One of Jesse's winter projects has been cutting in new trails out our land.
Jeep trails.
The kids were gifted a snowmobile around Christmas time from Grandpa Dave & Uncle Jerry!! Which has come in so handy for days like these.
The big kids and Jesse have gone out a few times, but Melanie and I have never gone.
Today it was pretty warm out so Melanie and I decided to go out this afternoon and see what this is all about.
We got out there and had to play a little game of Marco Polo to find them, but we did!! We got there just as the kids had their sled full of logs to be hauled out of the woods back to our camping spot for some summer campfires. Melanie quick hopped on the back of the snowmobile and off they went.
As I was watching them leave I asked Jesse if he goes with them. Nope. They know what to do.
A little look at the area they were working in. That big dead tree in the background fell over and they were working on cutting it up and hauling it out. It was HUGE tree.
Jesse kept up with the chainsaw.
I decided to wonder away and check on the kids because I wanted to see how they were going to unload the sled. But first a quick stop to look at the river.
And a look the other way up the river.
I stood way back and watched the kids. Melanie stayed on the snowmobile and watched. Not surprised at all by this!
Then Max and Mally just dumped the sled over.
Hopped back in and took off.
Now they found me spying on them.
Hot blooded Melanie took her sweatshirt off!!
She was missing the kids while they were gone and we were at home and I made her do chores.
Max was getting tired and taking a quick rest.
But then he got back to work loading the sled while the girls continued to goof around.
Max wanted me to go with him on this load. This was actually my second trip with but I forgot my camera on the first trip. The snowmobile is actually made for kids so I can't really ride on it... so I had to ride on the logs in the trailer.
We of course got stuck! On a little muddy grassy patch. So I had to get out and push him and every time he would get going he would stop again. I finally told him once you get moving, don't stop. Well he took that literally and took off!!! Without me!! I started laughing and yelling... because it was a super long hard and (really deep in some spots... like dropped to my knee in some spots) I really wanted to ride with him because I did the walk many times before this. He finally heard me and stopped.
Finally to our drop off spot!
Max and I were proud of the way we stacked wood...
vs. the way him and girls were doing it and then Jesse joined in on their chaos. The kids blame Melanie. As soon as she joined them she tossed one piece and it fell over and they just let it fall and kept going with it.
Our sled is all cleaned out and we are headed back for more. It super hard on the knees to ride in the empty sled so I left our big log in the sled (mostly because I couldn't lift it out) and I decided I would just ride on it. Well Max got tired of my screaming because it was super tippy that he told me to just get down and ride in the sled. Yes boss.
When Jesse and the kids left and didn't take Melanie, she was super upset over this and cried. But we knew she would never last. And we were right. We were not out there very long before we heard "You hold me?" She is not one to do too much standing or walking. She also told me I should wipe the dirt off my hands before I held her.
After the last load the exciting part was to drive the snowmobile up the big hill towards the truck. Max was so eager to do this. Jesse told him, don't get stuck. Give it lots of gas. Well we should of mentioned to make sure Melanie was holding on first. He gunned it and off he went and sweet Melanie held on for her life!! They made it!
Which means Jesse, Mallory & I had to walk up the hill carrying the rest of our supplies. It is way, way, way steeper then these pictures make it look.
Since it was St. Patricks Day... we rewarded the kids for all their hardworking with green mint chocolate chip ice cream when they got home!!
