We arrived at the arena in time for our annual Skate with Santa - we took two cars because there were seven of us. As Peter and I pulled up, I saw my father-in-law's car across the parking lot, stopped in front of the sledding hill. After sitting there for a second, he drove away. He had already dropped off my mother-in-law and Sheldon. I wasn't sure what he was doing at the hill. I assumed that he was making a list. Or maybe checking it twice. It was Christmas Eve, after all.
After the skate we split up again to come home - this time Juliana drove with Grandma and Grandpa. The rest of us got home, took off our coats, I put on the mulled wine, and finally the others came through the door. My daughter, the worst secret-keeper in the world, wasted no time in ratting out her grandpa:
Do you know why it took us so long to get home? Grandpa stopped at the arena hill, got out of the car and asked a kid if he could borrow his toboggan. Then he slid down the hill.
I've known this man a long time and he'll probably kill me for telling this story, but this is why I adore him.
Scene 2: Boxing Day, Sledding hill across from our house
It was blowing cold but beautifully sunny outside. The kids wanted to go sledding and Peter was keen to join them. I was anxious to take my camera out so I went too. At the last minute, both grandmas decided that they'd come and watch the kids for awhile.
At least that's what they said.
We weren't at the hill for very long before my mother was in on the fun. First on the beginner (slow) sled on a small slope. Before I knew it she was whipping down the hill, crashing, and lying on the ground giggling like a school girl.
Thanks you two, for reminding me to embrace fun in the small moments. And to remember that you can never be too old to be a kid.
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And, just because we all had so much darn fun, here are more of our sledding photos:
