You've Gotta Get Up!!!

'You've got to get up' her excited call wakes me.

I'd opened the curtains so many times, hopefully expecting brilliant white to meet my eyes but alas, no such sight appeared to me. Instead, the murky dark of a dull morning had greeted me.  Yet now my heart raced with excitement!

The warmth of those fluffy grey sheets forgotten my feet hit the floor, brrrr it's chilly. I shiver!

Through the living room window I am greeted by white, everywhere, white. Small snowflakes fall languidly from the sky, so softly falling. I watch, hypnotized by the sight that greets me - snow! 

The balcony which last night had a light white smattering, is now inches thick with powdered ice. 

Buzz stands knee deep with Toothless nearby, his eyes barely visible, both waiting patiently in the newly fallen snow, for their owner to arrive. 

Daddy lights the fire and watches on, as Mummy and Gama Juju bound down the stairs and out the front door - like little girls themselves, giggling with smiles wide across their rosey cheeked faces. 'Oh wow, oh wow' Gama Juju laments. 'It's so quiet' her mummy whispers. Their cameras click, and they ooh and ahh - so excited with this wonder of nature. 

So peaceful, so beautiful - the sun not yet up. The silvery metallic morning reflects in the water of the lake and the stark whiteness disappears into the cloud shrouded mountaintop. 

Little Miss sleeps on, unaware of the drama playing out downstairs. 'Let's get her up' says mummy.  'I want to see how excited she will be to see the snow!' 

Daddy agrees and he climbs the stairs. He spies his sweet little girl curled up with her precious blanky, cocooned in the soft warmth of her bed, surrounded by her ever watchful dolls and menagerie of stuffed animals. They, the animals and the dolls, watch on as he gently wakes his little girl from her slumber, lifts her into his arms and lovingly cuddles her to his shoulder. 

'Look bubba', her mummy says. Little miss rubs her sleepy eyes, she looks in wonder - spying Buzz and Toothless. Her cheeky grin curling at the corners - her eyes sparkle with delight.  

All rugged up and with galoshes on her feet, they see she wants to touch it, to step out onto the white blanketed balcony, it's a bit scarey though. What is this new phenomenon?  

Mummy lifts her out, it crunches underfoot - she smiles. 

She's so brave as she saves Buzz and Toothless from their chilly fate.

Then she with her galoshoed feet, stomps with glee into the pristine white crispness, leaving miniature footprints up and down the balcony.

Daddy smiles too, watching his precious child enjoy this new experience. Mummy rolls a snowball and throws - it splats against the little girl’s jacket.  She is stunned but happy – her eyes widen in delight. She bends, lifts some of the white fluffiness and throws, giggling. ‘She’s got a good arm’, her Daddy’s sentiment echoes - she shivers.

Are you cold bubba?  The girl wants to stay out but it's so toasty inside. The view through the window seems like a slow motion movie scene. Gently, ever so gently, the snowflakes fall. 

And . . . the little girl's Daddy and Mummy watch on, as she warms her cherubic little fingers by the fire.