket.  The people here were friendly and smiling as it was nice to talk to so many that were in a happy state of mind.

We got our ticket and Amber quickly got in line.  Johnny and I had other plans.  We made a small slide by me dragging him down one of the slopes leading to the lodge.  This created extreme consequences.

After Johnny and I made our slide, Amber was finished with the lift that took her to the top of the tube shoot.  The little fire ball smiled from ear to ear.  She pushed herself off of the top platform and accelerated quickly as she worked hard trying not to spin out of control on her way down.  It was over too soon as she was quickly back in line for another go.

One shoot.  Then two.  Then three.  Soon after, Amber sauntered over to see the slide that Johnny and I had built.  "Hmm.  I wonder if I could make it faster Daddy."  She took a running start and dove head first, sliding down it's length in seconds.  Soon afterwards, another child showed up with his parents.  Then another.  Within 15 minutes, there were 12 children, including Johnny, sliding one after the other.  At times, two would go together.  Then three.  It was quite the site to behold as all of us parents were admiring the way 12 children would slide in a flopping mess down this normal, everyday slope.

I had to work hard at convincing Johnny and Amber it was time to warm up once again in the lodge.  Ultimately, bribery, using hot cocoa and red licorice, got the children inside.  I asked the owner of the lodge when the next shuttle would arrive.  She mentioned that the shuttle had died and that another was coming from Mt. Hood Meadows.  Unfortunately, it would not be here for over an hour.  The cocoa flowed liberally.

We snapped a group photo just as the shuttle had arrived.  A mad dash was made before the shuttle reached it's capacity.  Once safe inside the rolling fortress, Johnny became calm.  A calm that only sleepiness could instigate.

We thumped our way to the truck from the shuttle's drop off point.  All loaded up, we sped down Copper Spur road at a whopping 20 MPH.  I glanced back to see how my little man was doing.  We had not left five minutes before he was out like a light.  I pulled off to the side of the road to create a make-shift pillow and cover him with my jacket.  Shortly after resuming our trip home, Amber was asleep as well.  A perfect day in the snow with my two little ones.  Who could ask for anything more?

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