Prompt: There was something different when they woke up. (It's up to you to decide what that is.)

Considering the fact that I started the last prompt challenge with a mildly depressing story, I decided I needed major fluff for this first one. That, and the fact that I just finished drawing a picture of a tractor in the snow. :)

When three–year–old Maggie Joveson woke up Saturday morning, something was different. She didn't know what it was, but she knew there was something. The calico comforter was soft, and warm, and the air wafting against her face was so cold. Light was beginning to filter into the room, but her five–year–old sister Hannah was still asleep in the bed beside her, and Maggie was careful to be quiet as she climbed out of bed, dragging her stuffed elephant that Aunt Wheezie had made her alongside. Her eyes were still sleepy, so she rubbed them, and wondered what was for breakfast. The window to the right of her bed was covered in condensation, and when she climbed onto the window seat and rubbed the frost away from the window, she gasped.

The courtyard outside was covered in a glittering blanket of freshly fallen snow, and the flakes were still drifting down in front of her. It covered the trees, giving them the impression of hundreds of sleeping giants, like the ones from her favorite fairy tales. Of course, the sleeping giants in her stories were rocks, but why couldn't they be trees? Her stomach growled, reminding her of the fact that she was very, very hungry. She climbed down from the window seat, and shook her sister Hannah's shoulders.

"Hannah!" She whispered. "Wake up!"

Hanna roled over, and opened one eye. "What is it?" She whispered back, smiling when she saw the excitement in her sister's eyes.

"It snowed!" Maggie was bouncing up and down on her toes, hugging her soft toy to her chest.

"It did?" Hannah shot out of bed, and dashed over to the window. "Do you know what this means, Maggie?"

Maggie shook her head.

"It means, sledding!"

"What's that?"

Hannah looked surprised. "You don't remember?"

Maggie shook her head again.

"Well, I'll show you later. Let's wake up Mum and Dad."

Smalls was already awake when his young daughters tiptoed into the room, but for their sake, he pretended to be asleep.

"Daddy!" It was Maggie's voice that whispered in his ear, as usual. He kept his eyes closed, suppressing a smile.

"Dad!" It was Hannah now. "Wake up, it's snowing!"

Smalls 'woke up', pretending to yawn, and stretching his arms exaggeratedly.

"So it is," He smiled, and reached underneath the covers to squeeze his wife's hand. "I suppose that means the only appropriate thing to do is to eat Grittlecakes with lots of whipped cream and chocolate chips."

Heather sat up, rubbing her eyes and smiling. "Smalls, isn't there something…special about today?"

Smalls stroked his chin, and thought for a moment. "Well, It's not Yuliday,"

"No," Replied Heather, leaning over and whispering in Hannah's ear.

"And Iantha doesn't come home until tomorrow," Smalls continued.

"No," Hannah giggled.

"I've got it," Smalls snapped his fingers. "Today's Hannah's big reading test!"

"It's Saturday!" Hannah squealed, falling back onto the bed, laughing.

"Well if it's not Hannah's test…And Iantha's not coming home…And it's not Yuliday…" Smalls went silent for a moment. "It must be…Maggie's birthday!"

"It is?" Maggie looked confused for a moment. "It is!"

Heather swept Maggie into her arms, peppering her with kisses. "How do you like that, Munchkin? Four years old!" But Maggie was already catching the whiff of Grittlecakes with extra chocolate chips and lots of whipped cream, and she could hear the voices of all her favorite uncles and aunts down the hall. She jumped off the bed and when streaking out of the room, Hannah following closely, leaving Heather and Smalls alone with the stuffed elephant.

"It seems too fast," Heather picked up the blue elephant and studied it, recognizing various stains and smiling.

"I know," Smalls replied, reaching for her hand and squeezing it. "Wasn't she just born yesterday?"

"I feel old," Heather sighed, and wished for the millionth time that she could go back just once.

Smalls swung his legs over the side of the bed, tossing Heather a velvety robe, sliding his feet into his slippers, and helping Heather out of bed. "Now let's make sure those girls of ours don't eat all of breakfast."