(Normally, I’d be listening to music while I write, but I’m listening to Mariners game because they’re only a game back in the standings and it’s a day after Memorial Day…so this is rare and deserves attention.)

Today was the last day of the snowboard season for me.  May 29…not too shabby.  I think A-Basin is open until June 3rd, and I can always hike Saint Mary’s Glacier if I get hard up to ride, but for all intents and purposes, today was the end.

The last day of the season is always bittersweet for me.  I like the change in seasons and the warmer weather, but winter is my favorite.  In fact, the wife thinks I have reverse Season Affective Disorder.  I’m fine for now, but after the 4th of July I’ll get a little depressed and/or grumpy from the lack of riding.  That will last until the first snowflakes fly in late September.  Some people run, some people read, and some people go to the gym for their release; I snowboard.  There’s just something about being on top of a mountain, fresh powder, and a board strapped to my feet that helps clear my mind.  I like summer activities.  I enjoy skateboarding, mountain biking, and hiking, so I’ll stay active and entertained, but they don’t compare to snowboarding.

I have no complaints about this season.  With lots of help from the wife, I did get 33 days in this year.  That’s not bad at all for being a dad of a 4 and 2-year-old.  I even got the 4-year-old on the hill a couple of times this year.  The highlight of the season was a trip I took with some buddies to Winter Park and Steamboat back in March.  Great times, great friends, and great snow.

All good things must come to an end and this snow season ended with a bang…well…a poop!  Our 2-year-old is funny.  Lately, she’s been pulling off her diaper, saying, “Poop!” sitting on her potty chair, and grunting and acting like she’s going to go…but she doesn’t.  Then she’ll get this huge smile on her face and giggle, and we’ll all laugh.  It’s super funny and we all get a kick out of it.

Well today, after I had taken a few runs on the hill and came home, the kids were playing on the back porch while the wife and I were cleaning up after dinner.  We hear Tiny doing her little potty routine, but we think nothing of it.  Then, all of a sudden, Littles runs into the house and yells, “POOP!”  The wife and I immediately think Tiny has just pooped on the back porch and Littles is just warning us of the clean up that’s coming.  The wife and I dart out the door to find a log in Tiny’s potty chair!  TINY POOPED IN THE TOILET!  We were shocked!  We haven’t really been working on this with her yet, but it looks like we’ll have to start!  We all celebrated and cheered like she hit a walk-off home run!  Then the girls got ice cream treats to reward Tiny’s accomplishment.

And that’s the life of being a dad.  One minute you’re snowboarding and a couple of hours later,  you’re celebrating poop.  You just never know.  Congrats Tiny!

(By the way, the Mariners pen melted down and they lost 9-5.  Still a game back.  Gotta love Mariners baseball.)