Messenger Intern

It was easy to tell where the children had been in Pike County on Thursday. You need only look in the yard.

The most obvious sign of a household with children was the snow-robbed yards left in the wake of the early morning snow-filled frenzy, while homes without children enjoyed Thomas Kinkade-like front yards throughout the day.

With only an inch or so of snow to work with, children had to dive into the ingenious recesses of their minds for creative places to set up shop for a miniature snowman or snowlady.

Jeremy and Mitchell Thomas used the snow collected off of their trampoline to make "Frosty" in their front yard. Frosty used a ribbon to smile and a stick of celery to smell, since carrots were not available in the Thomas’ refrigerator.

"They were out there as soon as light came up," their father said.

After Frosty was through playing with the two brothers, or vice versa, Jeremy and Mitchell moved on to a snowball war with their parents. The ammunition was supplied off the vehicle parked in the driveway, since all the snow from the yard was used for Frosty.

In another yard on another street, an intense snowball war was taking place between four snow-warriors, although they decided not to play on teams this time.

They had been involved in the war for about an hour when they decided to take a break to eat the ammunition.

"It tastes good," said John Stephen Grice, who has seen his share of snow before in West Virginia. "It tastes just like a slushy."

Samantha Kitchens, 9, and her cousin, Andrea Kitchens,17, were playing with the last remaining clump of the white stuff, which was formerly a snowman, when the events turned into level five war.

Andrea thinks Alabamians get overly excited about snow, but, then again, she used to live in Colorado.

"Everyone here is afraid of a little ice," she said shortly before being clamored in the back with a snowball from her cousin.

The variations of snow-people apparel is as different and unique as the creators themselves.

With mouths comprised of anything between raisins to the simple finger-drawn lips, every smile is an original, frosty emotion.

Some smoke pipes while others choose the non-smoking section of life. Some wear winter clothes while some resort to the natural side of the snow life. Some just sit there like three lumps, unfinished and exposed to the mockery of the world.

Snow is not just for the kiddies, according to Chris Johnson who is enjoying the snow enough for ten 3-foot-tall children.

Even though he is working, he still appreciates the "pure snow every where."

"It’s easy to work in. It’s no big deal," said Johnson, who is a sanitation engineer.

Johnson, who is originally from Boston, has seen plenty of snow in his life, but he is still able to enjoy watching others get excited.