Sledding.

I heard Diablo Cody say the other day that she thinks some high school kids end up having sexual relations because they are bored and there is nothing on tv. (incidentally, if this is true, then the christian coalition, or whoever, best be getting their nose up in this writer's strike soon or we're going to be having babies like a war just ended.) I maintain that kids are doing it because they aren't spending enough time out in the snow on sleds. There are so many baby-making prohibitive things about sledding. Layer upon layer of clothing. Oppressive cold. Runny noses. I'm not sure why it isn't taught in schools frankly.
The spectacularly consistent snowfall in Utah this season has provided more than its share of frustrations. Traffic has been a nightmare. I have had to literally dig myself a path out of my driveway more than a few mornings and I am constantly standing in snow at work. But, on the positive side, neither of my kids have ever seen this much snow, and seeing them so awed and excited is worth any number of long drives. After one of the big snows storms in January all the snow on our roof came crashing down in a giant avalanche. (Our roof is metal and this happens after every snow storm actually.) My childish mind instantly saw the potential for a sleding hill, and with the help of my neighbor, a snow blower, a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood, and three hours of spare time we created the first annual Connors' front yard sledding hill. It has been a success thus far, though Ashley would tell you that I obsess about the hill's maintenance way too much. I find myself wanting to groom it nightly, and, since fresh powder is not ideal for a sleding hill, I spend a fair amount of time working on it after each storm. Oh, but it is worth it. Here are some photos of the hill's season thus far. You may notice the height of the ramp increasing over time.



Sophie and her friend Henry on opening night. You can't see, but the line behind them is about 10 kids long. Shane and Jeni (our great neighbors) had a junior jazz basketball team over for a party.
Ashley and Sophie, opening night again. This is probably Sophie's 50th time on the hill. She is, as you can see in her eyes, delirous from the early stages of hypothermia and drunk on hot chocolate.

This is the most recent picture of the hill, in the beginning stages of it's weekly maintenance this afternoon. There has been a lot of snow this week. If this keeps up the hill will reach the roof soon. Here's hoping!

Sophie in action today.