This past weekend our family headed to George L. Smith State Park, near Metter, with hopes of canoeing in the lake there. The trouble with a family of five, with young kids, is that we don't exactly fit into canoes very well. The rental canoes at the park carry no more than two people each. So with three kids unable to handle a canoe and only two adults, we selected one canoe and one john boat, and off we went.

Though it may feel like winter out there this week, it is time to start planning for summer... camps, vacation, activities, etc. Summer will be upon us before we know it!

After all my worry about the Pinewood Derby, it turns out that my kids' cars all placed in the top 5 of their races. Crazy! Having hoped our cars would just run nicely, we were completely surprised by the winning results.

My Cub Scout son designed his unique car in the shape of a bridge or a hollowed out trapezoid. It was shorter than most cars so maybe the compact shape gave it more speed. I don't know. His car came in first in his den, and he will proceed to the next level race.

“Go outside and play” has been a favorite suggestion of parents for ages. Kids get out in the fresh air, they burn off some energy, and parents get some peace. I love it that we have a fenced yard so I can know where my kids are, checking on them periodically through the windows. They can run around and act crazy, and I don't have to hear it all.

New pregnancy and mom & baby exercise classes start in January 2013 at the Savannah Yoga Room and Chatham County Aquatic Center. Pregnancy Yoga and water aerobics classes are brought to you by Oh Baby! Fitness. All instructors are specially trained to teach prenatal and postpartum exercise, so classes are safe and fun.

Our family went ice skating this week at the Civic Center's annual Skate Fest. We try to go every year, and little by little the kids are making progress in their skating skills. With three kids, I'm fascinated to see how their personality differences are highlighted by such a “risky” activity.

On Saturday evening my family and I went to the Savannah Harbor Festival of Lights (savannahharborfestivaloflights.com) on Hutchinson Island. We arrived at 6:30, waited in line for 20-30 minutes to pay our $20 admission fee (which includes a $5 food voucher), and were finished by 8:00. We chose to drive through, but there are also options to walk, ride a bike, or take a trolley ride or carriage ride through the lights also. Check the website for pricing.

On Saturday our family made our traditional two-hour drive to Charleston to experience the James Island Holiday Festival of Lights (http://www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=1546). It's a three-mile drive through Christmas light displays along with Santa's Village, which boasts a train ride, marshmallows for toasting, a holiday sand sculpture, Santa, carousel, and more.

Here are some pretty cool things to do this weekend...

Savannah's Veterans' Day parade downtown on Saturday will start at 10:15, beginning at Abercorn St and Gwinnett St. You may want to arrive between 9:30 and 10:00 to get a good spot. Click here for the parade route... http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2010-11-11/parade-route-savannahs-veterans-day-parade

Camping. The mere thought of the word conjures visions of the great outdoors, toasting marshmallows, hiking, and a cozy tent. The reality of this past weekend did in fact include all of these elements, mixed in with a good dose of sibling fussiness, the revelation of things forgotten, and the logistics of coping in a large group environment, all rounded out with general sleep deprivation.