Being the parents of three young children, as well as the proprietors of a hotel, meant that they were well used to being woken early in the morning, whether it be by the need to get things in good order for the day ahead or by little people who were eager for their next adventures to get underway.
The second were the ones responsible for the early call on this particular morning, with exclamations that were particularly excited.
"Mum, Dad, it's snowing!" announced Jack, leading the charge.
"There's a lot of it too!" followed Emma.
They greeted one another with sleepy smiles, all hope of putting their son and daughters off just for a little longer soundly dashed when Charlotte, showing great agility, climbed up onto their bed.
"Come on, Mummy and Daddy! Get up before it goes away!"
"I don't think there's much trouble of that, not if your sister is right," said John, putting his hands to Charlotte's sides and placing her gently back on the ground, leaving Anna to rouse more slowly.
"I am, Daddy, honestly," Emma said, pleading her case with the utmost sincerity.
"You always are, my little love. Now, why don't you all go and get yourselves washed and dressed, and then once we've had breakfast we can see about making the most of it."
"I'll be in in a few minutes in case you should need any help," Anna promised, emerging from the bed and putting on her robe.
"Jack, you're in charge of looking after your sisters first and foremost," John said, keen to ensure that Anna had enough time to herself before the day began. "And no hurrying now, in case anyone causes themselves a mischief."
While the children went off to get ready, they looked out of the window and saw a thick white blanket covering the ground below, as well as decorating all of the trees.
"I expect we'll get at least a couple of delays today," John said, "the roads will have come to a halt."
"It's a good job we're not doing too badly, and can afford not to have the price of one night."
"I'll make sure that whoever comes late will get a suitable rebate."
Anna gave a squeeze to his arm. "You are very generous, Mr Bates."
"It ensures a good rate of return in custom," he replied with a smile, "and like you say, we can afford it."
From the bathroom giddy voices could be heard, clearly full of anticipation to enjoy some frolicking in the snow.
"You don't have to do their bidding all the time, you know," Anna said, her voice full of reassurance, "I can keep them occupied. They'll probably be complaining that it's too cold after twenty minutes, and be clambering to come in and sit by the fire."
"Oh, I don't know about that. Jack was born amongst the snow, after all."
"Not literally. Not that I've forgotten, anyway, but I would have certainly remembered that," she said, laughing. "I don't want you to feel you're obliged, that's all. If it's going to cause your knee trouble, it's really not worth it."
"I will always be grateful for your concern," he said, bringing her hand to his mouth. "I'll see what's what with the guests we are expecting this morning if I can, and check on a couple of other things, and then I'll be out to join you all. I can't go missing the fun, now, can I?"
Anna felt like shaking her head soundly and telling him not to be so silly or stubborn, but the better part of her was glad. She cherished every second they spent as a family as her dearest possessions, and held every memory that would make up the fabric of their children's childhoods close and warm within her heart.
They'd no sooner finished their breakfast and the children, all three of them, were getting down from their seats at the table and hurrying to put on their coats and boots. Anna half wished they would be so enthusiastic in getting ready for school in the morning. She called out to them all by name, dropping into the office on the way to let John know that they'd be heading out.
She found them lined up by the door waiting for her, one little girl at each side of their older brother, and the sight made her heart swell. They hardly complained as she fussed with each of them in turn, making sure that their hats were secure, and they all had their scarves and mittens on in place.
When they were all ready to go she opened the door, and out they raced into the garden. After the first few seconds she knew that there wasn't much point in telling them to be careful, as they were far too caught up in wonder. She was a little taken by it herself, not recalling the snowfall having been this much for a few years, at least.
"Can we make a snowman?" Jack called, already getting his gloved hands into the powdery snow.
"Of course we can," Anna replied, holding onto Emma's hand – she was a little bit more reticent than her brother and sister.
"I think we should wait for Daddy to come out too," Charlotte said, while Jack had already started to bundle up the snow in readiness.
"He won't be too long," Anna reassured, "and he won't mind you getting started without him."
Suitably placated, Charlotte joined her brother in piling up the snow to assemble their creation.
"Mummy, I don't want to make a snowman," Emma uttered, looking up with her big blue eyes at Anna.
"That's okay, sweetheart," Anna said, rubbing her daughter's little hand in her own. "We can just stay here and watch."
"I want to go and find the snow fairies!" Emma exclaimed, her eyes brightening at the prospect.
Anna smiled at how joyful her youngest – as Charlotte was the older of the two, by five minutes – looked.
"Well, we can certainly try to find them," she replied, smiling widely, "but I think we'll have to go down to the bottom of the garden to have the best chance."
And so the two of them went off in pursuit, Anna keeping one eye to further up the garden all the while. Jack called out to her, asking whether he could go and get some things from inside to decorate the snowman. She agreed, calling out to Charlotte to come and look for the snow fairies too while Jack was busy.
He came back and joined them all, telling Anna that the snowman was finished. Charlotte was rather sad that her father still hadn't come out to join them, but Anna soothed her, reminding her that he was very busy with the hotel, but that it was still very early in the day.
"Come and see the snowman, Mum," Jack said, pulling upon Anna's hand in his eagerness.
"Wait one moment, darling. Emmie, are you okay to try and find the snow fairies later on?"
"Yes, Mummy," Emma nodded her head, "They're probably in bed at the moment, so I'll write them a note to say we were looking for them."
"That's my girl," she said with a smile. "Okay then, let's see this fine figure of a snowman."
As she let Jack lead her back up the garden she couldn't help grinning at the sight before her.
"What do you think, Mum?"
"Oh, I think he's very wonderful, indeed."
Not two minutes later John emerged from the door, complete with scarf and gloves but missing one rather important item.
"Anna, you don't know where my hat is, do you? I don't know where else I would have put it…"
The answer to his question soon became clear, when he saw it sitting it atop the head of a snowman, who looked like the double of himself – as far as could be distinguished in snow form.
"It's a snowman you, Daddy!" Charlotte exclaimed, running over to John.
"Well, I'm very pleased with him," John replied, clutching one of his daughters tight to him as the other one came over to hold his hand. "Now, I think we ought to make a snow Mummy so he's not lonely, don't you?"
He smiled over at Anna, setting her heart further alight.
"And a snow Jack, a snow Charlotte and a snow Emma, too."
"Is there enough snow for that, Daddy?" Emma asked.
"Oh, I think so," John said confidently, "but if there isn't, then we'll have to ask the snow fairies very politely if they'll bring us some more."