Lily woke up to the soft, golden light of morning spilling through her window. She stretched and yawned, then dashed to the window, her heart racing with excitement. The world outside was a perfect winter wonderland, with fresh snow gently covering everything. It wasn't the first snow of the season, but today it felt like the snowflakes were falling just for her.
She rushed downstairs to find her dad, David, already in the kitchen, humming as he prepared breakfast. The comforting aroma of warm porridge filled the room. "Good morning, snow princess!" David greeted with a smile as he saw her.
Lily bounced up to him, her eyes wide with excitement. "Look at the snow, Dad! It's so pretty today! I want to make a snowman!"
David chuckled and ladled porridge into her bowl. "I know, it's beautiful. Maybe after daycare, we'll make the biggest snowman ever, okay?"
Lily's eyes sparkled. "Yes! I'm going to make the biggest snowman in the world!" She climbed into her seat at the table, her feet swinging with anticipation.
"First things first," David said with a smile. "We have to get ready for daycare."
After a quick but hearty breakfast, they bundled up in their winter gear—warm coats, scarves, mittens, and boots—before stepping out into the crisp air. The snow crunched under their feet as they walked down the street. Lily's breath came out in little clouds, and she laughed, feeling like she was walking through a fairy tale.
"I'm so excited to see everyone today," Lily said, her voice bright with the joy of the morning.
David smiled at her. "I bet they're excited to see you too. And don't forget, Ms. Choi has something special planned for today."
As they neared the daycare, Lily's pace quickened, her boots making soft thumps in the snow. "I wonder if we'll get to play outside today," she said, eyes gleaming.
"We'll see," David replied, unlocking the door and ushering her inside.
The daycare was warm and lively, filled with the sounds of kids chattering and laughing. Ms. Choi, the teacher, was greeting everyone at the door with a big smile. "Good morning, Lily! You're just in time for a special treat," she said, handing Lily a small cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.
"Yay! Hot chocolate!" Lily exclaimed, holding the cup with both hands, savoring the warmth. She sat down at a table with Joon, who was already sipping his own drink.
"Lucky, you got marshmallows!" Joon said, eyeing her cup. "Can I have one?"
Lily giggled and passed him a marshmallow. "Here! I think Ms. Choi gave extra today."
Joon popped the marshmallow in his mouth. "Mmm, so good!"
The other kids were finishing their drinks too, and soon they were all gathered on the colorful rugs for storytime. Ms. Choi held up a book titled The Snowy Day Adventures. "Alright, everyone, let's settle down for a cozy story about snow and friends."
Lily snuggled into the rug, her eyes wide with excitement. The story was about a group of animals in the forest helping each other stay warm during the winter. As Ms. Choi read, Lily whispered to Joon, "I want to be like the little bunny and help everyone stay warm."
Joon nodded seriously. "I'll be the fox, keeping watch for danger."
Ms. Choi smiled as she finished the story. "And just like those animals, you all help each other here at daycare, don't you?"
Lily smiled, feeling proud of her friends. "We do! We help each other all the time."
After the story, Ms. Choi announced, "Time for some craft fun! We're going to make snowflakes out of paper!"
Lily grabbed a pair of scissors and a piece of white paper, folding it carefully as Ms. Choi had shown them. "I'm going to make mine extra special," she said, concentrating hard.
Joon, sitting next to her, was already cutting out a complex snowflake with sharp edges. "Mine is going to be the best!" he declared, showing it off to the group.
Lily giggled, sticking out her tongue in concentration. "Wait until you see mine!"
Ms. Choi walked around, admiring the snowflakes. "You all are so creative! Look at all these beautiful designs. Just like real snowflakes—no two are alike!"
When the crafts were done, it was time for their favorite part of the day—playtime outside. Ms. Choi led the kids to the playground, where the snow had piled up in big, soft mounds. "Let's build a snowman!" Lily cried, running toward a large patch of fresh snow.
Joon immediately began rolling a big snowball. "This is going to be the biggest snowman ever!"
Lily joined him, starting her own snowball. "We should make a snow family! One snowman for each of us!" she said, grinning.
Hyun, who had been watching, jumped in. "Yeah! And we can give them hats and scarves!"
Together, they worked, rolling snow and packing it into three giant snowballs. Soon they had their snowman, complete with stick arms, a carrot nose, and a scarf made from one of the old blankets Ms. Choi kept for outdoor play.
"This is perfect!" Lily said, stepping back to admire their work. "Our snowman is the best!"
Joon stood proudly next to it. "I think it needs a little more style," he said, adjusting the scarf. "There! Perfect."
After all the playing, it was time for a snack. Ms. Choi handed out slices of tangerine and persimmons, their sweet flavors refreshing after being outside. Lily peeled a tangerine, popping the segments into her mouth one by one.
"Mmm, this is the best snack!" Lily exclaimed, licking her fingers. "It's so sweet!"
Joon grinned. "I like them, but I think apples are better."
"Apples are okay, but nothing beats tangerines," Lily argued, laughing.
As they finished their snacks, Ms. Choi called them over to the table. "Alright, kids, gather your things! It's time to make our winter-themed collages!"
Lily and Joon grabbed pinecones, small twigs, and pieces of white paper. "I'm making a snowy forest!" Lily said, gluing down the pinecones to represent trees.
Joon was busy gluing snowflakes and rocks to his paper. "I'm building a snow fort!" he said proudly. "It's going to be the strongest fort ever!"
Ms. Choi admired their work. "These collages are wonderful! You all did a great job."
Soon, it was time to say goodbye. The kids grabbed their bags and said goodbye to Ms. Choi. "Thanks for the fun day, Ms. Choi!" Lily said, giving her a hug.
"Goodbye, Lily! See you tomorrow!" Ms. Choi said warmly.
On the way home, Lily and David walked side by side through the snowy streets. "I can't wait to make a snowman tomorrow," Lily said, her voice filled with excitement. "And play in the snow again!"
David smiled down at her. "Sounds like a perfect plan."
When they got home, they settled down for a warm dinner of beef stew with vegetables. The rich, hearty meal filled the house with a comforting smell. As they ate, Lily talked non-stop about her day—about the snowman, the hot chocolate, and the collage. David listened intently, his heart full of warmth at seeing his daughter so happy.
After dinner, they stood by the window, watching the snow fall gently outside. Lily snuggled into her dad's side. "I love the snow, Dad," she said softly, her eyes dreamy.
"Me too," David replied, kissing her forehead. "We'll make plenty of snow memories this winter, I promise."
And as the night settled in, Lily drifted off to sleep, her heart full of joy, knowing that tomorrow would bring even more winter wonders.