Sophia was already almost two years old. She was born early -January. A little late, because the due date was actually the day after Emily 's birthday which was in late December . There was very little snow that winter. And they kept Sophia in the warm house as much as possible because she was still a newborn. The next winter they spent in Los Angeles. They were looking for a change of pace and scenery. They stayed in the apartment they kept for when they were in LA while Damon was recording his album . And this year, almost two years after Sophia was born, they were finally in Boulder . But the snow was very late. It was plenty cold and icy. But no snow.

Emily was disappointed because she loved everything to do with winter, especially snow. Damon didn't mind it though. Snow was not his favorite thing.

One morning in mid-December, Damon and Emily woke up to the sound of small feet pattering through the house, then a sharp knock on the bedroom door.

"Mama! Daddy! It's white! It's white!"

Emily blinked, trying to wake up more.

"Mama! Wake up! It's white!" Then she understood. She sat up quickly and slid out from under Damon's arm. He was muttering something that sounded like, "So early."

"Mama!"

"I'm coming, baby!" Emily said loudly, wrapping her warm robe around her body and going to open the door.

"Mama!" Sophia shouted. She took her mother's hand and started pulling her toward the living room. "It's white! It's white! Come see!"

Sophia pressed her face right up to the living room window. When Emily finally caught up to her, she looked out the window and smiled widely. She crouched down and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"It's snow, Sophia !"

"Snow," she repeated slowly.

"It's really cold and really fun!" Emily turned so she was looking right into Sophia's eyes. "Tell you what. I'll go get your pink coat and boots, and you go wake Daddy. Jump on the bed and kiss him awake."

Emily laughed as she watched Sophia running back toward the bedroom shouting, "Daddy! Wake up! It's snow! Daddy!"

A few minutes later, Emily had Sophia's clothes and was waiting for them in the living room. Damon came around the corner with his daughter in his arms. "Thanks for that," he said grumpily, but kissing his wife at the same time.

"My pleasure." Then she took Sophia from him to get her dressed. "It's snow! Are you ready, baby?"

"Ready! Ready Daddy?"

"I guess so," Damon said with a small smile, shaking his head. "I can't say no to that face."

Sophia took one of each of their hands and pulled them to the door. "Snow! Come on!"

When they opened the door, the cold air blasted them. Damon mumbled something Emily couldn't quite make out. Sophia pulled them both out into the cold.

The first thing she did was trip and land face first in a pile of snow. Damon , always so protective, ran over to her. But she had jumped back up before he even reached her.

"It's cold, Daddy!"

"I know it is, sweetie," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Sophia , I bet Daddy would love to show you how to make a snow angel," Emily said.

Damon shot her a look, but Emily gasped and said, with her eyes wide, "An angel?! Show me, Daddy! Show me!"

Emily smiled because she knew he didn't have a choice. She leaned up against the door frame and watched her husband and her daughter. Both lying flat on their backs, waving their arms and legs, laughing and smiling like they had never been happier.