The snow has eventually disappeared. Now, don’t know about you but it helped fill in many an hour at the weekend, sledging and making snowmen. It kept us entertained for hours and we didn’t have to spend a penny!

But fear not – there is still snow nearby all be it artificial but I went ski-ing to my local indoor snow dome last week and there was all sorts to do. Not only is there a snow slope for all levels of snowboarders and skiers but there is an area for beginners – commonly known as the nursery slope. There is also an area for the little ones which includes being able to sledge and even a slide!

…putting a bit of fun into chores!

Now, I dare you to try this – the idea may seem a little daunting but you may be surprised at the outcome. Our house needed a good day spent on sorting it out – old clothes needed bagging up for charity and things putting back in their place but the main thing was my sons room. It’s only the size of a postage stamp so storage and keeping it tidy so the poor lad can have room to play is always a chore but has to be done.

So we set Sunday aside for us BOTH to tidy and do know what? we actually had fun doing it. The toys he’s not played with have been given to charity. We’ve sorted the hundreds of tranfsormers and all the bits and bobs into one box and jigsaws into another – cars in another. He knows where everything is now so has absoultely no excuse for not playing with anything. We even came across things that he had as a baby so in sorting his room out we also had a trip down memory lane talking baot when he was a baby and toddler – stories which children always love to hear!

My son is seven – as I’m sure I’ve mentioned already on many of my previous blogs. He loves, his DS but knows when to put it down – normally because his neck or shoulders are aching! He loves his Wi he has at his Dads. But what he also loves is good old session of playing games.

In our collection we have ‘Guess who’ this can go on for hours until we’ve exhausted all possible questions to ‘Guess who’ He loves playing twister – normally because I land flat on my face with my bum stuck in the air. And he also loves a good old game of snap or pairs.

All really simple but they can take up time – it’s just whether you have thattime to spare. I didn’t think I did but after begrudgingly giving up 30 mins of my time to spend with him – we had lots of fun and will definately be making much more of an effort in future.

The recent snow has brought us lots of fun. I’ve found myself going back to my own childhood and making all sorts of shapes in the snow….

Snow angels – where you lie on your back and nove your straight arms up and down – get up and you leave the shape of an angel behind!

If you look around the fields and peoples gardens, everyone has made such an effort to build the biggest and best snowman / woman / decorated with all sorts – I saw one the other day with big feathers popping out of its head to makes it look like an indian.

If the snows going to last the challeneg is to see what you can construct so you have the best snow shape on your front garden!

Christmas is well and truly gone for another year- everyone is feeling fat from eating too many mince pies or drinking too many galsses of wine. What better way is there to get some fresh air – get the kids out of the hosue – and get some excercise than to go sledging!

It’s time to dig out the sledge from the back of the gargage, dust it down and go insearch of the nearest biggest hill – for some fun that doesn’t cost anything at all.

Just make sure you’re well wrapped up, weelies are worn and no snow can get down your neck, up your arms or in your footwear. Keep an eye on the young ones too because as soon as they get too cold that’s where the fun ends and you have to head for home!