Winter Fun: Snowman Building and Sledding

Well, Larry and I have been out playing in the snow for the weekend and we are both ready for a glass of wine and a nap. Anya and Bianca came for a sleepover and we spent two days in the snow sledding, slogging (It's deep walking up the hill!), and snowman-building. They also went with us to the nursing home where I take Communion and all the residents were charmed. They love to see the little one!

Bianca (the three year old) told us she wanted to "stay until Spring" but, of course, Mommy put the nix on that. We took the two girls home in the afternoon and visited for awhile. When we got up to go Bianca started to cry. Nice to be popular with our grandchildren! I assured Bianca she could come back sometime this week and next time we'll bake cookies because we didn't get around to doing that with all our other activities: making shell necklaces with our treasures from the Florida beaches, sledding, building a snowman, making snow ice cream, playing "go fish" and other card games, doing puzzles, and watching saint movies with popcorn.

What a great weekend! I hope yours was as much fun.

Bianca (in front) didn't want to sled yesterday, but today was lots warmer.

She kept wanting to take another ride down. We must have gone a dozen.

Even Paka braved the slopes today for two runs!

We decided our snowman looked like Olaf from Frozen.

making (and eating) snow ice cream - yummy!

Sledding with imagination

What to do when you have snow for sledding, but no snow boots and three kids but only one plastic sled? Well, first you solve the boot problem with plastic bags and rubber bands and then you turn to the sled challenge. Yes, you can share and take turns, but then use your imagination. What else did we have that could work as a sled? How about a swim tube? And would a baby pool work? Boogie boards are the right shape. Brendan, Ryan, and Lauren tried them all out, but we all agreed the sled was best. (Brendan even tried a swimming kick board but it was a little small.) I tried the boogie board sitting, but it turned backwards halfway down the hill which gave me an interesting ride. My experience with the baby pool was that it was a hard on the tailbone, but otherwise worked well and the kids didn't seem to mind. Check them out. Snow and kids is definitely a recipe for fun! And it gives this grandma an excuse to play. (As if I need one.)