Fun Friday

We have a crazy through-the-week schedule this year. Not much time for play-dates or relaxing after school. We used to do movie & pizza night on Fridays - but even that has been curtailed due to Emily's early morning swimming class on Saturdays, and the need for an early night. We were all feeling a little tapped out at the start of the school year so, I declared "Fun Friday" for each Friday this year. I will try not to run errands, or clean or do laundry. Fridays are just for playing.

The weather is warming up so we're about to change, but before we move into Spring - here's a recap of our Winter Fun Friday's.

Jacob and I have been skiing together each Friday morning. It has been one of the true joys in my life to have this time with my boy. I am so grateful to all the friends who took Jane on Friday mornings so we could do this. We actually were really lucky to have great weather almost every Friday. There was one day a few weeks ago that was FREEZING and very windy, so we gave it a miss - but other than that, just about every Friday this winter dawned sunny & clear. We also got some decent snow this year too (I love snow.)

These Friday's have been so great - we get there early, so get a nice close parking spot and practically have the place to ourselves.
Riding the lift with Jacob is fun. He's not at all afraid of heights, so he leans over and looks down calling out all the things he sees that previous riders dropped. We talk about the trees, and which one's are evergreen or deciduous, we wonder at the beauty of the sun shining on the snow. We talk a lot about Star Wars. I have just loved this time with him.

Two weeks ago we went and it was slushy and icy, then last week we didn't go - too warm. I think that might have been our last day. I wish I had realized when we were there that it was our last - I would have made an effort to take some more video - he really has improved and we spent the last few weeks doing only blue runs. Maybe we'll get one more day in - there always seems to be a late snowstorm in NY.

In the meantime, here's some video of one of Jacob's earlier ski days. I wish I'd left the camera on one more second - he does make that turn at the end.
(As always, ignore my annoying commentary. I wish I could turn the sound off!)



On Jacob's second day (ever) skiing he saw someone going over jumps and instantly wanted to know when he could do it. I told him he had to be better at skiing. Undaunted he started doing little bunny hops on his ski's whenever we are on a kind of flat section at the start of a run.
I decided not to fight it - and let him just do it when he wants. Such a funny boy.



Friday afternoons we have had lots of play-dates, movies & popcorn and craft activities - but we were also lucky enough to have some good sledding days. (Have I mentioned I love snow???)

Here are a few shots from our favorite sledding day this year.

Jane and Stella - our next door neighbor & Jane's BFF.

This year was such an improvement for us because Jacob was pretty much independent at sledding - he raced himself down, and could walk back up alone too. Much more fun for me than last year - dragging him up while lugging (a then 18 month old) Jane.

Emily and Scout getting ready to race.

Jacob slaughtering the competition - Emily nearly taking out a few friends.

Don't you love Isaac chasing the sled down the hill?

I even let Jane sled with her friends. I started them kind of near the bottom, and I was nervous every time - but they laughed like crazy.

I am looking forward to Spring (not having to put jackets on and off 20 times a day as we come in and out will save me huge chunks of time), but I will miss the fun we've had this winter.

Fun Fridays for Spring? I'm thinking playground, zoo, bike rides, jumping on the trampoline, hatching butterfly's and definitely gardening with our worms and ladybugs!