Sledding in Arizona

For most kids growing up in Phoenix, sledding in the winter is going to look something like this:



















If you can tell from the picture above, this is Jared & Will on a sled, being pulled through our neighbor's grassy winter lawn by a couple of ten year old boys (not pictured).

This past weekend, we were able to change it up for them a bit and actually go up to the snow in Flagstaff and let them experience what the rest of they country calls, "winter."

We had a great time. Jared is at the age where he gets really into it - and actually keeps his mittens on! He had a so much fun throwing snowballs and tromping through the snow in his boots. Daddy made the boys a snow slide off the back deck, which made for hours of amusement. The snow slide, or "snow chute" as Daddy named it, had the added bonus of keeping the boys' feet relatively warm as they were climbing up and down stairs instead of stomping through thigh high snow (thigh high for a 3 year old). We learned the hard way we had to practically set a timer and get them inside before they were frozen to the bone. Otherwise, they would totally overdo it and stay out in the cold way too long. Toddlers and moderation are not two words you often hear in the same sentence.

Jared was the brave leader. He started out on a garbage can lid, but decided it was even faster to go down unassisted. Even though the drop wasn't too big by our standards, we decided helmets were in order and better safe than sorry. If any kid could figure out how to hurt themselves sledding off the back deck - good chance it would be one of ours!




















This is Will heading down. It was hysterical because after he had on all of his winter clothes, he could hardly pivot at the waist. He went down flat on his back like a big marshmallow baby. More than once when he would fall over, he couldn't get back up. Sort of like an upside down turtle - he would just lay there and call for help. Crack me up!!




















My three men - so cute together!!




















Not pictured is the massive snow cave Daddy made for him and the boys - this too was a major hit. I took some short video on my phone of the snow slide excitement ... I apologize for the cell phone quality - but you get the idea! How fun to be a kid ... how fun to be their parents!!