I like to feed the birds.  The kids and I enjoy eating our breakfast and watching them on the back porch.  We pick out the brave ones and the timid ones.  Some don't mind eating on the ground, others prefer the feeder.  It's a very entertaining way to pass the time.  I went on the National Geographic site this week and printed some illustrations of birds in our area with the idea that the kids could identify them, learn their names and keep a tally of the birds we see.  Yesterday, Colin spotted a cardinal.  I asked him which bird it was.  He went to the wall of bird pictures and said, "It's this red one with the party hat!"

Illinois finally has some snow!  We took Audrey and Colin sledding for the first time last weekend.  I briefed them in the car on the only important rule of sledding - "If you sled down the hill you must walk back up the hill."  They seemed to understand that.  I imagined that Greg and I would take turns going with them but once we arrived on top of the hill Greg put the two of them in the sled and gave it a push.  Their fearful screams immediately turned to joyful hollers and they stood at the bottom of the hill with big smiles on their faces.  

I had to issue a couple more rules before the trip was over.  "Bring the sled back with you!" and "Keep your hands and feet inside the sled until the sled stops!"  Once our noses and cheeks were sufficiently numbed we headed home for Mexican hot chocolate.  It was a fun day.