Chapter 12

Next day.

The kitchen was cozy and warm, with the smell of steaming rice and soup filling the air. David placed a bowl of rice in front of Lily, along with plates of grilled fish, seaweed, and a small dish of kimchi.

"Breakfast is ready, Lily," David said, smiling as he sat down across from her.

Lily picked up her spoon, her eyes lighting up at the spread. "It smells so good! Did you make it special today, Daddy?"

David chuckled. "Maybe a little. You've got another big day ahead at daycare, don't you?"

Lily nodded eagerly, spooning some rice and soup into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, then looked up with a grin. "Yesterday, Ms. Choi said today will be even more exciting! I think we'll build a bigger snow fort."

"Oh, bigger than yesterday's? That must've been pretty big already," David replied, joining in her excitement.

"Mm-hmm! And maybe we'll find even more treasures today," she said, her eyes widening. "Do you think we might see any animals in the snow?"

David raised an eyebrow. "Maybe if you're very quiet, you'll spot a bird or two looking for food."

Lily's face lit up with excitement. "Then I'll keep my eyes open the whole time!"

They continued eating, with Lily taking her time, clearly savoring the meal. Finally, she set her spoon down, looking satisfied. "Daddy, I'm all done now! Can we go? I don't want to miss anything!"

David laughed, standing up and helping her into her coat. "Alright, let's head out. You've got a big day waiting for you."

They grabbed their things, and David opened the door. The cold air hit them as they stepped outside, and Lily pulled her coat tighter, excited for the day ahead. Hand in hand, they walked through the quiet streets of Dong Gu, the winter landscape around them turning everything into a glittering white world.

As they reached the daycare, the familiar warmth of the building welcomed them. Lily ran ahead, eager to join her friends and start the day.

The children arrived at daycare buzzing with excitement, their voices overlapping as they talked about yesterday's Winter Games. Ms. Choi greeted each of them warmly.

"Today, you'll all be snow explorers!" she announced with a bright smile. "Are you ready for more winter adventures?"

Lily's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Are we going to build another snow fort, Ms. Choi?"

Joon leaned forward, grinning. "And maybe make it even bigger than yesterday's!"

Ms. Choi chuckled. "Maybe we will! But first, let's try something new. Ever tried ice fishing?"

The kids looked around, their curiosity piqued as Ms. Choi pulled out small fishing rods with magnetic fish, then set a blue mat on the floor to act as their "ice."

"Okay, explorers, let's see who can catch the biggest fish!" Ms. Choi said.

Lily went first, carefully lowering her fishing rod. When she snagged a fish, her face lit up. "I got one!"

Hyun tried next, but his fish slipped off. He sighed, laughing. "I think my fish got away!"

Ms. Choi nodded approvingly. "Ice fishing is all about patience and a bit of luck. Keep going!"

The children took turns fishing, laughing each time they managed to catch one. Each "catch" brought squeals of triumph or giggles when the fish slipped back down.

Once the fishing game wrapped up, Ms. Choi clapped her hands. "Alright, explorers, let's move to our next activity. Today, we're making animal masks! Choose any winter animal you'd like to be."

The children dashed over to the craft table, eagerly picking out supplies. Lily chose a penguin, gathering black and white feathers and glitter. Meanwhile, Joon picked a polar bear and grabbed fluffy cotton for the cheeks.

As they worked, Lily glanced over at Joon's mask and giggled. "My penguin's going to have sparkles!"

Joon grinned, carefully patting cotton onto his bear's cheeks. "Well, my polar bear's going to have the fluffiest cheeks ever!"

Ms. Choi smiled as she looked at the colorful masks taking shape. "Our winter forest is coming to life! You're all such creative explorers."

The kids proudly held up their finished masks, laughing as they made playful animal noises.

"Grr, I'm a big polar bear!" Joon said in his best gruff voice.

Lily flapped her hands like wings. "Waddle, waddle! I'm a penguin!"

Ms. Choi joined in with a laugh. "I think we're ready for a real adventure! Let's head outside for a winter scavenger hunt!"

The children burst out in excitement, pulling on their coats and mittens before racing outside. Ms. Choi explained that she had hidden "winter treasures" — tiny bells and shiny beads — in the snow for them to find.

Lily crouched down and started sifting through the snow. "Look! I found a silver bell!"

Joon dug around nearby, grinning as he held up a shiny blue bead. "And I got a blue one!"

Ms. Choi cheered them on. "You're all doing an amazing job as winter explorers. There's still more out there, so keep looking!"

The kids dashed around the playground, digging through the snow and giggling each time they uncovered a new treasure. By the end, they had a small pile of beads and bells they proudly displayed to Ms. Choi.

Back inside, Ms. Choi brought out a big pot of warm cocoa, filling each child's cup.

Lily took a sip, a happy sigh escaping her. "This is the best cocoa ever!"

Hyun, his face flushed from the cold, nodded. "It's warm like a blanket!"

Ms. Choi smiled as she watched them savoring the warmth. "Perfect for a winter day, isn't it? And it's well-deserved after all your hard work outside!"

Once they'd finished their cocoa, Ms. Choi brought out pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed. "Now, let's make bird feeders to help our feathered friends this winter!"

The children eagerly grabbed pine cones and spread peanut butter over them, laughing as the sticky peanut butter got on their hands.

"The birds are going to love this!" Lily said, holding up her pine cone covered in seeds.

Joon nodded, smiling proudly. "I hope they come by tomorrow to see them!"

Ms. Choi beamed. "These will be perfect. I'm sure the birds will appreciate it!"

After cleaning up, Ms. Choi gathered everyone in a circle for a story. She opened a book about a brave penguin exploring a snowy island, her voice filling the room as the children listened intently.

"The penguin climbed to the top of the hill and looked out over the snowy island," Ms. Choi read.

Lily leaned in, her eyes wide. "That's just like us today! We were winter explorers too!"

Hyun crossed his arms proudly. "I'd be the bravest penguin ever!"

Ms. Choi laughed, ruffling his hair. "I think you'd be a very brave penguin, Hyun!"

For the final activity of the day, Ms. Choi brought out a small winter tree, inviting each child to hang one of the "treasures" they found earlier. One by one, they decorated the branches, creating a sparkling winter display together.

"It looks so pretty!" Lily admired the tree, her silver bell hanging near the top.

Joon nodded, his blue bead carefully placed. "This is our special winter tree."

Ms. Choi stood back, smiling at the finished tree. "It's beautiful, just like the day you all created together. Well done, everyone!"

As the day came to an end, Ms. Choi handed each child a winter-themed sticker. "Here's a little reminder of your day as snow explorers."

Lily proudly placed her penguin sticker on her jacket. "I can't wait for tomorrow! Maybe we'll be winter explorers again!"

Joon waved goodbye to Ms. Choi, grinning. "Tomorrow will be even better!"

Ms. Choi waved as the children headed out, their laughter still echoing in the cozy room. She watched them leave, smiles on their faces and winter treasures in hand, their excitement lingering in the air long after they had gone.

As the daycare doors swung open, Lily stepped out, bundled up in her warm winter clothes. The cold air hit her as she waved goodbye to her friends and Ms. Choi, before spotting her father by the entrance.

Lily skipped along beside her father, her winter-themed sticker proudly displayed on her jacket. "Dad, Dad! We made a bird feeder today! The birds are going to love it!"

David smiled as he took her hand. "That sounds wonderful. Did you have fun with your snow explorer adventure?"

Lily nodded vigorously. "We made masks, too! I'm a penguin now!" She showed him her penguin mask, covered in sparkles.

David chuckled. "You do make a great penguin."

They walked home through the chilly streets of Daejeo, the evening sky dimming overhead. As they reached their building, Lily was buzzing with excitement.

"Can we make more bird feeders tomorrow, Dad? And maybe even go ice fishing again?"

David smiled as he unlocked the door. "We'll see. But let's get inside first and warm up."

Inside, the warmth hit them, and Lily immediately felt the cozy comfort of home.

At dinner, David served them a simple meal of stir-fried vegetables and rice. The comforting smell filled the room as Lily settled into her chair.

Lily took a bite and smiled. "This is good, Dad. But I can't wait to tell you more about my day. Can I have some pancakes for breakfast tomorrow?"

David nodded. "We'll see about pancakes, but you can tell me all about your adventures tonight."

As they ate, Lily excitedly talked about the treasures she'd found outside, the snowball toss, and the stories they'd shared. She was full of energy, reliving every moment, while David listened, nodding, and laughing at her enthusiasm.

By the time they finished dinner, Lily was content but tired, her eyes starting to droop.

"Let's get you ready for bed, little explorer," David said, picking her up gently. He carried her to her room, and as he tucked her in, she smiled sleepily.

"I'll tell you more about the penguin tomorrow," she mumbled, her eyes closing.

David kissed her forehead. "I'm looking forward to it."