Our Big Day at Big Bear

On a bright day at Big Bear Lake, we headed for Alpine Magic Mountain. This small amusement park offers Family fun activities year round.

Since we were there for the Winter Activities, we decided to start off slowly especially with our young sons. First, we joined the sliding down the hill with our rubber tubes. Dylan was able to go alone because he was over 48 inches yet got a free admission because he is not even seven. Ryan had to go with me on every rides.

Before we went on a top of the hill, we entered in a tubing hill that has escalator. I admitted I thought it was pretty cool especially who were not feeling security to go on a chair lift. On our first round, Dylan wanted to be close to me. We held each other's rubber tube while Ryan was on the top of me. It was not easy for me especially of his age and his weight! Lucky David, who was at the bottom of the hill to preserve his hernia repair, enjoyed and took pictures of us.

On our second round trip, Ryan decided to carry his own rubber tube against his weight. He definitely had a strong-willed to do whatever he could do on his own. By the time we were on the top, Dylan was gallant enough to go on his own while we were behind him. However, the other couples crashed on us.

After we made a three round, Dylan wanted to go on a scenic chair lift. Since Dylan could not go with me nor David helping him due to his height, he kept saying that he wanted to go alone. You know how panic I would, but I had to remain calm. Dylan was gallant enough to go alone while I was in a front of him with Ryan to keep an eye on Dylan.

As for me, the operator had to stop me shortly because I was not able to do fast enough to get it on the chair lift with Ryan before we went up on the of the hill. Admittedly, it had always been my weakness though I was able to ski, but not getting on a chair lift. Wasn't that strange?

By the time we were on the top of the hill, we could see the most panoramic views of beautiful Big Bear Lake and the surrounding mountains. I wish we could have a house on the top of this awesome view.

From there, we navigated our own individually controlled sleds. Boy, I was not sure if either of us would flipped over the two-quarter mile long cemented track with lots of turn and straightways on our Teflon runners and ball bearing wheels. Dylan and I were able to apply the control the speed with the control handle. But Dylan would rather to accelerated the speed to the end, instead of using the brake. At the end of the ride, he made a hard hit without getting hurt. Good grief, he was not like Dale Earhart, the race driver! I was the total opposite of Dale Earhart because I was a designed driver since Ryan was with me.

Boy, I was pretty pooped out after dealing with two active kids and even had a lack of sleep. We soon were heading for home. While I was resting, David took over the van and drove on our way back home in a late afternoon. On our way home, the fog reminded me as if we were in a movie, "The Shining." It was scary especially driving on a wet road, without needing to put our chains. But that was not the only thing we saw... it was full of clouds over the mountain. It looked like we were in Heaven. I guess it was the sign that we would be arriving home safe and sound.

Indeed, I had to say it might be corrected because the next day was "raining cats and dogs" in our home area. We evoked ourselves we might have been caught in a bad blizzard storm up in Big Bear Lake.

Nevertheless at the end of our mini get-away vacation, we would not argue that it was one of the lifetime memories, especially for the boys' first time experiencing in the snow. There was no way to replace this quality of time to spend together. Life is too short to waste. Grab and spend the time with your loved ones.