Annual Sledding Party

The Collins family annual sledding party is today and despite the bitter, cold we are willing to throw our bodies (as well as our children's) down treacherous hills ... all in the name of "fun".

Brennan and Eric prepare the younglings for their first trip down the baby hill

Shawn walks the small victims back up for more of the same treatment.

Cody tried a daddy-double-decker-dive

Uncle Mike graciously takes Caleb down his first run

Shawn and Brennan are already starting to shiver

Needing more of a challenge, Cody throws himself on his belly and then thrusts himself down the baby hill

Cody and Caleb collaborate on a plan for more adventure ... they'll be graduating to the "big people" hill. No more baby stuff for them!

Atop the baby hill, Shawn and Brennan huddle for warmth ... kidding, they're tree huggers

Cody does a face plant, gets up and tries it again

Caleb's dressed and ready for the next challenge

Uncle Mike to the rescue! Down the big hill we go ... together

Mom and Cody give it a whirl ... what a blast!

Cody and Brennan race ... it appears the big guy is a little behind ...

But with some grit and determination, he finally catches up.

Time for the big boy race!

Being left in the dust, Shawn enjoys a little snow on his down time (really, look close. The kid's licking the snow. What a freak.)

Big hill time, Dad and Cody make multiple trips up the mammoth mound

An accomplice, Mom straps babies onto sleds and sends them plummeting down the hill (with shrills of delight)

Lydia gives the disk a try ... never to use it again

Another Daddy sandwich ... Cody's favorite

Dad, Mom and Brennan photo op

One last run before getting out of dodge ... Caleb's having trouble fitting on the sled

Ready ... Set ...

Go!

Splat!

Mom, stop making me take pictures. I'm cold!

Okay, okay ... a few more runs. Cody's looking a little frostbitten but pushes on

Another crowded baby train

Eric and Uncle Mike pick up the pieces at the bottom of the hill

Aunt Dinah drags them back up the hill for more punishment ... when will they learn?

Not yet ... Cody wants an Uncle Mike turn

Brennan wrecks from "I didn't know the tube was that bouncy!"

Where's Cody? I find him in the car with Aunt Kirstina who didn't last long in the snow due to a cold.

Aunt Jane shows up just as we're getting ready to leave ... what a cutie

Audrey and Lydia (best cuzie-buds) have to do a run together ... full of squeals (and sugar and spice of course)

What a fun day we had with our family, racing down snowy and treacherous hills with our little ones. The memories we make each year are fabulous (even if there are small injuries, frozen toes, and drippy noses). 

We went back to Granny's house for chili and cornbread and then unwrapped more Christmas presents. We enjoyed the warmth of home and a wonderful, large, and loving family.

Thanks Mom and Claire for staying home and getting the grub ready for all the frozen sledders. We love you!