SLEDDING ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Our new house is within walking distance from the big sledding hill. Christmas eve at around 3pm, we bundled up and went to the hill. It was starting to get dark, but getting out of the house was very much needed (for me and the kids.)

Colton got a sleigh ride to the hill. I found out he really doesn't like hats on his head. He screamed if the hat fell over his eyes. The cold didn't bother him at all. Completely calm.

4 kids sledding. The hardest part is getting everyone ready. One of them cant find their gloves, another can't find their shoes. I have even created "winter bins" for each of the kids but their gear doesn't always make it to their destination. This day we started getting ready around 2:15pm and it took 45 minutes to get out the door.

Trey pulled Mattie and Morgan pulled Colton. I took pictures. As long as everyone is doing something, it minimized the amount of complaining.

Morgan is healing really well from her surgery. She is now eating again...which is very good. She was the one that cried to go sledding and was full of energy when it was time to go. Everyone did fight over pulling Colton...even Mattie.

We made it to the top of the hill. It was dark. So, in the dark, we sled. That's what we do since it is dark more than light. The snow, rain, dark....nothing scares us away. (Unless it is blowing sideways).

I know what your all thinking "What is on her hood?" My daughter sat too close to the fireplace. I guess she was cold...

When I was a kid, my parents took all 6 of us kids sledding up in the blue mountains. It was an all day event. I remember the hill was huge and as the day went on, more families would go to this same hill in the middle of no where. We were city kids, so I'm sure we didn't have anything really nice for winter gear...which is why I remember being FREEZING COLD and barely making it up and down more than once.
My point: Good winter gear is the key to a good sledding trip.

Where it looks like Trey is pushing Colton, he really was just moving him back and forth for the ride.

After about 1 hour, it was time to pack up in the dark, and walk back down the long hill and head back home. It was Christmas Eve after all and time to unwrap our 1 present before Santa came.