As the girls went onto the snowy grass, their tiny feet left delicate trails in the thin layer of frost. Dot, Teeny, and Daisy gazed around in awe, their eyes sparkling at the way the late afternoon sunlight caught the glistening snow.
"This is so pretty!" Dot exclaimed, spreading her arms as she spun around, sending a light spray of snowflakes into the air.
Emily, waiting nearby with David and Lily, waved enthusiastically. "Over here, you guys! We found the perfect spot to play!"
Teeny and Daisy exchanged grins before racing toward Emily, their laughter blending with the crunch of snow beneath their feet.
Mike and Angela followed behind, smiling as they watched the scene unfold. "Think they'll ever get tired of all this?" Mike asked.
"Not a chance," Angela replied, slipping her hand into his. "And neither will we."
Emily was already rolling up a ball on the ground for the perfect snowman base. Her small hands moved quickly, packing the snow tightly as she worked, determination written all over her face.
"Okay, this one's gonna be the bottom!" she announced proudly, brushing stray flakes off her mittens.
Dot ran over to help, her wings fluttering slightly with excitement. "I'll make the middle part! How big should it be, Emily?"
"Not too big," Emily said, inspecting the growing snowball. "It has to fit on top without falling."
Meanwhile, Teeny and Daisy started gathering snow for the head. Teeny's small hands moved quickly, forming a neat ball, while Daisy giggled as she ended up with more snow on herself than the snowball.
Mike chuckled as he and Angela watched. "Looks like they've got this snowman thing under control."
"Maybe we'll just be supervisors," Angela teased, wrapping her scarf tighter against the chill.
Dot and Emily rolled their snowballs closer together, carefully stacking the middle section on top of the sturdy base. Dot grinned proudly, brushing her hands off. "This snowman is gonna be taller than me!"
"Not quite yet," Emily said, gesturing for Teeny and Daisy. "We still need the head. Bring it over!"
Teeny carefully carried the smaller snowball while Daisy skipped beside her, holding a carrot they had grabbed from the kitchen. "Here comes the head!" Daisy announced cheerfully.
With everyone's help, the head was placed on top, and Emily stepped back to admire their work. "Perfect! Now, let's give him a face!"
Dot picked up a pair of smooth pebbles and gently pressed them in for the eyes, while Teeny used some tiny twigs for eyebrows. Daisy handed the carrot to Emily, who stuck it right in the middle.
Angela crouched beside them, smiling. "Don't forget his smile. Snowmen always need to look happy!"
Using a few more pebbles, Teeny created a wide, cheerful grin.
Mike clapped his hands together. "Now, that's a fine snowman! But he's missing something."
"What?" Dot asked, tilting her head.
"A hat," Mike said, disappearing into the house and returning moments later with an old knit beanie. He placed it gently on top of the snowman's head.
The girls clapped and cheered, stepping back to admire their work. "He's perfect!" Emily declared, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
"Hang on. Gotta have the arms!" Angela said, kneeling down and picking up a couple of sturdy branches nearby. She handed one to Mike, who carefully positioned it on either side of their snowman, giving him two stick arms that reached out toward the kids.
"Now he's truly complete," Mike said with a grin. "A snowman with arms, a hat, and everything he needs!"
Teeny jumped up and down in excitement. "He's so cute!"
Daisy giggled, pointing to the snowman. "He looks just like he's ready to wave at us!"
Dot clapped her hands. "We made a great team!"
Emily stepped back, admiring their snowy creation. "He's the best snowman ever."
Angela smiled and gave the girls a nod of approval. "Nice work, everyone. You've got a great snowman here."
"Now, we just need to let him chill," Mike joked, crossing his arms and watching as the girls proudly beamed at their work.
"Hey, little bro and future sis!" David called out, prompting Mike and Angela to turn for a split second before two snowballs hit each of them, one from Lily and the other from David.
"Hey!" Mike exclaimed, laughing as he wiped snow off his jacket. "You're both gonna regret that!"
Angela grinned, shaking off some snow from her sleeve. "Yeah, you're in for it now!"
The Blueberries, watching the fun unfold, giggled in delight. "Snowball fight!" Dot cheered, her wings fluttering with excitement.
Daisy's eyes sparkled with mischief. "We gotta get in on this!"
Teeny, already gathering snow in her hands, grinned. "Game on!"
Angela and Mike exchanged a quick look and then rushed to grab their own snowballs, preparing for the snowball battle that was about to unfold.
The air was filled with laughter and the sound of snowballs flying, as the group, both human and ant, joined in the festive, playful chaos.
The girls then were making their own snow angels. Dot, Teeny, and Daisy wiggled their arms and legs in the snow, creating beautiful angel shapes with their tiny bodies.
"Looks like the Blueberries love playing in the snow already," Lily remarked with a smile.
Mike watched them fondly. "Yeah, they're loving every second of this."
Angela laughed softly, nudging Mike with her elbow. "I'm just glad they didn't start making snow forts already."
The girls continued their angel-making, their giggles filling the chilly air as the snowflakes fell gently around them. The day was perfect, and the excitement for the evening's tree lighting made everything feel even more magical.
"I'm surprised it isn't slippery out here," David said, glancing at the smooth snow-covered ground. "With all this snow, you'd think it would be a lot more slick."
Lily chuckled, stepping carefully to avoid slipping. "Yeah, it's pretty surprising. But I'm not complaining. It's nice to not have to worry about falling flat on our faces."
Mike nodded, watching the girls carefully. "As long as they stay safe, I'm good with it."
"Same here," Angela agreed, her eyes tracking the Blueberries as they continued to make their snow angels, their laughter adding to the joyful atmosphere of the afternoon.
"You gotta catch the snowflakes on your tongue!" Emily said excitedly, sticking out her tongue and laughing as the flakes landed on her.
Dot, Teeny, and Daisy immediately followed her lead, their tiny tongues out in the cold air, trying to catch the delicate snowflakes. "This is fun!" Dot exclaimed, giggling as a snowflake landed on her cheek instead.
Teeny grinned, her eyes wide. "It's like they're dancing in the air!"
Daisy chuckled, wiping a flake from her antennae. "This is awesome! You humans sure know how to make winter fun!"
Mike and Angela stood nearby, smiling as they watched the girls play. "Looks like they're really enjoying themselves," Angela said.
"Yeah, nothing beats the magic of snow," Mike replied, his gaze following the tiny snowflakes drifting around them. "Especially when you've got good company."
The adults settled onto makeshift sleds, ready for a bit of fun. Emily, giggling with excitement, plopped down on David's lap. "Ready for a race?" she asked, her eyes shining.
Dot, perched on Mike's lap, grinned mischievously. "This is gonna be so much fun!" she said, bouncing slightly as Mike adjusted himself.
Teeny, on Lily's lap, gave a determined nod. "Bet we can go the fastest!" she said, already plotting her strategy.
Daisy, cozy on Angela's lap, playfully raised an eyebrow. "Don't think we're losing to you all," she teased, tapping her boots in the snow.
David smirked, looking at the group. "Alright, let's see who's fastest, but remember—no snow in the face!" he joked as he gave the signal.
With a push from the adults, the sleds took off down the hill, the snow crunching beneath them. The girls squealed with laughter as they raced, their sleds carving through the fluffy white snow.
After about an hour, the girls felt pleasantly worn out, their energy not gone but shifted to a calmer excitement. Lily picked up Emily, who was still giggling softly, her breath visible in the cold air.
"Okay. Time to get you babies inside," Lily teased with a playful grin.
David scooped up Teeny, who wiggled slightly but settled as he said, "Don't worry, there's plenty more fun inside."
Mike lifted Daisy, who was still chattering about her favorite moments. "Sounds like somebody had a blast out there. Let's keep the fun rolling with some cocoa," he said.
Angela carried Dot, who leaned against her, still eagerly observing the snow as it fell. "You did amazing, Dot. Now let's warm up and get ready for what's next," Angela said with a smile.
With the girls bubbling with contentment, the group headed inside, leaving behind a yard full of laughter and snowy memories.
Back inside, the adults helped the kids shed their winter gear, cheeks flushed and smiles wide from all the fun in the snow. The aroma of hot cocoa filled the room as mugs were prepared on the counter, a perfect remedy for the chilly adventure.
David grinned, holding up a bag of marshmallows with a flourish. "Who wants marshmallows?" he asked, his tone playful and inviting.
"Me! Me!" Emily and Dot chorused, bouncing on their toes in excitement.
Teeny giggled. "I want lots! The most marshmallows ever!"
Daisy tilted her head thoughtfully. "I'll take some... but not too many," she said, her tone earnest as if weighing a very serious decision.
Angela chuckled, starting to distribute marshmallows into each mug. "It's not hot cocoa without marshmallows. They make it extra special, right?"
"Exactly," Mike agreed, popping a marshmallow into his mouth before plopping another into Daisy's cocoa. "It's like little clouds of sweetness for a job well done in the snow."
The kids watched eagerly as marshmallows floated to the top of their mugs, puffing up and melting just enough to make a creamy topping. The room was cozy with laughter and the clinking of spoons as everyone savored the delicious treat.
"Mmm. This is good," Dot said, her small hands carefully cradling the warm mug as she took another sip.
"Hot cocoa always hits the spot after playing in the snow," Lily said with a smile, stirring her own cup.
Teeny held her mug close to her face, letting the steam tickle her nose. "It's so warm! And the marshmallows make it taste even better!"
Daisy nodded in agreement, her cheeks still rosy from the cold outside. "It's like a hug... but for your mouth," she said, making everyone chuckle.
"That's a perfect way to describe it," Angela said, clinking her mug lightly against Daisy's in a playful toast.
The cozy moment continued as everyone enjoyed their cocoa, the midday sunlight streaming through the windows, reflecting off the snow-covered yard outside. It was a scene of warmth and joy, perfectly complementing the frosty fun they had just left behind.