Thursday 7th January 2010

I don't think I would be exaggerating if I said that today was honestly one of the happiest I can remember. Si and the children were still all home due to the snow, and while talking to Linda bemoaning the fact that I still hadn't managed to find a toboggan and that my kids were really sad she mentioned that in February they had used boogie boards to go down the slopes and I suddenly remembered the children's skimmer boards which have been in storage since the end of summer.

I raced downstairs to pull them out of my boot (no we don't have much storage space lol) and it didn't take long for Megan, Phillip, Lewis and I to pull on our snow suits and hit the small slope in our back garden, it was some of the best fun I can ever remember having and the boards literally flew across the snow even carrying my weight and we spent literally hours racing and seeing who could get the furthest. I don't get a lot of opportunities to play with my children in the true childlike way of shrieking and running and falling but today was one of those days and I will hold it in my heart forever.

Playing with our "Linda Boards" - me in our garden, Megs on the big slope out in the meadow

In the afternoon once Si had done some work we again dressed up snugly and took a walk through the wood to a meadow near our home which has a wonderful steep slope - we ALL took turns flying down the hill and as there were at least another 10 children there playing it was lovely and festive and the laughter could be heard for miles I am sure.

Please excuse the poor quality of the shots but the light was very low by this point

Ever the daredevil Phillip just had to give me 50 fits by going down the slope on his feet

Megs and Phil where very proud of their skimmer boards (now christened Linda boards in honour of Aunty Lin and her BRILLIANT suggestion) as they outraced every toboggan on the slope and we have all decided that they are by far the best device for tearing down the hills at breakneck speeds. Little Nicholas even got a chance to go down the slope with his dad on Lewie's toboggan, he loved it and said MORE for the first time when they got to the bottom of the slope.

Phillip having a turn on Lewie's toboggan....not nearly as fast as the "Linda boards"

Such an amazing, wonderful, special special day - thank you my beautiful children for sharing it with me!

As the sunset - such a perfect moment

Ice crystals hanging off the roof of our home

Showing off Mr Frosty...who is very solid btw, know cos I "Linda boarded into him a couple of times lol