sledding

Yesterday afternoon, Jake and I decided to try to make a snowman again. Instead of being too powdery like it was the day before, it was too icy. There was about a 1/2" of ice on top of the snow and by the time we broke the ice up, there wasn't enough snow underneath to roll a snowman. Jake wanted to walk instead. He really enjoyed picking up chunks of ice, throwing them, and watching them break into pieces as they hit more ice. We are so glad we bought snow boots while we were in Kentucky!

We decided to be adventurous and borrow our neighbor's sled and try out the little hill behind the garages in our apartment complex. Jake loved it! He even wanted to do it, "By myself!" Don't worry, I didn't let him. I think one year old is a little too young to sled by himself. I did let him ride on his belly and hold on while I pulled him back up the hill, which he thoroughly enjoyed. After we sledded for a while, Daddy came back out with him and sledded some more until it got dark. Jake was out playing for about 1 1/2  hours and cried when it was time to come in!

This morning we went over to my friend Amanda's neighborhood to try out a bigger hill. The main slope was too icy and fast (for little ones) from being worn down by lots of use so we went down a less steep area that hadn't been used. Jake loved it! He wasn't fazed by the faster speed at all! Amanda's little boy Owen (1) went down once and Corrie (3) just wanted to watch. She wasn't as daring as the boys:)

We had a great time and were bummed that Daddy couldn't join us. Sam was all bundled up and slept in his car seat with a blanket over the top protecting him from the wind. We can't wait for the next snow- Jake is a little snow bunny!

Our attempt at a snowman:( We couldn't roll the snow so we were trying to pack it into balls. It didn't really work very well...

Jake liked cleaning off the bumper of our neighbor's truck. He didn't want to stop until it was, "All clean."

He picked up this large chunk of ice on our walk and wanted to taste it:)

At the bottom of our little hill. Jake liked riding down on his belly, and I would kneel on either side of him and crouch down.

Jake, Amanda, and Corrie at the top of the hill by the lake. It was a popular hill. There were lots of kids and their parents out sledding with all kinds of makeshift sleds. We were the only ones with a real sled.

 About to go down...

Wheeeeeeee!

I'm not sure which Jake liked more, sledding down or being pulled back up the hill on the sled by himself:)

Jake and Mommy with the good old-fashioned sled.

Thanks, Lanny and Sharon, for letting us borrow it!

Corrie posing with her ice chunk before throwing it onto the ice on the lake.

Jake and Owen bundled up in the double jogger heading back to the car. Amanda pushed them while I pulled Corrie on the sled and carried Sam in his car seat back to the car.

It was time for Sam to eat so we had to head home, but Jake and Corrie wanted to get in a little more play time while we were loading the cars.

Jake and Corrie tasting the ice. You can see all the sledders in the background.