Forty and Idyllwild

I didn't get many pictures (and those that I did get were blurry) but, rest assured, we did celebrate Nippon's 40th birthday!! He's not one for big parties so I bought a couple of little cakes, put some candles on one, and the kids and I sang him happy birthday.

I had been planning on booking a nice beach-side resort here in SD, but Nippon said he preferred to go to the mountains for a birthday weekend getaway. We decided to go to Idyllwild. It's this super cute town in the San Jacinto Mountains north east of San Diego. We rented a cottage that was within walking distance to shops, food, and entertainment.

This was the view from the master bedroom.

Foggy morning.

It was especially nice having a kitchen and a place to sit down and eat.

Everyone loved cuddling up in front of the fire. There's something about building a fire, and the subsequent smell, that completes a chilly mountain vacation experience. 

Did I mention it snowed?!! We were crazy excited when we read the weather reports that there was a chance of snow. It was the end of April, so we had our doubts about any real snow falling. 

We were wrong. And quite happy we were!

It was mostly frozen rain...

but we did get a bit of snow dusting too.

On our last day we went to Oma's for breakfast. If only our Oma was there!

Before getting in the car for the 1.75 hour drive home, we stopped and got our wiggles out at this unique and colorful park. The kids really liked the tire swing! 

Goodbye Idyllwild. We shall be back!