Party Time

Sledding this morning!  Again, when given the choice between skiing and something else (sledding), Leiden chose sledding.  It actually works out better because we can all participate.  Andy and Emily knew of a great sledding hill, so off we went.  I had forgotten how scary sledding can be.  Exhilarating, but I have a very difficult time looking past the danger.  I try really hard not to be overprotective, but it's something I have to work at. 

 

Mac was absolutely fearless.  Down the hill as many times as she could.  She didn't look to make sure the path was clear, she would run and jump on the sled to get it going.  Wow.  Her oops moment happened when she accidentally (because you can't steer, anyway) went over a jump at the bottom of the hill.  I didn't see it--wish I had--but I'm told she caught about 3 feet of air, and then landed flat on her face.  Some blood and a scratched lip later, she was pretty beat.  Luckily she had already gone down many times.  Then, of course when she did decide to go down, she literally blew RIGHT into a little girl.  Smack into her legs.  The girl actually flipped over Mac and the sled and landed on her head.  Luckily the girl was wearing a helmet, and her legs remained unbroken!  Mac wasn't fazed.  My favorite part about the whole thing was when Mac was asked if she had fun going over the jump her reply was, "It was fun going down the hill, and it was fun going on the jump, and it was fun in the air, but it wasn't fun when I hit the ground."  How true.

 

 

Leiden loved to go down the hill, too.  Her scariest moment happened when she and I were going down together on the least streamlined sled, and as we turned slowly sideways the edge caught the snow, and we rolled over and over--me basically right over her head a couple times.  More scared than hurt, she recovered nicely and had many more runs down the hill.  But no more with me!

 

 

Brad had a distance contest going the whole time with Andy and Colin.  He wanted a big push to try and beat the current record. 

 

 

Mimi was astoundingly good at sledding.  She probably went down the hill at least 10 times in this tiny Swiss Bob.  She did so well leaning into the hill, and was remarkably not scared.  I think her worst part was getting back UP the hill.  Although she had a great time, she did not get out unscathed, either.  She was headed down the hill, and Brad was down at the bottom after a run of his own.  He waited at the bottom for her, and when he could see where she would be coming he stood in front of her path.  As she was drawing nearer, he opened up his legs wide so she could go right through, and at the top of the hill, Andy and I simultaneously gasped.  Brad was holding his sled in one hand, and the rope handle in the other, which spread the nylon rope in a straight line between his legs.  Mimi was clotheslined right across the chin.  Her progress was stopped rather quickly as she flew backwards.  A little bit of a scratched chin, but all was well.

 

 

Tonight was Grandma's party at the church gym.  We were excited to bring along our new Plasma Cars and get some use out of them.  They were actually quite the hit.  The young Macdonald boys and the young Macdonald girls had to practice some serious sharing, and even some of the grown ups took a turn!

 

 

 

 

Brad and his brothers were playing basketball and Mimi wanted in.  You can kind of tell from the angle of this picture that she pretty much throws the ball straight up in the air. 

 

 

Brad helped her try to reach her goal, but even with Daddy's help she was a bit too short.

 

 

We played some fun relay games, including a box feet relay.  

 

 

And a walk with a balloon between you legs relay.  This one was pretty funny. 

 

 

Mimi wanted to participate, but she just couldn't figure out how to keep the balloon between her knees and move forward.  Her progress was hampered until we told her to just hold it there.

 

Seriously, if it weren't for me knowing the colors of the girls' outfits, I wouldn't be able to tell if this was Mac or Mimi. 

 

 

We had a great time, Grandma!  Thanks for throwing a great party!