Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Winter Snowflake List - Things to Do While the Snow's Still Falling

The picture to the right is from a few weeks ago. We don't actually have any snow falling, or even on the ground right now, so the title of this post is a little optimistic, but I'm sure you get the idea - it's our Winter To-Do list.

Winter may have officially started last week, but of course, being in the middle of the pre-Christmas rush, we didn't pay much attention to its arrival, except to give a quick cheer, that we'd finally passed the shortest day of the year.

Yesterday, once the tree was gone, and the children were feeling a somewhat glum, I reminded them, it was time to start planning some wintertime time. They informed me, that winter isn't going to be any fun, because we don't have any snow.

I assured them the snow will be back (surely it will be back - this is Montana, after all), and until then, there are lots of fun things to do, that require cold, but not snow, like making popsicles outside, or blowing frozen bubbles. It wasn't long before we had a list assembled.

Winter Snowflake List
Make a snowman (hopefully out of snow)
Have a snowball fight
Make lemon ice ala The Lemon Sisters by Andrea Cheng
Blow bubbles outside and watch them freeze
Make popsicles outside
Make snow ice cream
Put together a 1000 or more piece puzzle
Have a family game night
Make snowman hot chocolate
Shovel snow for the neighbors
Have a pajama day
Build a snow fort
Make snow sculptures
Decorate heart cookies
Pick a new calendar
Look for animal tracks in the snow
Make Valentine's "mail" boxes
Make Valentine's
Do a heart craft
Do a snowman craft
Do a penguin craft
Do a "lion and lamb" craft


And celebrate:

New Year's Day
D's Birthday
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Valentine's Day
A's Birthday
President's Day
National Cherry Pie Day
Valentine's Day
Leap Day


If the rest of our snow delays until spring, we might have to get creative with a few of the items on our list, but I'm pretty optimistic we'll have more of the white stuff any day now.

We didn't add any family movie nights to the list, because I'm not sure of any really good, family movies with winter DVD release dates. Any ideas?

It's great to be a homeschooler.

10 comments:

Little Wonders' Days said...

This list sounds like a lot of fun. We only get one or two dustings of snow each year, but we try to make the most of them. I want to try the freezing bubbles too.

Ticia said...

What a great list! COURAGEOUS is coming out on DVD but the younger kids might not be interested

Im drawing a blank as well

Eddie said...

Mr. Popper's Penguins is in the new-releases section of our local video store and I'm pretty sure it's family friendly. Hard to picture Jim Carrey in the role of Mr. Popper, though.

We're compiling a list here too (did you add snow painting with food colouring to your list yet?)! We finally have a little bit of snow and are supposed to get more this week.

Unknown said...

Cut out paper snowflakes and glue white or silver glitter to them! They're very pretty and festive taped to windows too!

We also study Snowflake Bentley who photographed the first individual snowflakes. (I remember there being lots of activities on the web site.)

Christy Killoran said...

Great list! It has been so mild here that I am wondering if we are going to have any snow!!! I hope so, winter is so much more fun with snow.

Phyllis said...

I really like your list!

Unknown said...

Nice list,I especially like the blowing bubbles and watching them freeze. Fun! Thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

Have you seen "Mr. Popper's Penguins" or "A Dolphin Tale"? We rented both over Christmas break and enjoyed them both!

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

Eddie - We watched Mr. Popper's Penguins before Christmas. It's nothing like the book, but very good. If it weren't for the constant misuse of God's name, it would be a very good family movie. There is a little bathroom humor - but not as much as you would expect from a Jim Carrey movie - and it has a very pro-family message.

Wonder Mom - We haven't seen the Dolphin movie, but I'll check it out!

Natalie PlanetSmarty said...

Have you seen the latest Jane Eyre? I got it for Christmas and loved it. I think it's one of the best Jane Eyre movies (and very close to the actual novel). I love your winter list, it looks like you have all your plans nicely in place for a very fun winter.