One very cool winter day in Minnetonka, MN a bright and curious little girl had an idea. Mia, for that was the girl's name, was bored. Looking out at the falling snow on this early Saturday morning she needed something to occupy her time and clever mind. Mia was the playful sort of girl who liked to live in both the world of reality and fantasy doing her best to blur the lines whenever possible. She was fascinated by science of all kinds and read more than a typical 8 year old might. Her bright blue eyes and curious brow made her an endearing little creature. She had many friends she enjoyed playing with but also savored her alone time. That was when she could indulge in fantasies and think creative thoughts.
On this particular morning she awoke earlier than normal. The heavy snow that fell overnight made her sleep very deeply and she felt well rested and vibrant with energy. It was far too early to call any of her friends to see about playing together. She would have to find a way to occupy herself. It was then the idea struck her like a bolt of lightning. "Since my friends can't come out and play just yet, I'll have to make my own friend to play with," she said to herself. The temperature was warm enough that she wouldn't need a really heavy coat to be outside for a good length of time. The snow had fallen very hard the night before and there was plenty of it in her big backyard. "Today I'll build the best snowman ever," she proclaimed to no one and everyone at the same time. Donning her winter play clothes and a snuggly warm jacket she went outside to begin her project.
Meanwhile the rest of her family had awakened and were going about their typical Saturday morning routines. Mom was taking breakfast orders for eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, and leftover beef stew. (That was for Mom....she was always a little weird about that kind of thing). Dad was simultaneously reading the paper and watching TV while her older brother was busy at the computer trying to make sense of the whole digital world. Dad looked up from his newspaper and the TV and glanced out the window to the backyard. There he saw little Mia pushing a snowball twice the size of her body around. She had another slightly smaller snowball set up nearby. The site was one that surprised him because he had assumed Mia was still in bed. After all, she was the sleeper in the family and usually needed the dreaded cry of, "wakey-wakey, eggs and bakey," to roust her on weekend mornings. And still, there she was pushing and pushing the enormous snowball. Dad put on his coat and snow boots, opened the back door and sauntered out into the yard. "It's going to be really tough for you to throw that snowball at anyone, I think you're making them too big," he said. "I'm not making snowballs daddy, I'm making a snowman," said Mia after letting out a high pitched squeal when she first heard her Daddy's voice. "This isn't going to be just any snowman though. This is going to be my new best friend," professed the confident little girl. "That's terrific and it sounds like a lot of fun, do you want any help?," asked her daddy. "Nope, not right now anyway. I may want to raid the garage and use some of your tools later on though if that's ok," she replied. "You're building a snowman not constructing a tree house, right, what do you need tools for?," asked her old man. "I told you, I am building a snowman that is also going to be my new, best friend. I need the tools to bring him to LIFE," she said matter of factly.
