Sledding

Saturday, after returning from a morning out, I found the kids were a little antsy and getting into squabbles with their visiting cousins . . . so, I thought sledding sounded like a great option. I LOVE that there is a small hill I can see from my front window.

The boys and cousins were out for at least an hour. They were much nicer to each other when they came back in. Outside, they were working together solving problems and trying new things. They were also happy and active!

Oxbow Park Sledding

This last Thursday was pretty cold . . . maybe 18 degrees, but we had a pocket of time when we could possibly go sledding with friends. We made a tentative date, but I had a busy day and really wasn't looking forward to being out in the cold. I kept checking the baby's temperature to find an excuse while I prepared for our Nature Nook book group later that night at Woodlawn Nature Center. Okay, I was probably in a bit of a "mood". But, we'd made a commitment, so we kept it . . .


Hint: Having a big bag of cold weather gear ready to go or already in the van has been so helpful to get out more this winter! I did a quick check to make sure we had all we needed, put the sleds back in the van again, and off we went!

We were trying out Ox Bow as someone from church mentioned she really liked to make a day of sledding there with her kids. She mentioned the warming shelter, how the kids come and go, and the hot cocoa and snacks she brings to eat. It's also nice how the window is positioned that you can see everything going on at the hill. Some parents/caregivers would actually be able to sit in the warm shelter and watch while the kids went up and down the hill as long as the children know there boundaries. However, it's much more fun to go sledding, too, if possible!

The entry fee is $2 per car, but it's not always charged. We went on a no fee day, but I've never known until I pulled up to the gate if we were to be charged. Also, when going to a scheduled program, there is no entrance fee. I even went to a free program and didn't pay anything. However, there is a year pass that goes January-December of each year. It is $20 and makes it easy to go on a moment's notice. I've noticed that when I already have a pass at other venues, I don't mind just stopping by for a bit when we're out and and about. And Ox Bow County Park is a great place to get out and about!

We were the only ones there when we arrived, so I left the baby inside for a little bit while I made a few runs down the hill. We checked on him periodically to make sure he was okay. 

Another great thing about the shelter is that there is also a great wildlife viewing area. This is the other wall of windows. The feeders are stocked over the winter. We saw several cardinals, juncos, chickadees, squirrels, etc. It's nice to have a nature bonus on a sledding trip!

Outside, we saw that someone made a perfect snow angel.

The sledding was good! Up and down we went. It's a good little work out to trudge back up the hill, especially with little ones.

My angel also wanted to make an angel! :-)

Our friends joined us, the sky was pretty, the air was crisp, and we were out doing something active . . .  remember how I didn't really want to go? My spirit was lifted by a little time out. I NEEDED to be outside, yet was finding excuses not to go . . . cold temperatures, busy day, possibly sick baby. Glad we made it out! While I know exercise and being in nature help us feel better on so many levels, I also know it from my own experience!

Another family joined in on the fun. I got to use some of my Spanish skills . . . I used to teach Spanish immersion classes, but it's been about ten years. Rusty, but with more practice it could definitely come back better! It's good to see people out enjoying the snow!

Sledding at Potato Creek

After another Nature Center visit, we tried out the nearby Peppermint Hill for sledding at Potato Creek State Park. The closest parking is in the parking lot across the street from the Nature Center. I asked at the Nature Center and the person there easily told me about it and showed me where it was on the map. I was there by myself with four boys, so understanding the situation as best as possible before we got there was important. We started putting on snow pants, gloves, coats, etc. inside the van. I was almost astonished when we found enough gloves for everyone, even though I didn't specifically check for them before we left. I'm finding a large bag to contain all this portable winter gear is helpful to tote items in the van and keep it together when at home.

There is a clear sign marked Tubing Hill . . .

Cute boys . . . hard to see, but there was a small ramp built--these can be painful to go over. We avoided it. The boys (well, some!) became good at steering with their hands on the ground while they were going down. The three year old ended up in the bushes frequently, but didn't seem too upset about it.

The snow here was hard packed and SLICK. I was holding the baby and trying to give a kid a push at the same time. I went CRASH and the baby went CRASH as well. Risk, right? There was some crying but he eventually settled down. Once he looked like this . . .

I decided to try this . . . this is the view after we spun around at the bottom of the hill and I had water on my lens!

The boys kept sledding and sledding and sledding . . .

Another group was at the sledding hill when we arrived. They really liked the hard packed snow conditions of the hill. The grandparents brought 6 of their older grandkids to the state park for a few days. They were staying in a cabin, had a fire and marshmallows, played many, many games, went sledding on the hill, etc. Basically, they were having good time with their grandparents unplugged for a few days. This sounds great, even though they live right in Mishawaka. Hint, hint, mom and dad . . . don't you want some "quality time" with the grandkids? Actually, this would be fun for any family and/or combinations of families to get away while staying close. Let me check the schedule! The family also mentioned several of their favorite hills for sledding and tubing in the Mishawaka area, such as Baugo, George Wilson, and Bendix Woods Parks. We might have to make some visits. I will say, I think we've done more sledding this year than we have combined in the last 8 years since we've had kids. Let's get outside, Michiana!

There was a cool looking playground nearby. Of course we had to check it out. This will be great when it's not covered in snow too. My oldest asked, "Mom, do you want to come up too?" Who can resist an invitation like that? Up I went! I've always enjoyed the bridges, too. 

While we had a great time sledding, we also noticed people hiking, cross country skiing, bird watching, and bringing supplies down for ice fishing. Oh, the possibilities of winter! What's your favorite thing to do in winter?