As you opened your eyes, you found the window above you covered with white powder. It had finally snowed for the first time. Although it was cold outside, you found yourself wrapped in warm sheets, which felt even warmer when Drew shifted in his sleep. One arm was lazily wrapped around your waist.

You wanted to wake him up. It was just 8am, and before you could, you already heard the sound of tiny feet echoing in the hallway, running toward your bedroom.

Seconds later, the door flew open, showing your little girl, Ivy, with a wide smile on her face like she had met Santa Claus in person. Her hair was in every direction, and her blue eyes glimmered with joy and excitement.

“Mommy! Daddy!” she said with pure happiness before hopping onto the bed and bouncing on the mattress up and down. “It’s snowing!”

Drew stirred beside you and looked at Ivy. “Morning, Sunshine,” he muttered softly with a sleepy voice before pulling her close.

You moved in too, and for a moment, the three of you lay tangled together under the blanket — warm and all cuddled up into a lovely winter day.

About half an hour later, you all got up and made breakfast together, French toast and hot chocolate while soft music played in the background. Ivy giggled nonstop, bouncing around the kitchen as if the snow had given her a new burst of energy.

After breakfast, you all got dressed in warm jackets. Ivy was already wearing her snowsuit, and you headed outside for a walk in the snow. The world outside was quiet and peaceful. Ivy ran around, formed snowballs with her gloved hands, and threw them at Drew or you, and she giggled all the while.

Suddenly she crouched down and picked up a small branch with green leaves and white berries. “What is this?” she asked, looking at it like she had found something magical.

You crouched down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “That’s a mistletoe, sweetheart.”

She looked at you, her little brows furrowed. “A mistletoe?”

Drew laughed softly. “Yes, a mistletoe, Sunshine. A magical one. People kiss under it. It’s a tradition.”

She looked at Drew, then at you, and then back at the little branch in her hand. She asked if she could take it home to have a little more Christmas inside the house.

Later that day, you all decided to bake cookies. Ivy sat on the kitchen counter, tasted the spoon you had used to stir the dough. Meanwhile, you rolled out the dough so you all could start cutting the cookies into cute little shapes.

Then Drew stepped into the kitchen beside you and placed a hand on your hip to press a kiss to your temple.

Suddenly Ivy grabbed the mistletoe that was lying next to her and stood up. Before you could ask what she was doing, a wide smile came to her lips, and she held the mistletoe over Drew’s and your head.

“Mommy, Daddy! Kiss!” she said, her voice beaming with excitement.

Drew glanced at you with a smirk as you tried to hold back a laugh. You still stepped closer to him.

“We have to, babe,” he whispers and leans in a little. “It’s tradition.”

And in that warm kitchen, smelling like cookie dough and chocolate, Drew kissed you — slow, gentle and full of love.

Drew pulled back just a little. “I think this might be my favorite tradition now,” he says softly, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

Ivy giggled and bounced on the kitchen counter like this kiss between her parents was the best thing she had ever seen, and it made you all feel warm and loved inside.