Leroy the Great

Zach Zerfzminsky reporting for the Midland Daily Snooze:

Neighbours have awarded trophies for it, visitors from afar have requested pictures next to it, children have been afraid of it. It is Leroy, the annual towering snow creature created by the Mulder brothers.

Brian James Mulder, the brains behind the project, said he wanted to go above and beyond the average snowman.

"He's beautiful." says the creator as he looks lovingly upon his sculpture which took hours of rolling snow, and an assembly line of sorts in which the brothers rolled large snowballs, broke them into chunks, and tossed them up to Brian who sat on the top of the structure.

"He might not be that good-looking, but he's big. And that's what counts," says youngest brother Rob.

The brothers all worked together including bil (brother in law) Derek Huisman, and eldest brother Dave, who with a broken wrist was only able to use his foot to pack down the snow.

"He gets bigger every year," said an astonished Nelly Mulder, mother of snowbuilder masterminds, and co-owner of the home at 2308 Parkwood Drive. "I'm just worried he'll still be on my front lawn in April."

The Leroy tradition began three years ago, when the Mulder brothers created a 7 foot snowman with outstretched arms on the Mulder front porch. "I felt like I was being welcomed to the neighborhood with a big hug." says past resident Jim Schreck, now residing in Lake City, MN.

Two years ago Leroy was bigger and better than the year before, sporting hockey pucks for eyes, a tie, and a mop for hair. In 2006 Leroy was non-existent due to a green Christmas.

The annual Leroy the snowman event took place at the Mulder household on December 22nd, 2007. Please watch next year for pictures of another amazing snowman.

The Mulder-Huisman clan in action as Leroy begins to take shape.

Getting bigger.

Brian Mulder, snow artist in action.

WOW.