Playing in the Snow

We got up this morning and saw that it had been snowing during the night.  More snow on top of the snow that has been falling all week.  January and later is, after all, when all the snow seems to fall the most in our average winters.  There's getting to be about a foot or more of snow in the yard now.

I really like how it looks early in the morning, before it begins to warm up.  The snow clings to the trees and everything else, and looks real pretty.

Its at its best early, before it warms up enough for the snow to start falling off.

One of the real nice things about this wonderful world Heavenly Father designed for us.  He thought of so many wonderful little details.

And, this morning, it wasn't even real early.  It was about 9:00 am when we got stirring enough.  The snow was still on the trees and everything and it was very nice.

So, of course, we had to go play in it.  First step was for everyone to get all bundled up so we can stay warm.

Pretty soon everyone was all ready and smiles, anxious to get out in the snow!

Even the dog seemed to enjoy being out, running in the snow.

Out by the fence the snow wasn't very deep, because the trees had blocked the ground a little.  But out in the middle of the yard the snow was almost up to his chest.  It was funny watching him bound through the snow before there were any trails made.

First order of business was to make some snow angels.  I'm not sure the kids had ever seen that before.  They were pretty surprised to see their grandmother flop down in the snow and start making wings.

Then their daddy flopped down in the snow.  That was an incredible sight to them.

None of the grandkids made snow angels but they were more than happy to try to bury their grandmother in the snow.

So only two snow angels got made this morning.  But that's okay.  It was still fun.

Then it was time to get started on the snowman.  Big X began rolling the first ball of snow.

With a little help, it didn't take long before it was big enough.  Then it needed a little shaping, getting it ready for the next ball of snow.

Work started on the second ball of snow right away.  Big X was in on this one, too.  With a little help from his brother and Dad, it was off to a good start.

Soon it was big enough so it was rolled over next to the first ball.  Then Schwartzbeere tried to lift it up on the first ball.  But it was pretty big.

Turned out to be a two person job.  But they got it up on top well enough.

While all that was going on the youngest was trying to help but the snow was too deep - she was having trouble moving around the yard.

But with a little help, she was able to get over by the snowman, where everything was happening anyway.  Happily, the snow by this time was all tromped down so that she could move around.  Much happier.

The top snow ball was rolled over.  It was a lot easier to get up where it belonged.

The business of packing around and shaping out the head got underway and the snowman was coming together pretty nicely.

This was up where the little kids had trouble reaching so the grownups did most of this work, which was fine.  Himbeere wanted the snowman to have a mow-hawk so he set to work making one.

This was careful business, it needed to be done just right.

But soon enough it was done.  Grandma fetched some big buttons to finish properly decorating the snowman, since we didn't have any coal.  We also didn't have a big carrot so a button was used for the nose, too.  And then it was done!  A very fine snowman, indeed!