February may be the shortest month of the year, but sometimes it sure does feel like the longest.  The holidays are over, the snow's novelty has worn off and we're left with cold winter days, dark evenings and sometimes I'm tempted to hibernate inside my house until spring.  Kids will be anxiously awaiting the Groundhog's prediction this weekend to see if his shadow tells us to expect an early spring or six more weeks of winter.  But regardless of what that little guy predicts, we've got some great ideas to get you out of the house and enjoying yourself this weekend. 

We admit we jumped the gun when we posted our list of the best sledding hills in NYC earlier this week. We were just so excited about the snow (that's my daughter in the photo, gleefully making snow angels in her schoolyard) and we had hoped there would be more of it.

Of course we don't need a blizzard to enjoy winter sports. Many nearby ski and snow tubing resorts blow their own, and our New Jersey and Connecticut sites have plenty of great seasonal activity suggestions, in case you're thinking about taking a trip over the upcoming four-day midwinter break. Looking for additional getaway suggestions? Our Travel site also has a post about five mini-vacation spots for families in the Northeast, including the popular CoCo Key Water Resorts in New Jersey and Connecticut.

Back here in NYC, we launched our February Go NYC List featuring the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month so you can plan ahead. We're particularly excited about the Citi Pond Winter Film Festival, which kicks off this coming Monday, February 4 with an outdoor screening of the classic animated Disney flick Peter Pan in Bryant Park. The Mommy Poppins team will be there with a table so come say hello. We'll even be handing out vouchers for free hot chocolate to our readers while supplies last. Watch the movie as you glide around the ice or pull up a rink-side chair.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

In NYC, it's easy to forget that there is wildlife living amongst us. And I'm not talking about rats, alligators in the sewers, escaped tigers or even backyard chickens. There are eagles and Red-tailed Hawks, raccoons and even the occasional coyote.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is great for bird-watching and the Alley Pond Environmental Center will introduce you to creatures living in our wetlands. And now there's a fun new way to discover even more hidden wildlife on a NYC Audubon Winter EcoCruise.

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.