Ski to Hot Chocolate!

What does the title of this post mean?

Not much. Unless you happened to be standing in line at Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort last week.

That's where NJ spontaneously broke out into this refrain. It's a silly little song he began singing. And we all joined in. Sure, it was repetitious. But after awhile, you simply give yourself over to the absurd fun of it.

It was just part of a very interesting trip to California.

There, NJ learned that "family" meant more than his mom and dad and occasional visits from his Nanna and Poppop from South Carolina.

He immersed himself in an ocean of family craziness... and love.

In particular, he buddied up with my sister's daughter, who is one year older... and just as inclined toward the absurd.

They bonded instantly. And they played for three solid days. Intensely.

They traded video games. They played board games. They watched Up! (great movie). They played with Tank the dog in the garage, where he - a giant Lab - entertained them for approximately 20 minutes by eating an enormous, raw potato.

The house was full of holiday guests at that time. And Caroline, NJ's niece, was overheard telling him: "Don't you wish everyone would leave, so we could start having fun?"

She really does "get him" apparently.

To see NJ soaking up all the easygoing family love for days on end... and reciprocating... was balm for the soul. He snuggled on the couch with blankets, drank tea, watched football with Grandpa.

One night he took center stage. He stood in the middle of the living room and sang ridiculous songs to a rapt audience of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and a couple additional house guests.

He sat at the kitchen counter, gobbling cookies and answering questions. He warmed up to Grampa, giving him a big hug on the second day. He asked people how they were doing in the morning.

And yes, he spent plenty of time in the bedroom playing his computer games, too. (I don't underestimate his need for decompression time, especially amid a new and busy environment, no matter how loving.)

It was, all in all, an incredible experience. NJ absolutely took to his giant extended family in Northern California. And they absolutely fell in love with his amazing little personality - his self-assuredness. His absurdist sense of humor. His gentle, seven-year-old love. His penchant for singing silly songs and monologuing about video game adventures.

My favorite moment: having to tell him, rather lamely, to "calm down". He was dashing through the house, back and forth, amid a game of hide and seek with his cousin. But they were both laughing too hard, and having too much fun, for me to say it a second time.

Peace.