Today was the first official day of the 2007 Winter Carnival here in Houghton, MI and we braved the cold to see the snow masterpieces. The students (mainly fraternities/sororities) at Michigan Tech University (MTU) form teams to compete in this annual contest to create the best snow sculpture using only snow and water. This year’s theme was “Ancient Times” and the sculptures were AMAZING. Now we understand why people come from all over to see them!
One of a few renditions of the Trojan Horse – it seemed to be a popular theme.
I think this guy was either supposed to be sleeping or injured…next to the Trojan Horse.
Israel and Imanuel trying to get warm inside one of the Tech buildings.
The Sphinx
Even the letters written have to be made of ice (except they can color them).
Cold baby
Ancient Babylon – We all think this one was the winner. It was beautiful!
The left side of the temple – (pictures don’t do it justice!)
A picture of the little bridge out in front
A small Japanese river (I think this was done by the Asian frat.)
There were some crazy frat boys who were running through campus in
their boxers. I guess this is how they celebrate winter carnival up
here…so I took pictures.
Mayan building
In the ice pillars on top, they actually put lights inside so they shine at night.
Alanna & Imanuel walking the streets of Houghton
Nordic soldiers at war. We thought this one was second best.
Their boat with ice oars.
All of their swords were made of ice too!
Just for Israel – This is what the hispanic students at Tech made. HAHA! Alanna, Idaliza and Andy helped with this one so I probably shouldn’t laugh…but I’m sure after giving up, they were laughing too. Imanuel definitely identified with his Korean side at this site.
Some frozen fruit. Smoothies, anyone? 
A mini Atlas
One of the few sculptures that was Imanuel’s size
We dropped Israel off early go to the airport (E-com retreat in CA) so he wasn’t able to see all of them. Actually, we didn’t either because the baby started getting really fussy. Alanna told me that there’s a really nice chinese sculpture that she saw over in Hancock where she lives. We may go again to see the rest of them. Hopefully it’ll stay cold enough for the sculptures to stay for at least a couple weeks so that the missionaries can see them when they come up! It’s quite a display of art.
This is v. impressive! I want someone to build me an igloo to live in. With hot pink letters to show my address number. Immanuel can come and crash there with Uncle John and Auntie K. We can eat frozen smoothies and toss around snowballs. Maybe the Tech students could freelance out their mad carnival skills.
Brrr. You guys look sooo cold…mostly because I know it’s colder there than it is here. I’m glad you suffered through it in order to take pictures for us to see. 🙂
That is just awesome! So fun IS to be had in below freezing weather! We are in a cold snap here in NC with 40 degree weather. It would stink if an actual warm day hit winter carnival…all those sculptures…gone like frosty the snowman.
Since I am Hispanic too I guess I could jab fun. Another idea the Hispanics could have sculpted could have been a giant ancient snowball. But actually the sculpture looks a lot like the picture beside it!!
Looks pretty amazing. They have an ice sculpting thing in Niles, right by where we are. But we only found out about it as we drove past the melting scuptures. These were quite a bit more detailed, though. I’m very impressed!! Sounds like you guys are going out on the town!! Hehe.
Praying for you~!
Nice! They have something like this in Ottawa, too, but mostly are made of ice. It’s an art, i guess. Man, it seems it’s really cold up there, much worse than here! Stay warm and blessings to you.
Wow…very cool looking. Thanks for sharing, and please stay warm. I don’t thin I have enough warm clothes for that weather.
wow, that’s pretty cool. See you guys soon!
that’s crazy awesome!!!! yikes! ;Op
amazing stuff!!my snow “sculpting” attempts never went further than the snowman… sigh :)hope the family’s staying warm and bundled up up there!!miss u guys~
this is like ..extreme cold! it’s really cool though. Stay warm up there.. and the baby’s so big!!
WOW… Israel gave us the full report from his end on the frigidity of the weather and the beauty of the sculptures. Those are awesome! Once there was a sculpture fest in Waterveliet (sp?) and we went there when I was about 8 yrs old. But I’m pretty sure it wasn’t as good as “your” sculptures. Those are huge!
awww looks awesome. baby is looking a little cold.red mittens… good use?
hi~ i will not be there sunday cuzz i’mma be visiting the lady friend down south =]but i’ll catch you guys on the way back??
dude, the baby looks more and more like izzy. i don’t know if that’s a good thing pudy. hahaha, just kidding!!!
Like how long did it take them to make those things?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IMANUEL! Boy how time flies by. With a blink of the eye Imanuel is 1 and you blink again and he is off to college…one more blink and he is married with kids of his own…Enjoy everyday you have together as a family! I’m sure you are. Have a great day!