Winter fun; Making it a family thing

Night Sliding Photo: Photo submitted by Libby Martin

Kyle Burgess is just out of sight following behind Jude Prue and Keenan Martin while they enjoy a night of sliding by the lights at the Prue home in Peru.

Follow the leader Photo: Photo submitted by Libby Martin

Leading a family day of snowshoeing is Lee Merrill, followed by his niece Kaiya Martin and his dad Carroll. The family enjoys getting together for a weekend snowshoe and to regale tales of childhood from the elder Merrill.

Making a memory Photo: Photo submitted by Libby Martin

Kaiya Martin is seen here sledding with her grandfather, Carroll Merrill on a hill that was enjoyed by her mother Libby, and uncles Lewis, Lee and Leon as children.

PERU- Take a trip down memory lane if you will and think back to a time when you enjoyed all the excitement that winter afforded you.
Were you the oldest child that had the chore of clearing the ice before everyone could begin skating? Were you the youngest that got to ride on the sled as it was being pulled up the icy hill or were you a parent that rounded up your charges for a day of fishing on the pond?
Regardless of what role you played, chances are, those memories live in your heart and you are now anxious to share them with the next generation.
This holds true for Libby (Merrill) Martin of Dixfield. She remembers the timeless hours spent sliding with her dad and brothers on their favorite hill in Peru. The only girl of four children, Libby had her work cut out for her growing up with the boys.
Recently, Martin shared that she has followed her father's footsteps and enjoys the outdoors with her children and, joined by her sister-in-law Sarah and her family, including Maggie the dog; the extended family enjoys their time sledding and snowshoeing together.
“We just love being outside with the wonderful fresh air and spending family time together. If we aren't sledding, we're snowshoeing and my dad just loves it.”
Behind the Merrill home in Peru, the hill echoes with the sounds of familiar laughter from past and present.
“My dad really enjoys spending time with his grandkids,” stated Libby. “It makes his heart happy.”
All too often, we get so busy in our lives and forget to slow down and smell the roses. Winter weather makes people slow down and therefore, you either need to find your common bond or trudge through it with disdain and anticipation of spring.
The Merrill and Martin families have learned to enjoy what nature has provided them.
“We enjoy just being outside; whether we are sledding, snowshoeing or skiing,” noted Libby. “As long as the family is together we are happy.”
The Prues of Peru, took it upon themselves to make winter a little more fun for their family and friends and outfitted the woods near their home with a lighted sliding hill.
Libby noted, “We have a bonfire going to stay warm and hot chocolate. Between the Prue, Burgess, Martin and Merrill families, we enjoy the wonderful outdoors and spending time together. It doesn't get better than this.”
During the weekends, the family also gets together to take advantage of snowshoeing in the woods near the home that the Merrill family home.
Libby stated that they enjoy using the wooden snowshoes, as “the wooden ones are the best.”
The Martin and Merrill families understand the value of memories made by spending time with one another.
“My daughter Kaiya loves to snowshoe,” noted Libby. “As long as she is with her Papa, she is happy. I love going with my dad and my daughter.  I talk to her about what I use to do and what use to be out there when I was little. It's great to share the memories with her and my dad will help me with the memories, believe it or not, he can remember a lot more than I can. We are making new memories with her. If my son decides to go with us he usually uses his cross-country skis.”
In a time when families are cutting costs in order to provide the necessities of food, clothing and shelter for their children, it's good to see more families in our area getting out and enjoying their time together being active, getting fresh air and spending time together.
As Libby stated, “It doesn't get any better than this.”