March will be here in under an hour, but Spring will not be accompanying it here in Winnipeg quite yet. It's been a milder week (highs of -5 C), which feels great in comparison to the weather of two weeks ago. But there is still a good two feet of snow piled in my back yard, reminding me of just how long winter can last. That said, its been easier to get out and enjoy milder temperatures.
Our new favourite is the Polar Playground which opened in the zoo this past month. I took Ai, Iz and the little one I babysit a couple of weeks ago when Ai was not quite able to return to school post-flu. It was pretty much all-ours, as it was early morning and rather chilly - a nippy ten minute sled ride, but totally worth it. It's a fun arctic-themed climbing structure with slides and wonderful interactive games projected on the walls and floors.
The favourite is the water that freezes to ice when no one steps in the rectangle. As the ice is walked on, it starts to crack (with accompanying sound) until suddenly it breaks-up. Delighted, kids jump like mad to get to 'safety,' away from the sea-life lurking under the water. Great idea!
We stayed so long we had to have a little lunch or I knew we'd have melt-downs on the way home.
What I didn't expect was sleeping en route! I've driven this boy across much of BC and a good chunk of Canada without seeing his eyelids, but he was still recovering.
He wasn't well enough to go when S took the girls at my suggestion. It was so cold, I figured it would be fairly empty . . . which it was. But I hadn't realized it was a windchill of -38 that day, so there was some crying on the sled as S hauled them to the playground. Few animals out that day so all they saw were the snow leopards. Oops.
Our church had its annual "Curling in Sperling" event two Sundays ago, in which they rented out a small curling rink an hour east of the city for the morning service. After a very casual worship time, we enjoyed potluck together, then people hung out until 4:00 playing board games, ice skating or curling. Was great for us to get to know a few more folks better and to solidify the connections between our kids and others in our small congregation.
It was A's second time on ice, the first time with a chair as a support, so she had fun practicing.
Iz on the other hand, should have been prepared as to how to crash safely. With little fear, she fell more times than I could count, pushed her chair like crazy and slammed into the wall with glee as often as she could. We really need to get her into some hard-core sports as she'd love it! It was a pleasure to watch her go . . .
This past Sunday we attended the first birthday party of the son of S's friend, Ruth, with whom he attended youth group years ago. It was held at a local church gym so the kids could run around and had a wonderful time. I have no pictures of the girls, as they were off running with the other girls. We enjoyed some of the connections we were able to make and me, I always enjoy a social occasion. S a little less so . . .
It's been sweet to watch A lately with a new love. Or rather, deepening her relationship with an old one: reading. She can be seen with a 'chapter book' in hand most of the time now, eager to do her reading homework on her own, which is a very nice change! I smiled to see her reading on the living room ledge the other morning, oblivious to the world around her. Between all her doodle-ing, reading, school and playing with her siblings, she's starting to find that days simply don't have quite enough time for all that one wants to do.
It should make next winter far more bearable for her, but then again, I think it's mostly me who's had the problem with it!
- - - two samples of the many A-drawings that I daily find lying around. It's fun that she's broadened well beyond rainbows and flowers, as she often has funny ideas!
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