With all the crazy temperature swings these last few weeks, it’s a wonder anyone can figure out whether we will have six weeks more of winter. It might even be a challenge for Punxsutawney Phil! Will he sees his shadow on Groundhog Day or not? Either way, we’ve got great activities for the weekend, both inside and out. In addition to Groundhog Day celebrations at Drumlin Farm and Ipswich River sanctuaries, there’s a puppet show about squirrels, musical performances with Karen K and the Jitterbugs and Wayne Potash, a model ship exhibition opening, and more. And nothing interferes with game time!

Also this week on Mommy Poppins Boston:

• We’ve added to our Birthday Party Guide a roundup of party ideas for kids who love to cook;
• We start our Valentine’s Day coverage with some wonderful do-it-yourself ideas; and
• We launch our new series, the Go Boston List, with five great things to do in February

Read on for our weekend picks, and enjoy!

This weekend, it all comes down to a coin toss. Heads or tails to decide your fate. Nope, not talking about the Superbowl (who’s in it this year, the Dodgers or the Lakers?); I’m talking about the all-important decision of what to do this weekend. Heads: celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Pacific Asia Museum with taiko drums, Chinese acrobats, and visiting artists from China. Tails and you'll welcome Year of the Snake at the weekend fest in Downtown Monterey Park.

Heads: wish animated Peter Pan a fond farewell at the El Capitan before he flies off into the night sky. Tails: watch a Peter-Pan inspired ballet at Kidspace Museum.

Heads: plan your summer adventures at the Summer Opportunities Fair at the Westridge School in Pasadena. Tails: do the same thing, but at Marymount High School in West LA.

If you prefer to not leave your agenda to the vagaries of chance, you can check out our newest feature: Mommy Poppins' Go List, a one-stop shop for the absolute must-do events each month. Not to get all spoiler-y on you, but February promises prehistoric pets, celebrated cetaceans, and epic golden dragons!

Keep reading for our favorite picks for the weekend...

Saturday is Groundhog Day and while we grown-ups may hope that Staten Island Chuck predicts an early spring, the kids don't want winter to go until we've gotten enough snow to go sledding in the city. While it doesn't look like that will happen this weekend, there are plenty of other things to do. Head downtown to celebrate Chinese New Year a little early at the Children's Museum of Arts and the Museum of Chinese in America, or hit Fort Greene for the Brooklyn Academy of Music's annual BAMkids Film Festival.

The annual Canstruction exhibit, which was delayed last fall due to Hurricane Sandy, debuts at the Winter Garden this weekend, and Knuffle Bunny author/illustrator Mo Willems is leading a puppet workshop at Soho's MoMA Design Store. If your child is more of a Harriet the Spy fan, don't miss Symphony Space's tribute to the sassy sleuth starring a number of big names in little kid lit.

Those are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. Read on for all of our picks and remember, you can find additional ideas in our Winter Fun Guide and our Event Calendar. If you're looking to plan ahead, be sure to check out our February Go NYC List, which highlights the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month.

This weekend, sample some tasty soups made by restaurants in Port Washington at United Methodist Church of Port Washington's SOUPer Bowl.  Don't forget to vote for your favorite soup!  Ever wonder how professional bakers make those fancy cupcakes?  Attend the Be My Valentine Cupcake workshop at the Gold Cost Public Library, where baker Candice Comentale shows you how to use rolled fondant and butter cream icing.  At Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Michael Rosen's book We're Going on a Bear Hunt comes to the stage with catchy songs, interactive scenes, and plenty of hands-on adventure.  Also on tap: A screening of the National Audubon Society's Cardinals Up Close at Garvies Point Museum and Preserve, Groundhog Day activities at the Maritime Explorium, a Teen Zone Party at the Manhasset Public Library, and camp registration at the Science Museum of Long Island.  As always, please check out our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family!

2013 marks the year of the snake on the lunar calendar! This year February 10th is the first day of the New Year for the Chinese celebration also known as the “Spring Festival”.  Help ring in the Asian holiday with one of the following fun events in the Hartford County area.

From those first anxious weeks of infancy to the first day of kindergarten and beyond, it seems like there's no end to things for parents to worry about. With all that worrying about our kids, it's easy to forget to take care of the things that will really protect our families should the worst occur. Making sure you have a will is one of them.

You may think that estate planning is only for the rich, but a will protects more than just wealth. If you are a parent, having a will should be a priority. Laura Fischer is a lawyer working in Manhattan and Brooklyn who specializes in helping families create wills, so you can stop worrying and just get it done. I asked her to share important information about why every parent should have a will and what specifically to put in it. Plus, she is giving away a free Family Estate Planning Package (valued at $1,000) to one lucky reader. Read on to find out more and get this chore off your to-do list.

Looking for some excitement to fill an otherwise mundane winter weekend? New Jersey is full of fun events for both older kids and wee ones (and maybe even parents too!) Check out the Michael DuBois Solo Circus or celebrate Groundhog Day at Grounds for Sculpture. Feeling creative? Roll up your sleeves and create origami at Skylands Manor or make glow in the dark glue at the Morris Museum. Read on for our top picks and you can find a listing of all NJ activities in our Event Calendar.

Last September, on the heels of the Olympic hype, we featured gymnastics classes. Now that the weather has turned colder, we thought it time to feature gyms with plenty of open-play sessions. If cabin fever has taken over your home as it has mine, you may find yourself in the market for a place where the kids can play every day of the week. In my case, now that my little one is walking and jumping, I need a spot that can accommodate both my  rambunctious 4-year-old as well as my toddler. Sound unrealistic? Well, this mom is thrilled to report that I have managed to find several spots fitting that tall bill. So whether you've got just one child or more, the following places will keep 'em busy and active all winter long.