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“Your wish is my command,” he said, kissing her before putting her down. “Now, do you know how to roll big balls for your snowman?”
“Daddy!”
“What?”
“I don’t want my snowman to have balls!”
This time he laughed so hard he bent over, clutching his side while she stood staring at him. When he could speak, he shook his head. “Oh, Elena, I forgot how adorable you are. I didn’t mean testicles, I meant how to start with a little ball…” He chuckled and she huffed but couldn’t keep a straight face. “Look, I’ll just show you, okay?”
She watched as he started in an area close to the woods and slowly walked forward, keeping the small clump of snow together and making it grow larger with every revolution. Understanding what he meant, she began her own ball, walking beside him, her mittens soon covered with snow as they made their way toward the porch. By the time they reached it, he had a huge sphere of snow and while hers was smaller, it wasn’t little.
Liam asked her exactly where her new friend should stand and after looking up, she pointed to a spot directly in front of the window. Not only would they be able to see him from the living room, she could look down from the window seat in her room and wave hello. When the base was in position, he lifted hers on top, making the snowman’s torso.
“Now for the head,” he said. “Why don’t you roll it while I pack these well so he won’t tumble down with a stiff wind?”
“Okay.” Elena repeated the movements, not having to walk quite so far or so long before she had a good-size ball that would be their snowman’s head. Once all three were together, she smiled but then frowned. “He needs a face.”
“Yes, he does. And some arms. Why don’t you run inside and get a carrot out of the fridge? That will make a good nose. I’ll find some sticks for his arms.”
She rummaged in the fridge and returned outside with her hands full. Liam looked up and laughed. “I didn’t say bring the entire produce drawer, sweetie.”
“I know, but he needs more than a nose.” Dropping her selections into the snow, she held up a bunch of grapes. “These can be his eyes and mouth.”
“Baby, I don’t think you’ll want to watch some bird swoop down and pluck his eyeballs out.”
“Ewwww! That’s gross!” she squealed, jerking her fingers back from where she’d been about to push a grape into the snowman’s face.
“Besides, they’ll just slip out. You need something with a bit of texture for the snow to grip onto.”
“How about these?” she asked, plucking a plum from the snow. Before he could answer, she shook her head. “No, they are too big and smooth.”
“Don’t worry, we can find some small rocks under the porch. The snow isn’t too deep there.”
Elena looked back toward the porch and the darker area beneath it. Shuddering, she said, “I am so not going to crawl under there.” Turning back, she gave him a smile. “That’s what daddies are for.”
“Oh, is that what they’re for?” he asked, picking her up and swinging her around.
“Yes,” she squealed, laughing at their play.
“Okay, then,” he said, kissing her before setting her down. “You stay here and eat some grapes while I risk life and limb finding some stones.”
“Sounds good to me.” She did indeed eat some fruit while he got down on his hands and knees and crawled beneath the porch. “Watch out for spiders!” she called, popping another grape into her mouth.
“Watch out for diving birds,” he called back.
She immediately scanned the sky and heard him laugh.
“Very funny, Daddy,” she said, rolling her eyes but quickly finished the cluster of grapes and had eaten a plum by the time he returned. “Here,” she said, handing him a plum after he’d spilled the small rocks he’d collected onto the ground.
“I’m not really hungry, sweetie.”
“But he needs another button and I’m full,” Elena said, pointing to the snowman’s body where she’d inserted the pit of the plum she’d eaten.
“Ah, well, in that case, thank you,” Liam said, taking a bite of the fruit.
Elena bent down and picked up several of the small rocks. “These are perfect. Thanks, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome. I even brushed the spiders off.”
