Do you have a favorite event at the winter Olympics? This year they will be in northern Italy; the opening ceremonies will be February 6, and the games will conclude on February 22. If you enjoy sports, it's a better choice than most programs offered on TV. We may all have memories of Olympics in the past, like the miracle on ice in 1980, or visions of Dorothy Hamill or Scott Hamilton competing in figure skating. But I have had a few Olympic moments of my own!

When I was in second grade my day camp had 'junior Olympics' and I won a medal for 'running'. Then I had an exciting Olympic experience with my children. Northern New Jersey is home to "Mountain Creek", a winter ski resort and a summer water park. One year they had a cardboard boat race in the wave pool, in honor of the Olympics. This challenge was intriguing to my husband and three children. My oldest designed a boat, and my younger two built a cardboard raft. There were specific rules about what could be used to construct the cardboard entries.

When we arrived at Mountain Creek as a family, we were part of an Olympic Parade. The park employees handed out international flags to the kids in attendance, and a local radio station announced the contestants and played music during the march.

And then the moment of truth - the cardboard boats were launched into the wave pool. Spectators lined the periphery. And ... the start!

I am thankful our entries were in the race because most boats sunk immediately. But our boat and raft stayed afloat and a two-way race ensued. As my oldest son in the boat and my daughter on the raft closed in on the finish line, the boat started to take on water, but the raft stayed afloat. The crowd was screaming, and we all experienced Olympic excitement. I was proud of how my children handled the interview after the race, and first prize was a kayak! All top three entries won Olympic medals and prizes; a little boy was in third as his boat made it to the halfway point.

Mountain Creek Olympics

The winner's circle My family's Olympic moment

Top prize We enjoyed the prized for a couple of years. Then the kids sold it to a family who were overjoyed to buy it

I hope you enjoyed my Olympic moments. When I tune in to watch this year, I will look for ice dancing. That is my favorite. If you are homebound and experiencing single digit weather as we are, why not try watching the events? The Olympics are a welcomed departure from the usual TV offerings.

Until next week, stay warm and healthy - Joanne