UPDATED FOR WINNER:

A big thanks to all who entered the contest for a free Xbox Kinect. I’ll be in touch with the winner via email very soon to discuss shipping details.

This turned out much better — and much easier — than I expected, so stay tuned. I may be doing this in the future, pending the release of some new Kinect goodies. Fun stuff on the way.

And now … here’s the winner!

It’s Christine, from Feb. 28. (Here is a screen grab of the Random.org number selector I used.)

Congratulations!

Before I get to why I’m giving away a brand spanking new, debuted today Xbox 360 Kinect Family Bundle video game system, here’s a quick cheat sheet for those who just want to quickly enter: Leave a comment below. That’s it. I’ll select a winner at random later this week.

Now onto the story …

It’s been ridiculously beautiful in the Bay Area these past few weeks, with sunshine and beach weather and worried polar bears wandering around neighborhoods, tapping people on shoulders: “Psst, hey buddy, have you seen any ice caps around here? Do you have any seal? How fast can you run, anyway?”

Yeah, that warm.

But the rains will come, as they always do. One year, it seemed to rain for months on end, and we’re fine with that. We love to go to Marin County to hike when the rivers flood and and the ground is soupy brown. There are all sorts of animals and critters we see on rainy day hikes that we never see on dry hikes.

But sometimes it’s difficult to get outside, when it’s cold and howling with wind, and inside it’s so pleasant and cozy and overflowing with hot chocolate. Mmmmm, chocolate…

And yet … we are still an active family that gets a little stir crazy.

A few months ago, I found a convenient, incredibly fun way to stay active indoors on rainy days, and I’m happy to be able to share one with you.

I’ve written before about how much I love my Xbox Kinect video game system, and now I’m giving one away.

But not just any system. It’s a new Xbox 360 Kinect Family Bundle, which features a new design and includes two free games with it.

Here, look at what you could win:

Isn’t it shiny?

Seriously, we have so much friggin’ fun with this thing it’s silly. Emme and I team up for river raft adventures that leave us sweaty and giggling. And then we compete against each other in downhill skiing — we love it.

So here’s the deal to enter:

All you have to do is leave a comment below. It can be any comment really. Tell me what you’d say to that polar bear, for instance. Or, more helpfully, tell me how you stay active during rainy stretches. Or which video games you were so proud of beating as a kid (Mike Tyson Punch Out). It doesn’t matter. Just say something and there you go — you’re entered.

I’ll close the contest when the clock strikes midnight PST on Saturday March 3, and then I’ll use one of those number randomizers to select the winner.

And voila. Happy people in the internet.

You haven’t lived until you’ve jumped your legs crazy on the Adventures game pack. I’ve actually used that game to work out for my Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon — that’s how much it works you. Add a jumpy 5-year-old to the mix and you will laugh so hard you just might pee. (Xbox needs to put that on the box: Buy Me. I’m pee inducing.)

So there you go. Contest is now open.

Good luck!

Full disclosure: I received a free Xbox Kinect system a few months ago for a separate post, but I’m not being compensated or given a freebie for this post or contest. I seriously just love the freaking thing and was thrilled to be able to give one away.

 

So it finally happened. The kid fell off her horse this weekend.

After cantering around the ring, Kisses, her weekly riding partner, leaned down to smell some poop and the kid tumbled over the horse’s head and flopped onto the ground.

Awesome.

We had been telling Emme that she’d more than likely fall off a horse, if she keeps up with the lessons, and especially if she continues her journey toward jockeyhood. I get the sense that she didn’t really believe us. Until now.

After the fall, she cried for about two minutes out of fear. She wasn’t hurt, thankfully.

And then she hopped right back on Kisses and continued the lesson.

I’m so proud of her.