How Green Becomes Wood

"Then we absolutely need to get a sled!" Alec said stoutly.

"Not this morning," Xander said. "This morning, we introduce Ivy to snow. If it sticks around," he smirked at Dark, "then we'll talk real sledding. I'll talk to Cooger."

~~

Meanwhile, over at Lex's, she stood sipping coffee and watching the snow fall while Toby ate his weight in cereal. She pulled out her phone and texted Cooger. Busy?
 
"Cooger will certainly have a sled," Dark said, drinking his coffee and looking at Ivy, "Are you excited to play in the snow?"

Ivy grinned, waving her spoon around and babbling.

"I think she will be startled when she sees it," Daizi said, smoothing Ivy's hair, "but I bet she'll also enjoy it. Doesn't sledding need a hill?"

~~

It took a bit to answer, but eventually Cooger replied, Was just gonna shovel the driveway and make sure the chickens and Millie's coop is nice and warm. Whatever you have in mind sounds a lot more fun
 
"Yes, it does, which is part of why I'd be calling Cooger because he knows the best hills, I guarantee it," Xander said.

"I remember that one hill Mum took us to a couple of times, but I can't remember where it was," Alec reminisced.

"That's why we gotta call Cooger: supplies and situation," Xander replied.

~~

Good animal caretaker! Toby and I were thinking of doing some impromptu sledding slash snowmobilling. Wanna join?
 
"But first and far more importantly, does Ivy have snow clothes?" Alec asked, suddenly very concerned.

~~

Literally whenever you're done with your chores, she replied. Meet us there or all go together?
 
"Yes, she does," Dark answered, "I do not know how much she will enjoy wearing it, but we made sure to get her a little snow suit. It seemed worth letting her attempt to enjoy the weather."

~~

Your car have snow tires? If not, I'll meet you, my truck can handle anything.
 
"Nice! Then we'll all be bundled up happily!" Alec chirped. "And I have work today, but I still have time to play before I go!" Alec finished his breakfast and left the table to clear up.

Xander leaned closer to Dark. "I'm not driving him to work. I don't think he's realized that's changed yet, so he won't think to ask you," he said in an undertone.

~~

All-weather. Good enough? If not, I'm not complaining about a truck ride!
 
Dark glanced at Xander as he finished his breakfast, "I will keep that in mind. Would you be willing to clean off my car, then?" Then he paused, glancing out at the street, "Do you think Tristan will be alright navigating in this?"

~~

You should be alright, but I'll come pick you up. It's on the way If he said it'd be okay and she ended up in an accident, he'd feel responsible.
 
"I don't know," Xander admitted, looking out. "I hadn't thought about that. I mean, if it's shovled, it should be fine, right?" Except the first snow was rarely ever promptly taken care of. He got up to start cleaning off his part of the table. "Maybe he'll ask Alec to come early and shovel."

It was not long after that Alec got a text. "Oh. Looks like the shop is closed today," he said in disappointment. "No one's shoveled the walkways yet, and he says flower buying during the first snow is usually pretty low." Then he brightened. "That means a snow day!"

~~

See you soon! Looking forward to riding the snow with you. Lex and Toy got ready to go. They didn't know when Cooger was going to show up since he had cats, chickens, and a goose to look after, but they weren't going to make him wait once he arrived.
 
"I am glad he was able to close," Dark said, taking Ivy up out of her high chair, "I would worry for him in this weather."

"You should text Cooger," Daizi said, clearing her dishes before pulling her robe more tightly around her, "I have no idea what I'll wear in the snow."
 
"I wonder how easy it is for him to maneuver in the winter?" Alec thought out loud, frowning. "I hadn't really thought about it."

"I guess you'll find out, because there's a lot of winter ahead," Xander remarked. He texted Cooger, asking if he had a sled and where a good spot to go sledding would be. He figured if Cooger did drop by a sled today, even if they didn't go somewhere with a hill, they could pull Ivy around like it was a wagon.
 
Cooger confirmed he did have a sled and recommended the same place he was taking Lex and Toby too. He offered to take Alec and Xander there another day if they'd like that. For the time being, he'd bring the sled over since he was heading that way anyway.

With breakfast over, Daizi and Dark changed into something they could wear in the snow and then Daizi began trying to dress Ivy in a light blue puffy snow suit but confused by this weird swishy outfit, Ivy was fighting her.
 
Xander thanked Cooger for the loan of the sled, politely did not ask about why he'd be heading in their direction anyway (it could be a job he had), and then waited for a moment before demanding that they all take Dark sledding another day. Then he went to get changed into something snow appropriate.

Alec changed quickly and was giggling at Ivy. "Ivy! You're so cute!" he tried to encourage her. "Yes! You are the cutest being! You gotta wear your blue teddy bear to go outside!"
 
Cooger absolutely promised they'd take Dark sledding, although he said he'd need to find a much larger sled.

"Miss Ivy-Qadira," Daizi gently chided as Ivy tried to squirm out of her snow suit, "If you don't wear this, you cannot go outside, you will be much, much too cold!"

"Here, let me help," Dark said, sitting to the other side of them and helping to hold Ivy steady while she was put into her blue suit. Once she was zippered in nicely, he took out a knit hat and, after another battle, got it on her head and managed to get mittens on her hands. Then, while she looked positively round, soft, and warm (and a bit disgruntled), he sighed and said, "Right, I think we are ready now."
 
"She's a blue Stay Puft Marshmallow baby!" Alec squealed and laughed. "She's going to get so overheated in that thing, but she's so adorable!"

Xander snickered as he looked in at them. "Let's get her and us outside before we all get overheated in our outside clothes!"

Alec scampered for the door and pulled on his shoes. Xander was right behind him and called for Enkidu.
 
"She will not get overheated," Daizi said, lifting Ivy up and kissing her cheek, "It's cold outside and babies get cold more quickly than adults do. She's just little. Right, habibti? Say, I'm just trying to be warm!" Ivy only grumbled, trying to get her hat off but was unsuccessful because of the mittens.

After Dark and Daizi both put on their coats and shoes, they went outside with Ivy. Enkidu was already galloping through the yard and biting at the fallen snow. As soon as Ivy was brought outside and saw everything covered in white, she stopped fussing and her eyes went wide. Squirming in Daizi's arms, she eventually managed to say, "Mama!"

"I know, my darling girl, it snowed! Is it pretty?"
 
Alec raced out, quickly slowing because even though the snow wasn't particularly deep, it still grabbed at the ankles and bogged a person down. He grabbed a handful and tried packing it. "It packs! Snowmen!"

"Snowballs," Xander countered, wandering out and getting a good handful. "Enkidu! Here! Get it!" He threw the snowball for the dog to fetch.
 
Enkidu ran and leaped for the snowball, catching it in his mouth and then shaking his head as the it broke apart in his mouth.

Ivy continued to stare in amazement at her surroundings while her parents gently sat her down in the snow. Kneeling across from her, Daizi scooped the snow up in her hands and dropped it so Ivy could see how to play with it. She giggled, watching how it glistened as it fell apart.

"Can you pick up the snow?" Dark asked, sprinkling a handful of snow.
 
"Good boy, Enkidu! Good boy!" Xander cackled. He tossed another snowball and then searched up a stick for Enkidu. "Here, something you can really grab."

Alec walked over closer to Ivy and then flopped into the snow. "How about a snow angel?"
 
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