Several snowmen came out to play over the weekend.

As I drove to work on Monday morning, I passed one bending over to get a drink from the water fountain in the town square; I smiled at the imagination of the unknown builder. The realistic facial expression atop the drinker's characteristic three balled-body caused me to slow my car. That's when I noticed his buddy about three feet away, sitting on a park bench. His back was to me, so all I could see was his hat formed from snow and his left arm branch stretching along the top of the bench as though inviting someone to curl up with him.

The playful genius-ness of whoever created those men amused me and filled my Monday with light-heartedness.

As I left work that afternoon, I approached the drinker and the sitter from another direction. This time, I noticed a third snowman. He stood at the center of the stage that is planted in the square. His arms outstretched on either side, as though he were passionately singing away to an expectant crowd.

I began eagerly searching the area for other snowy figures. I found one across the street seated at an outdoor table for two in front of a local cafe and sipping from a Styrofoam coffee cup. The companion chair was empty and pulled slightly away from the table, tempting a guest to join him in a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy day.

All evening at home, I thought of the quartet of snowmen, and Tuesday morning, I stuck my camera into my bag. "Are you beautiful?" I asked Kimmie as she prepped herself for another day of high school.

"Why?" she questioned me suspiciously.

I wiggled my camera for her to see and sung out, "Because we're going to take pictures this morning! Of the snowmen! And us."

Kimmie protested, citing the fact that she might be late for school. I rolled that thought around in my mind and decided sometimes taking time for fun is worth it and maybe even necessary. I told her that I would write her a note of excuse.

After dropping Liberty off at Rhonda's house, Kimmie and I headed for the square. We climbed over fallen branches and picked our way over the ice. I sat down next to the bench-sitter, and Kimmie snapped our picture. Kimmie posed behind the bench for her shot. I bent next to the drinker at the water fountain. His finger was already on the button, so he did not need my aid. Kimmie clicked the camera. We headed for the stage to belt out a trio with the singer, but he was lying flat on his back, overcome with stage-fright. So we turned to the cafe instead. Our cocoa consumer had apparently had too much to drink...maybe a little brandy with his chocolate?...because he lay on his side, in too much of a stupor to stir.

We cut our photo shoot short and skated towards the car. Guess what? Kimmie wasn't late after all!