I Dare You to Try to Do It Without Smiling

Yesterday we went up to the mountains with our good friends the Maloys, to a great sledding spot they found last winter near The Crags, on the back of Pike's Peak. The sledding area had changed a bit, a big parking lot had been built, but it was still so great. There is something about sledding that puts a big grin on your face, as you fly down the hill on the slick, soft snow. Honestly, we were having such a good time, you couldn't have wiped the smiles away!

Ruby got a kick out of racing Adam and I down the hill then welcoming us to the bottom with licks and attempts to join us on the sled.

Sadly, Zach wasn't feeling well, so he ended up staying home with my dad, who is taking care of his back strain and wasn't going to be able to sled anyway. But my mom went with us and took a few turns on the hill herself!

Luke, who doesn't have a lot of daredevil in him, wasn't interested in going down any of the slopes, but he did discover that being pulled along the flat snow on the sled wasn't all that bad.

Ben's two front top teeth are getting ready to fall out. You can see the funny gap that has formed to the left of them. This might be the last picture I get of those sweet baby teeth!

Josh had so much fun! He tends to start complaining of cold or tiredness with a lot of outdoor winter activities, but he didn't complain at all yesterday. It was great! He just headed up the slopes, dragging his sled, and flew down them time after time.

Ruby was having a great time too.

The day was beautiful and warmish in the sun!

Luke is the only one who got a little cold from time to time, but we always got him warmed up again; sometimes with extra jackets, sometimes with kisses. Tommy was so snuggled in, he was toasty warm! He didn't even wake up until just before we were getting ready to go home. Of course then he needed to eat, and then spit up all over me and himself, and blew out of his diaper in volumes, all of which I was trying to clean up with him on my lap in the car with the doors closed to the cold...and one wipe. It was quite the disgusting challenge! I guess that did wipe the smile off my face for a bit.

Here he is with Daddy, re-diapered, re-dressed, re-bundled, and getting a wee taste of chilly mountain air.

Jen and Vern brought their camp stove with some cocoa to share, so we all found a tasty way of warming up as the sun moved behind the trees and the temperature fell.

When can we go again?!