After the boys shoveled a lovely ice rink on the pond last week, they skated for two days then the ice turned slushy. Boo.

Thanks to Groupon, we had an alternative plan: skiing the slopes of Four Lakes in Lisle, IL. Yes, that’s right. No need to drive hours away…you can ski right here in Illinois.

The experience brought me back to my own high school days, since I learned to ski on the very same bump slope. It was a blast! The kids had a great time and definitely exceeded our expectations in how well they skied.

Ruthie did best when she kept her skis between mine. We found it was much more difficult to go up the hill than down. She absolutely loved the experience.

However, after a few times down, she wanted me to take off her skis so she could rest.

The boys were practically pros swooshing down the hills.

We’ll share some of the many videos from the day later!

I got this great snowball maker free with a coupon last summer, with visions of children giddily scooping up snow with it all winter.

Those visions were only partially realized one weekend. You know, that one weekend we had snow. Then it promptly melted.

Meanwhile, I’ll keep dreaming of a white winter.

Molly turned four last month. We bought her one real toy–a bone the size of my femur–and a toy that we knew wouldn’t last longer than an hour in the throes of her mighty jaw.

We were right about the cheapo toy.

But before she chewed it to shreds, we got lots of chuckles from it because of the sound it made. We affectionately named the toy Darth Lamb.

It has given rise to a whole new entrepreneurial opportunity for Jim…Star Wars dog toys. Can you just picture it? As the dog bites into a doggie Darth, the toy exclaims: Young puppy, I am disturbed by your lack of bite. Please don’t steal his idea; we’re hoping to make millions from it.

The task was dirty: cleaning up the back yard.

The boys got dirty: shoveling and bagging dog doo.

But Miss Pinky managed to stay clean and look stylish in the midst of it all.

We’re learning about birds this year and just today read about the incredible strength of a bird’s egg. It’s impossible to break an egg when you apply even force on it.

We were all skeptical…and I was secretly hoping that we would prove the egg fact wrong, which is why I grabbed the camera.

One strong boy

after another

exerted full strength onto the egg

even two-handed,

and absolutely could not break it.

Now you want to go try it yourself, don’t you?

Reminiscent of last year, we have had precious few days when the pond has been frozen this winter. So this week, the boys are taking advantage of every below-freezing minute.

The game? Hockey, of course. It definitely helps that the NHL players are no longer on strike so we may be spurred on by watching the pros.

They get into it for sure. Feelings are not as easily hurt on the ice. The oldest two are pretty aggressive against one another.

Peter is all-time goalie, with protection thanks to his baseball catcher’s gear.

He makes some dramatic saves.

Jeremy is still finding his ice-legs, but holds his own well.

Derek sits in the penalty box.

I have a feeling schoolwork will be accomplished at record pace the next few days. The ice is calling, and the forecast is warning that it won’t be around much longer.