SLEDDING

A few weekends ago, we took the kids sledding...for the first time. Truthfully, I was a bit surprised that we had never taken them sledding before. But this is also the first time in a very long time that I have not either been pregnant or nursing (which means someone too small to be out on a sledding hill). So we bought sleds, bundled up and drove 15 minutes away to a great sledding hill.

Thankfully, though it was a (surprisingly) beautiful day, there weren't too many people on the hill. We were grateful. It was a big hill. And it looked like everything was a long. way. down.

And here is why they now make cameras with a "snow" setting. Luckily, I thought of it.

This is much better! Here is Joseph going down on his own. This is not the big hill, but the little slope to the side. Much nicer for the little ones!

That sun was pretty bright and I worried (as I usually do) that Sarah would end up with a sunburn. She didn't, but she probably had some temporary blindness.

Here is Chad getting ready to send Sarah down with Leah. We believe in letting the kids grow up quickly. So the baby is thrown on with the 7-year-old. Good luck, girls!

Unfortunately, what goes down, must go up...if you want another ride. Unless you are Sarah who just rides in both directions. Mush, Leah!

No slacking around here! Pull your own sled, Joseph! It helps that he wanted to and wouldn't let anyone help him.

He didn't care much for the bigger hill, but Joseph was pretty comfortable on this 10 degree slant. It still gave him a decent ride.

Meanwhile, the big boys were on the big hill. Here's Nathan at the end of his ride. He made it to the bottom with the sled under his bottom...that's worth noting.

Here, Chad is going down (sideways) with Joseph and Sarah. Too bad you can't zoom into this picture; there is a nice grimace on Chad's face. I'm pretty sure there was one on Joseph's, too. (He didn't like the big rides.)

So, are we about done? The parents are getting tired.

Daniel burned quite a few calories this afternoon...most of them mid-air. He got a few valuable physics lessons, though.

Rebekah had a good time and was all giggles on her last "ride" down the hill. (She accidentally stepped on the sled she was trailing behind her and ended up riding the rest of the way.)

Sarah is very warm in this puffy jacket. And she can't move. The 2T snow bib isn't helping.

It looks like a successful afternoon. Time for tissues, and hot chocolate.

Of course, they fought the whole way home.

I haven't uploaded a video for a really long time. I took a short one with the camera to see how it would work out. This is Daniel on one of his short rides down the hill. They would have been longer rides if he'd listened to me and moved over a few feet. I guess he likes big bumps.