2004.01.27 Snow and Ice Storm Equals Sledding

Max likes to walk in the snow... Me? Not so much. We had about six inches of snow yesterday, followed by freezing drizzle all last night, which gave us a nice crust on top of the snow: perfect sledding material.

Max was just happy to be outside after being stuck inside with the flu for the past few days.

This is the little hill behind our little block of townhouses. Perfect for a four year-old sledder and his wussy dad.

The intrepid sledders with their virgin snow boogie, ready to brave the gigantic mountain they were about to attack without mercy. YEAAAA-GHH!!! (thanks, Howard)

Our first attempt. Just setting the sled down on the snow, it wanted to leap down the hill... I was a little nervous.

Success!! We didn't die, lose any limbs or impale ourselves. Let's do it again!

Max kept asking, "How do I get up the hill? How do I walk?" "Like a duck!" I said... I had to go back down the hill and show him how. He picked it up pretty quick.

Max wanted to go down ALL by himself... so I made him lay down and hold on tight (I figured it would give him less distance to fall if he tumbled off).

And aaaaaa-way he goes!! There was no screaming... well, from Max anyway.

He made it down like a pro... didn't fall off or nothin'. And the ice/snow combo made for a wicked fast ride. As you'll see in a minute.

There's the proud father, watching as his son makes it safely down the hill.

We're just kind of a dark lump up there, but this was trip three... Me laying face down on the sled, and Max laying on top of me. We were hoping to clear the hill and make it to the manhole cover halfway to the creek.

Look ma, I can steer! I just roll my fat ass to one side or the other and we change direction. This snow boogie is awesome.

The expert snow boogiers on their way to their goal... the sled's path now an icy slick all the way down.

Stop looking at my butt.

Not quite successful, Max shows his "determined" face.

"It was like we were flying!!"

This is what we could have hit... but we didn't. Why? We're expert snow boogiers (not boogers). Have I said that yet?

Attempt two at breaking the distance record.

Notice Max listing to one side.

Max fell in love with ripping big chunks of ice up off the snow. One decided to stick around and fight back.

Max loved going down the hill, but wasn't too fond of going back up.

Attempt three... will they make it?

And there they go, down the home stretch!! We made it, although Max ejected himself near the bottom of the hill, just rolled right off - on purpose. He laughed his fool head off about it too.

Aren't we cute? Don't let the smile fool you, my butt was about to fall off... it was frozen solid.

It was really hard getting him on the sled, holding on, keeping the sled from shooting out from under me, and getting us lined up in the right direction... but we did it... AND made it to the manhole cover!

I had no idea I looked like a penguin until I saw this picture... a giant, fat, mutant penguin.

See? I TOLD you we made it to the manhole cover.

Again, Max didn't like going up the hill.

It took lots of cajoling.

I stood on the manhole cover (the first one) for warmth. I don't want to know what causes the warmth. Don't even think of telling me.

Max, slowly making his way up the hill... slowly. Too slow for my frozen butt.

He kept eating the snow... I kept telling him, "You don't know where that snow has been!"

Max goes, sitting down, all by himself. Yeah, he's smiling now, but he'll miss me... right?

And off he goes, like a shot... Ok, maybe not like a shot, more like a belligerent camel.

::Whoosh::

Max couldn't get the sled up the hill... He kept flipping it over, trying to will it to turn into a wheel and roll it up the hill. So, I went down and rescued him.

Those cheeks were not retouched... honest.

"Come on Max, daddy wants to go down again."

The last attempt. Max, like a condemned man before a firing squad, decides it's better not to watch. I'm an idiot, so I'm lookin'.

Did I say that my legs were really cold too? If I had thought of it at the time, I could have used my nose as a rudder.

And there we go, a luge team unclear on the concept.

Max ejects before the ride's over again. On purpose. I made it PAST the manhole cover that time. I'm a boogie genius, you all realize that, don't you?

"No, really, I'm not going to carry you up the hill. You can do it. You ride down, you walk up."

I did not drag my son up the hill by his arm. I swear. Jen can testify.

I left him halfway up. The kid's gotta learn sometime. "Mush, you toddler, mush!!!"

"Mush yourself, old man, I want hot chocolate." And thus ends our sledding adventure.