Winter Olympics for kids: Backyard winter sports, snow games, ice activities | Examiner.com

Raise your hand if you’ve had it with winter. Parents and teachers get especially tired of dealing with bored kids stuck inside. Here’s a winter blues buster: throw a snowtastic party. Celebrate the Winter Olympics in your own layground and backyard winter sports. Extend the fun with your own winter games variations. Here are safe, easy homemade winter games, snow games, ice activities requiring no fancy equipment.  Winter Olympics for kids: Backyard winter sports, snow games, ice activities | Examiner.com

Fat Tuesday feasts make Lenten Ash Wednesday fasts harder, skip Mardi Gras | Examiner.com

I'm a Catholic: well not cradle Catholic-- I'm a convert. One thing I love about being Catholic is that we sure know how to celebrate life. Take Fat Tuesday (aka Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday): it's a huge Catholic lollapalooza before the solemnity of Ash Wednesday and Lent. All good Catholics, it seems, gear up for penitential season by overdoing the party. I have my doubts about the wisdom of this. Fat Tuesday feasting make Ash Wednesday fasting a lot harder. It makes dieting harder when you have big blowouts, too. I've lost 100 pounds over the last few years. I'm not looking to put any weight back on. But even if I wasn't hadn't it just doesn't make sense to overdo Fat Tuesday.  Fat Tuesday feasts make Lenten Ash Wednesday fasts harder, skip Mardi Gras | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year of the Monkey, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival party planner

Chinese New Year of the Monkey begins Feb. 8, 2106. The Chinese zodiac is distinguished by 12 animals. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey and each year celebrates a different animal--rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Here are activities and ideas for parents to explore Chinese traditions.  Chinese New Year of the Monkey, Spring Festival, Lantern Festival party planner | Examiner.com