A Snowmobile Ride on My Birthday

It snowed! Friday the 13th is NOT unlucky- I was born on Friday the 13th, of January no less. So I had snow for my birthday! I may have helped because I tempted Murphy's Law and hadn't put the double stroller away.





We bundled & helmeted up for a family snowmobile ride! Our four year old immediately went off to a favorite winter activity: snowangel-making!




Our toddler got to use her brand new snowmobile helmet! Last year we used a bike helmet for her because snowmobile helmets were too big for her one year old self to handle. She can do it this year, but isn't a fan. (You can't see it, but there was a pacifier involved initially.)




We girls rode in the big black sled. Last year, I wore my little one in a backpack when I drove (earning a nickname of "Sacagawea"). I learned the hard way that my arms are too short to have her in front of me and to turn right. Almost ended up in the Mustang the first time snowmobiled last winter. (shiver) Phil drove, so I sat in the sled with the girls. It was our first snowmobile ride of the winter and it was good to remind them of the rules (mainly- keep your hands inside the sled!)




Heading towards town!




Sitting in the sled means a view from a low perspective:




Downtown!




I love this view!




How we fit and sit in the big sled:





We got the mail (100% birthday cards!) and went to the hardware store to get gas (but it was closed after 4, we're rusty) and Doud's Market for groceries.




While Phil shopped for my birthday dinner, I walked to Marquette Park with the girls. A snowy Father Marquette and Fort Mackinac:




A beautiful Mackinac winter scene behind us (one of my favorite pics of the day):





She isn't used to the sound of snowmobiles passing yet.




Anxious to get to the playground:




Our preschooler is much faster- I carried our littlest a good portion of the trek (she was content to sit and eat snow). Almost there!




Turns out she can do pretty much everything she could in the summer even though she's wearing mittens. Makes me a tad nervous though!




My precious girls!














Snow-covered trees:




Low evening sun:




Trinity Church in the distance:





Someone has ventured up the stairs to the east bluff!




An untouched bench:




The 5 o'clock ferry is pulling into the harbor.




Looking west to the sun:










Afterward, Phil made an amazing birthday dinner for me! The steak was so delicious I completely forgot to take a picture! We had root beer floats for dessert :)