Winter Wonderland

Oh the weather outside is frightful! And when the wind blows in my direction the inside is pretty frightful too! I live in an older apartment building and the windows rattle so hard sometimes I think I will end up in OZ.

Don't get me wrong. I love winter. I loved it more when I was younger. I love it better when I don't have to go out and slip and slither my way around in it.

We've been spoiled in our little lowland bit of southeastern Ontario in the last few years. Last year I even managed to go without boots most of the time. I have to admit, when Mother Nature decides we're gonna be in for it, we ARE in for it.

This year has had many ups and downs and not all of them have been recorded for posterity. Some downs in fact deserve to be relegated into obscurity post haste! Some ups I should have blogged about and didn't. Some in-betweens probably deserved an honourable mention or two.

So here you are, for the sake of auld lang syne, are a couple of my parting shots at the year 2008.

Ideas to Keep the Kids Occupied During Winter Break

Winter break can be very enjoyable for the first few days… but once the kids start to get bored, things can go downhill fast. Here are some ideas to keep your kids occupied during their time off:

Go Sledding: If you live in a climate that gets snow, bundle the family up for a day of sledding. Many towns have hills in parks that are free to use for sledding. If you want a bigger adventure, head to a ski resort and enjoy their large hills. You will have to pay admission, but you will be in for a much bigger thrill ride.

Handmade thank you cards: You can keep your child busy for an afternoon AND teach them some manners by encouraging them to create handmade thank you cards for the gifts they received over the holiday season.

Have an indoor picnic: Pretend it’s summer for a day and throw an indoor picnic. Throw a blanket on the living room floor and serve sandwiches and other picnic foods. For an extra dose of fun, turn the heat up and have your kids put on their summer shorts and tank tops!

Throw a family slumber party: One night after dinner, have the whole family change into their pj’s, throw some blankets on the floor, pop some popcorn, and watch movies till you fall asleep.

Field Trip: Take the kids to a museum during their break for a lesson in ar
t, science, or history.

Clean house: If your children received an abundance of holiday gifts, this is the perfect time to clean out their rooms and donate the toys and clothes they’ve outgrown to charity.