Last week the mountains were covered with snow and I wanted to take my girls to do some pictures. On Tuesday after work I told them to glamorize and load up some lip gloss and a chair so we could go to Wrightwood. Our trusty driver Cap'n Ken drove us up and I got a few shots off the side of the road. Here are my Girls looking cute as ever.
I told them to toss some snow
Cap'n Ken thought meant he was suppose to throw snow also.
This is what happened when he realized he wasn't suppose to throw snow.
There wasn't much sun when we got there so Ken thought we should chase the sun. We drove through Wrightwood and down past the Girls camp to Jackson Lake (which is really a pond). When we got there this lovely lady and her dog were there. She had gotten locked out of her car. I took pictures and Ken tried to get her car open with a hanger. It was getting very cold and starting to get dark as well. She had walked to a nearby cabin and used their phone to call her husband. She just got the message machine. Her dog had the most beautiful eyes. She had the most lovely French accent.
We tried to talk her in to coming with us into town where we could get cell phone reception until she made contact with her husband. She wouldn't budge she was sure she would be fine. She mentioned the picture taking and said she dabbled in photography of horses. She mentioned she posts her photos on her website.
I got the URL . OK if that is dabbling then I shouldn't even get out my camera .
We drove into town and tried tirelessly to get in touch with her husband. Then we called AAA to come unlock the door for her. They said they needed at least and hour and a half to get there and then they kept calling us because they couldn't figure out where we were. We stopped at the store for munchies while we were waiting.
Finally we decided to go back to the lake just to see if she was OK since it was dark and cold. She was gone. When we got home Ken contacted her through her website to make sure she was OK.
Now I didn't mention that in the midst of all this we shoveled snow into the back of the truck so that Dani could leave it on Cameron's front yard as part of her invitation to Backwards.
Pictures taken - check
New friend rescued - check
Tasty Snacks - Check
Backwards invitation - Check
Beautiful snow and sunset - Check
A few hours of out of the ordinary family time - Check
This just in: a
link to the photo's from Christine that she took of her dog that same day before we arrived. Almost enough to make me want a dog.
A few years ago I picked up a little book called Coraline in the children's section of the bookstore. I remember reading it and thinking that it was really kind of unusual and strange for children. 
Now just a few years later it has been made into a movie. Done by the same director of The Nightmare Before Christmas it looks very intriguing. In the story Caroline goes to a different world where all the adults have button eyes. See above, that is the Other Mother Lisa. At first the Other Mother seems much better than her real Mother. But as you might quess, the Other Mother isn't really what she seems. I have read the book and not seen the movie but I say don't be afraid of it. It's a good ol' fashioned fright for kids that's not too much. Now I am talking about older kids. I wouldn't read it to a 5 year old. How about 5th grade and up. Also check out the movie website it lets you make your own button-eyed picture as well as other entertaining activities. You could make an Other Mother picture for your own children to remind them to love you the way you are! Finally as always read the book before you see the movie.
The strips were placed in favorite green cherry bowl. 
Then unbiased non participating person pulled a strip from the bowl.
And the winner is.......Katey Kirtley!
