As most of my readers have figured out, I hate snow! and with that being said as soon as Christmas was over I would get the winter blahs. When I lived in the Midwest between the cold and the lack of sun I would just feel so blue. But thankfully my little ones would always find a way to pick up my spirits.

Junior was about 4 or 5 years in the picture below. He was my little ray of sunshine during those cold, cold days. Please ignore the fact that he wouldn't wear his hat or mittens while being photographed but believe me he was wearing them while building the snowman otherwise his little fingers wouldn't still have been on his hands.

Those Wisconsin winters were brutal. I may have taken the pictures but I can guarantee that mom was sipping coffee while the snowman builder was working.

Snowman Building Kits on Flashback Thursday

Snowman Kit red rubber art stamp approx 4 1/2 X 3" seasonal winter holiday card making paper goods EMagineArtstamps $8.00	Snowman Kit - Playdoh Snowman Kit - Preschool Gift - Playdough Snowman - Kids Stocking Stuffer - Snowman Tag - DIY Snowman - Christmas Gift sweettalkdesigns $7.00	Handmade Snowman Buttons-- set of 3 Made of polymer TheClayBeanCo $4.00	Snowman Kit with Top Hat emswoodbydesign $19.50
Snowman kit - Build your own with a little snow! TheArtisticRose $19.00	Christmas Snowman Kit MemaneseMakins $35.00	Snowflake Frozen Build Your Own Snowman Birthday Party Favors PlayDoh Snowman Mason Jar Kit Party Favors (12) with Tag EllaJaneCrafts $42.00	Melted Snowman Soap / Party Favor - Coal and Carrot Soap SkyRainSoap $5.00
Build a Snowman Kit Treat Bag Toppers MadebyMeechDesign $3.00	Snowman Kit TheToyBoxbyVinny $15.00	Build Your Own Snowman Sticker Kit OhSoFawn $1.50	carrot noses for snowmen/ sew on snowman noses for soft sculptures: 2 "-2 1/4" peggerspockets $5.00
20 Coal Black Rock Look Buttons, Craft Buttons, Sewing Buttons, Grab Bag, Jewelry (Y 1) MellowMoonSupply $3.50	Build a Snowman Kit WoodHeadbyJack $5.00	Snowman Kit Favors4AllOccasions $16.50	Christmas brooch, crochet brooch, pin, Christmas accessorie, Christmas gift, snowman's kit, black, red, white FancyKnittles £13.00

Building Snowmen on Flashback Thursday

4x6 Small Charlie Brown, Building Snowmen, winter fun, Retro, Cartoon, 1950's - 1970's, Charles M Schulz, Frame and Matte for Desk Decor ClassicVintageAds $5.00	Norman Rockwell 1980 Grandpa Snowman Figurine - Collectible Christmas Decor Danbury Mint VIVALASVINTAGE $10.00	50% OFF SALE 40 Percent Off Vintage Christmas Teddy Bears Building Snowmen Sweater Jumper Medium HOWLRetro £10.00	1906 Raphael Tuck Postcard Children Building Snowman, Christmas Wishes Chestnutyankee $6.99
Royal Copenhagen Christmas Cup And Saucer Set. 1985. The Snowman, Danish Blue And White. Yesterdayshome £25.00	ChristmasSeason's GreetingsIce SkatingBuilding a SnowmanSnow SleddingUS Postage StampsUnused Mint ConditionScott #2027-30Plate Block BobsCornerStore $10.30	Vintage Boy Building a Snowman Kimber's Fields Indoor/Outdoor Statute is a 13 inch tall by 9 inch wide adorable holiday decoration! HistoryCollector $99.99	Daisy Kingdom, Christmas Snowman, Do You See What I See, Finished Wall Quilt or Throw, Handmade, Hand Quilted, Holiday Decoration CatBazaar $24.99
Vintage Cabbage Patch Kids 100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle 1984 WylieOwlVintage $8.00	Salad Plate - Christmas Children Building A Snowman - Vintage Look - 8 1/2 Plate marilynschimmeyer $5.00	Vintage Postcard 1916 Building A Snowman Postcard Clapsaddle EMB Unposted Vintage Postcards By Vintagelady7 vintagelady7 $8.99	Enesco Porcelain Building A Snowman Christmas Figurine Holiday Tabletop Decor Vintage Holiday Collectible 6.25" Tall happyhippyshack $13.50
Vintage Christmas Snowmen Couple Image VintageDigitalShop2 $3.00	Kodak Camera Ad ~ Family Winter Snowman ~ Original Magazine Advertising 1950's IcicleGarden $11.00	Snowman - Debbie Thiebolt manymonkeys $80.00	Reserved Order for Clara Cute Little Girls Building a Snowman TUCK Antique Postcard KrisGoesPicken $15.00

The Love of Snowmen on Flashback Thursday

Winsch Postcard, John Winsch New Year, Woman Snowman Card, New Year Postcard, Antique Postcard, Schmucker Postcard EndlessEphemera $20.00	Vintage Lefton Snowman Couple Bells..Super sweet!! KittyKatDance $38.00	Annalee Christmas Snowman - Now Free Shipping on this item! CollectiblesWB $99.99	1960's Holiday Decor, Snowman with Children, Christmas Kitsch, Vintage Christmas, Holiday Collectible, Home & Living, Home Decor, Holiday VandyleeVintage $44.00
Snowy Kisses, Snow Hugs Digi stamped Tag, Gift for a girl, use as a bookmark, room decoration Smiles4Paper $6.25	Mr Snowman Steals a Kiss, original, painting, acrylic, print, wall decor,christmas, gift, wall hanging, wall art print, DeepRiverArt $9.99	Precious Moments Snowman And Angels Figurine, Vintage Precioues Moments, precious Moments Figurine FinishesbyHeidi $22.00	The Snowman 1982 Academy Award Nominee "Best Animated Short Film" Raymond Briggs Movie 1993 VHS Tape JennStash $7.00
1953 Woman dates a snowman due to bad breath print ad vintage decor Even a Snowman's better than no man! catchingcanaries $9.00	Vintage 1909 Christmas postcard boy girl snowman digital download printable image BigGDesigns $1.75	50% OFF SALE 40 Percent Off Vintage Navy Cuddling Snowman Christmas Jumper Sweater Large HOWLRetro £10.00	Snowmen Kissing Ornaments He She Snowman Couple White Glittery Resin Vintage Christmas FIgurines Winter Decoration Holiday365 $21.95
Large Vintage Centerpiece Figurine Accents Unlimited 1981 Children Hugging Playing Snowman Dog Licking Snowball Having Some Wintertime Fun seasidecollectibles $24.99	B. Kliban Cat Original Vintage Art Print Snowman Winter Decorative Wall Hanging CMVintageArt $8.51	Retro Christmas Kissing Snowman Card KathybyDesign $7.50	Beautiful Vintage Snowman Christmas Digital Download Printable Image Instant Download for DIY Paper Crafts TheCharmingMagnolia $2.25

Melting Snowman on Flashback Thursday

This wonderful treasury can also be found on my Flashback Thursday post at www.ButterflyinTheAttic.com

Food Jewelry Christmas Melting Snowman Cookie Ring, Festive Ring, Miniature Food, Kawaii Ring, Christmas Jewelry, Polymer Clay, Snowman Ring HugsKissesMINI $17.80	Adorable Melting Snowman Clipart wearing Hat and Scarf - Cupcake Topper digifotosclipart $3.99	Fused Glass Melting Snowman Ornament DawnRiveraDesigns $25.00	Snowman cupcake toppers, 13 melting snowman cupcake toppers, snowman toppers, snowman party theme, snowman cake topper, snowman Fairfable $10.50
Primitive Melting Snowman Shelf Sitter Winter Christmas Decoration scaredycatprimitives $6.00	Fused Glass Melting Snowman Ornament (020) GreenUpGlass $10.00	Melting Snowman Vinyl Decal, Christmas Mug Decal, Winter Decal, Cute, Vinyl Sticker, Custom, Under 5, Illustrated, Tumbler, roocharms roocharms $5.00	Primitive Melting Snowmen...Handmade Melting Snowman and his Snowlady..Country Snowman.. MirandasRoom $12.00
Melting Snowman Thorswoodworking $24.95	Primitive Country 1672SNB Melting Snowman homespun scarf, rusty bell, and 'I'd melt for you' tag. NannieandBCrafts $8.95	Wooden Melting Snowman UnnecessaryDelights $45.00	Melting Snowman PrismWorks $12.00
Food Jewelry, Christmas Earrings, Melting Snowman Cookie Earrings, FestiveEarrings,Miniature Food, Christmas Jewelry,Snowman Earrings Kawaii HugsKissesMINI $18.30	Melting Snowman HolidayYardArt $45.00	Snowman Necklace, Holiday Necklace, Christmas Necklace, Worth Melting For, Melted Snowman, Olaf Necklace GoFloat $24.95	Melting Max Snowman SnowmanCollector $7.50

I have to admit that this year I am kind of glad to say goodbye to 2015. It was a very stressful and trying year. We finished it off 2015 with my daughter in the hospital for double pneumonia on Christmas Eve and being stranded in Chicago, thanks to American Airlines, through New Years. But! and a big But! I am optimist and I'm predicting that 2016 is going to be the year that turns it all around.

My Special Needs Daughter on Christmas Day

The Crazy Weather on Dec 28th that grounded our flight
Taken from the Shedd Aquarium

I am so glad to be back in sunny California in 2016, my family health is being restored and things are already starting to change for the good. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

On a more positive note for my Christmas Vacation, I was able to go to continue with our tradition of riding the train into Chicago and walking the Magnificent Mile and finally to Macy's beautiful windows.

Macy's window

I was also able to get to the original Billy Goats (for those of you too young, it is an old tavern making its mark when it was featured in a skit on SNL with John Belushi) Check another site off my list of places seen on TV (or Movie)