double snowy celebration

Feb 13-16, 2009. Just got back from a 4-day stay in South Lake Tahoe where we spent Valentine's day and Racrac's 1st birthday. Friday the 13th we left Fremont around 7am, picked up Auntie Bella and Norma in San Francisco and proceeded to HWY 50 despite radio warnings that the road has been temporarily closed due to heavy snowfall. Luckily, it was reopened a couple of hours later but we had to put on tire chains somewhere in Apple Hill. We arrived safely after a 7-hour drive and we were rewarded with what we came for: snow, snow, snow!

We fell in love with our 3-bedroom warm and cozy knotty-pine cabin located just 2 blocks from the lake. it has everything we needed...even wireless internet (yehey!). it gives you that homey feeling especially when all you want to do is snuggle or enjoy a warm drink to fight the chill. temperature was 24degF (-4degC) at 6pm, waaayyy too low for us who are so used to the 50degF average winter temp in the Bay Area.

We woke up to a heavy snowfall on Valentine's day but the sun showed up around noon so we went out for some souvenir-shopping and sightseeing. The lolas spent a couple of hours at the casino located just a block from the California-Nevada stateline while Fil, Racrac and i strolled around Heavenly Village, checking out the stores and watching the gondolas go up and down the alpine mountain. We promised to ride next year. Racrac is still too young now and uncooperative for this kind of adventure.

Fil cooked steak for dinner but he had to do it pan-grilled 'coz it was too cold to do the grilling outside. Come to think of it, it was the same dinner he prepared for me last Valentine's (i was already having serious labor contractions at that time) which made me think it was probably why i ended up at C-section. I was so stuffed last year baby Racrac had difficulty coming out hihihi.


Sunday, Feb 15, was Racrac's birthday. We went out to play in the snow but Racrac cried as soon as we put on his snow bib and jacket. Poor birthday boy! Only his face was left exposed and he didn't like it so we settled for a few photos in the snow and that was it. Maybe next year he'll be happy to meet Mr. Snowman.

Late afternoon we went to Harrah's for my casino baptism-of-fire but the whole place was covered in cigarette smoke so we transferred to Bill's for a non-smoking casino fun. Fil stayed with Racrac at the bar while i and the lolas gambled. They taught me how to operate the slot machine and after i learned the basics it was easy. All it really required from me was to press the "spin" button on the screen to play the game. I marched out of the casino $28 richer, a great feat considering i only bet 15 cents for every game and we played for only a little over an hour. Could it be beginner's luck? Maybe.

Auntie Bella treated us to a buffet dinner at Harrah's then we went back to the cabin to light racrac's birthday cake. He doesn't 't know how to blow the candle yet but he sure knows how to play with his cake. So messy but soooo cute! :-)

Monday, President's day holiday, was time for us to go home. Traffic was slow...we were literally crawling our way out of the town. We even had to drive against a snowstorm and when it was finally safe, we removed the chains. It was cloudy when we entered San Francisco and the rain poured after we dropped the lolas and we headed home.

And that's what i can call a vacation: stress-free, no schedule to follow, most of our time spent indoor watching TV together, singing to Racrac's playtime DVD, sharing a meal, chatting over coffee or simply gazing out the window and watch the flurries dance their way down to the already-snow-covered-ground. I love snow, especially the feel of the flurries lightly touching my cheeks and the sight of houses and cars and trees covered in pure heavenly white...definitely mother nature's work of art.

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