The soft light of the morning peeked through the curtains as Lily stirred in bed. She stretched, letting out a little yawn. Her room was quiet except for the occasional creak of the house.
Lily blinked a few times, rubbing her eyes. pushing the covers off.
She shuffled to the window, peeking out. "It's snowing!" Her eyes widened in excitement. "I can't wait for the snowball fight!"
Her little feet padded softly across the floor as she hurried to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She tried not to splash too much water around but ended up with a few drops on the mirror.
"Oops," she giggled, wiping the mirror with the back of her hand.
Back in her room, she pulled on her favorite yellow sweater and jeans, the ones with the little bunny patches. "This is perfect for a snow day," she said, nodding to herself.
Downstairs, the smell of pancakes filled the house. Her stomach rumbled as she made her way into the kitchen, finding her dad already at the table.
"Good morning, Daddy!" she said, her voice full of energy.
David looked up from his phone and smiled. "Good morning, sweetheart. You're up early today."
"I'm so excited for the snow!" Lily said, hopping into her seat. "Can I have pancakes? With syrup? And maybe some whipped cream?"
David chuckled. "Of course. Just don't make a tower this time, okay?"
Lily grinned. "I'll make it extra tall today!"
She picked up the first pancake and carefully placed it on her plate. "Look, Daddy! A pancake tower!" she said, as she stacked each one higher and higher.
David smiled as he poured tea. "Careful, don't make it too tall."
Lily giggled. "It's like a skyscraper! I'm building a pancake city."
David chuckled, buttering his pancakes. "Well, I hope it's a strong city. You'll need a lot of energy for your games today."
Lily frowned slightly. "What games are we playing today, Daddy? Will there be snow?"
David nodded. "I think so. Ms. Choi said you're doing snowball toss and maybe even a snow fort."
Lily's face lit up. "A snow fort? Can I build one like the one in our storybook?"
"Of course," David said, smiling. "Just remember to keep your mittens on!"
"I won't forget," Lily replied, pushing her pancakes around. "Can I bring my snowman pin today too?"
David grinned. "Sure, I'm sure Ms. Choi will love it."
Lily beamed. "I worked really hard on it. It's the best one ever!"
David laughed. "I'm sure it is."
Lily finished her pancakes, eyes bright with excitement. "Can we play a quick game before we go?"
David raised an eyebrow. "A game, huh? How about a race to see who can get dressed the fastest?"
Lily jumped up. "I'm ready! I can beat you, Daddy!"
David laughed. "You're on. But no cheating!"
They quickly finished their breakfast, laughing together as they cleaned up and got ready for the day ahead.
When they arrived at daycare, the children were buzzing with excitement for "Winter Games" week. As soon as they walked in, their eyes lit up at the sight of the decorations — paper snowflakes on the walls and little snowmen hanging from the ceiling.
Lily glances around. "What are we going to play today, Ms. Choi?"
Ms. Choi grins. "We'll start with some games inside, then head outside for a surprise!"
Hyun jumps in, his eyes wide. "Is it a snowball fight? I hope it's a snowball fight!"
Ms. Choi laughs and claps her hands. "Let's find out! First, who's ready for a relay race?" She sets up an indoor game where the children have to balance beanbags on their heads while racing to the other side.
Lily stumbles halfway through the race, the beanbag tumbling to the ground. "Oops! I dropped it!"
Joon, focused and determined, says, "I won't drop mine. Watch me!" He balances his beanbag perfectly, grinning when he reaches the finish line.
Ms. Choi cheers them all on. "Great job, everyone! Let's try again and see if we can make it all the way!"
After a few rounds, the kids gather around to make snowman pins. Ms. Choi lays out felt, buttons, and ribbon scarves for them to use.
Lily holds up a button, looking proud. "My snowman is going to have a red scarf!"
Hyun, with a serious face, replies, "Mine's going to have three buttons, just like a real snowman."
Joon, grinning as he picks up his own supplies, adds, "I'm going to make mine with a purple scarf. So cool!"
Ms. Choi nods. "These are going to look amazing! You'll be able to wear them for the outdoor games later."
The kids get their coats, hats, and scarves on, their excitement bubbling over. Joon can't wait to get outside. "I'm ready! Let's go already!"
Lily tugs at her mittens. "Can we make snow angels too?"
Ms. Choi smiles as she helps them zip up their jackets. "We'll have plenty of time for snow angels. Let's get outside first!"
As the children step out into the snow, their laughter fills the air. Ms. Choi sets up a snowball toss game, with colored hoops on the ground. The kids take turns trying to get their snowballs through the hoops, some throwing with precision, others a bit too wild.
Lily jumps up, waving her arms. "I did it! I got one in the red hoop!"
Hyun is next, winding up for his throw. "Watch me! I'm going to get the blue one!"
Joon cheers him on. "You can do it, Hyun!"
Ms. Choi claps her hands. "Great job, everyone! You're all doing fantastic!"
Next, the children start building a snow fort. They pat the snow down, forming walls and a little doorway. Their teamwork is in full swing as they work together to make the fort big enough for all of them.
Lily, brushing snow from her gloves, exclaims, "This fort is going to be big enough for everyone!"
Joon grabs a handful of snow and starts shaping it into a ball. "We need a door! Let's make it right here."
Hyun, already thinking about the next game, adds, "And a snowball stash! For the next round!"
The fort takes shape quickly, and soon enough, the kids are done building. They head back inside, their cheeks rosy from the cold. Ms. Choi serves them warm rice cakes and tea, and the children sit down eagerly to enjoy their treat.
Lily, taking a bite, sighs contentedly. "The rice cakes taste so good after playing in the snow!"
Ms. Choi pours tea for everyone, chuckling. "It's amazing how much better everything tastes after a little fresh air, right?"
Joon grins, holding up his empty plate. "I want to play snowball toss again tomorrow!"
Ms. Choi, smiling, pulls out a book for the afternoon story. She begins reading about a family caught in a snowstorm, finding their way home. The children settle in, listening intently.
Ms. Choi: "The family huddled together, staying warm until the storm passed."
Lily, her eyes wide, whispers, "That's just like us when we were outside, right?"
Hyun, grinning, adds, "But we didn't get lost!"
When the story finishes, Ms. Choi gives each child a snowflake-shaped cookie, and the room is filled with excited chatter.
Lily, holding her cookie, says, "This is the best day ever."
Ms. Choi, standing by the door as the children prepare to leave, smiles warmly. "I'm so glad you had fun today. Tomorrow's games will be just as exciting."
Lily waves, already thinking about tomorrow. "Bye, Ms. Choi! I can't wait!"
Joon, holding his snowman pin proudly, adds, "I'm bringing my snowman pin tomorrow too!"
The kids head out, their faces full of joy, eager for another day of Winter Games fun.
As the children wave goodbye to Ms. Choi, they head out into the crisp evening air. The sun is starting to set, casting a golden glow over Daejeo. Lily walks hand in hand with her dad, David, who is already waiting for her by the daycare gate.
"Hi, Daddy!" Lily calls out, her face still flushed from the day's excitement.
David bends down, scooping her up into his arms. "Hey, kiddo! How was Winter Games week? Did you have fun?"
Lily's eyes sparkle as she nods enthusiastically. "Yes! We made snowman pins, had a snowball toss, and built a snow fort! It was awesome!"
David chuckles as he adjusts her scarf. "Sounds like a blast. But I bet you're ready for some dinner now, huh?"
Lily pouts, but only for a moment. "Can we have something warm, like soup? I'm so cold from playing outside."
David grins, giving her a playful smile. "Soup sounds perfect. How about some kimchi stew to warm us up?"
Lily's face brightens. "Yes, please! With lots of rice!"
As they walk home, the streets of Daejeo are peaceful, with soft snow falling and streetlights casting long shadows across the sidewalks. The two-story building where they live comes into view, and David carries Lily inside, their footsteps crunching in the fresh snow.
Once inside, David sets Lily down and heads to the kitchen, where the smell of warm rice cakes and tea from earlier still lingers in the air. Lily eagerly runs to the fridge to grab the kimchi and vegetables, while David pulls out the pot and sets it on the stove.
"Do you want to help me chop the vegetables, or should I do it?" David asks, smiling as he watches her.
Lily grins mischievously. "I'll chop! I can do it!"
David hands her the small, safe knife, and she carefully begins chopping the carrots and onions, making a concentrated face as she works.
"Watch out for your fingers!" David says with a chuckle, but Lily is focused, her tongue sticking out slightly as she cuts the vegetables.
As the stew simmers on the stove, the warm aroma fills the kitchen. The sound of the bubbling broth and the occasional crackling of the fire in the living room creates a cozy atmosphere. Lily's stomach growls, and David laughs softly.
"Getting hungry?" he asks, stirring the stew.
Lily nods eagerly. "It smells so good! I can't wait!"
Finally, the stew is ready. David ladles the warm, bubbling soup into bowls, and they sit down to eat. The kimchi stew is spicy but comforting, the flavors blending perfectly with the rice and vegetables.
Lily takes a big bite and sighs contentedly. "This is so good, Daddy! It's just what I needed after today."
David smiles as he watches her. "I'm glad you like it. It's the perfect meal for a snowy evening."
They continue to eat, talking about Lily's favorite parts of the Winter Games activities. She tells him more about the snowball toss and how she tried to build the biggest snow fort.
"Next time," she says between bites, "I want to make the fort even bigger so we can have a snowball fight inside!"
David laughs. "I'm sure you'll make it even bigger next time. Maybe we can get Joon to help too."
After finishing their stew, they clear the dishes and settle down in the living room. The snow continues to fall softly outside, and they curl up on the couch together, with Lily leaning against her dad as he reads aloud from a storybook.
As the day winds down, Lily's eyes grow heavy, the warmth of the meal and the day's activities making her sleepy.
"Can we read one more story, Daddy?" she asks with a yawn.
David looks down at her, smiling. "Of course. How about that adventure story from daycare?"
Lily nods sleepily, snuggling into her dad's side as he reads. The quiet hum of his voice is soothing, and before long, Lily drifts off to sleep, her head resting against his shoulder.
David gently kisses her forehead and tucks her in, his heart full as he watches her peacefully sleep.
With one last glance out the window at the falling snow, David heads to his own bed, ready to start another busy day tomorrow. But for now, everything feels just right.