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Snowed in? Not a problem when you have an igloo

by RACHEL SUN
Staff Writer | January 3, 2021 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — For some, seeing some sort of snow fort in a yard might bring to mind the thought of children. In the Harper family’s case, though, the igloo in their front yard was built mostly by mom and dad — Stephanie and Blair Harper — in the span of about seven hours.

“The neighbors thought we were doing it for the kids,” Blair said. “But me and Steph are the kids — we are kind of big kids. We were thinking everybody's like, ‘Oh, look at those crazy people out there at seven o'clock at night building.’”

To make the igloo, the Harpers used a kitchen-size garbage can to pack snow into and create blocks, he said. As they built up, they beveled the sides and filled in cracks in with more snow.

Blair is also a builder by trade, he said, but this is the first year they were able to complete the project. He had tried to build one last year with his son Greyson, but there wasn’t enough snow.

This year, thanks to the neighborhood plow leaving a pile of snow by their house, the family is thinking they might even add to their creation.

“They’re going to build a tunnel,” Stephanie said. “Greyson wants his own apartment right over here.”

Rachel Sun can be reached at rsun@bonnercountydailybee.com and followed on Twitter @RachelDailyBee.

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(Photo by RACHEL SUN)

The Harper family peak out from their igloo that they built on Dec. 26.

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(Photo by RACHEL SUN)

Nine-year-old Greyson Harper comes out of the igloo made by his parents, Stephanie and Blair, and is greeted by their dog, Nala.

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(Photo by RACHEL SUN)

Twelve-year-old Chloe Harper steps out of the igloo her family built on Dec. 26.