A Fun Christmas Day Activity

On the warmest Christmas Day I can remember (about 6C), the children headed outside (still in their PJ's) as soon as they had opened their gifts.  By the time the little boys had their coats on, Elizabeth had a good sized snowball made.

She informed us that she was making a snowman but already the big snowball was too heavy for her to manage on her own so Grandpa sent Uncle Dan out to help.

(Proof that the weather was 'balmy'.....our Caribean daughter took part in the outside fun)

The big snowball was getting very heavy.

The smaller kids started to make the torso and head....

Soon, Auntie Krystal was helping with the growing snowballs....

Reinforcements were called to help lift the torso onto the base.....

By now, the enterprise had attracted spectators....

Uncle Dan begins to shape and smooth the middle section.  He would also add snow between the two 'balls' to ensure the second one does not topple off, squashing a toddler or two.

After an impromptu (and short) snowball 'fight', Dan and Andrew lifted the head onto the torso. 

Robert had gone to the barn and found a bin of BBQ charcoal for giving their creation a face.

Elizabeth, as the instigator of this project, did the honors of providing a face to our new friend....

A cowboy hat was found instead of the white hard hat that was originally intended for his 'chapeau'.

Rob got some of my 'decorative sticks' from out of their container on the deck for arms but Liz and the little boys came running up from the other side of the house with thicker, more 'unique' sticks for the rather spindly arms.  My blue scarf, and "the best snowman we've ever built" was ready for a 'group photo'.

....and a shot of the 'big man' himself.

What a fun way to spend the 'intermission' between the kids opening gifts and the adults beginning exchange gifts.    The kids stayed outside for at least another 45 minutes, following Lizzie around and coming in with rosy pink cheeks.

Lest my American readers think this is a common occurance here, let me assure you that not only is this the BEST snowman ever built in my yard, it is one of only about 4 snowmen ever built in my yard - we seldom have the 'right' kind of snow (or enough of it) to roll into a big ball. 

 

(Unfortunately, the warm temperatures had the snowman's face and buttons on the ground by late afternoon, but nothing we couldn't fix.)