Christmas Eve Eve!

Here we are, on Friday, December 23... Christmas Eve Eve!
Shopping is complete. I have to wrap one more gift. I haven't baked a thing yet. I have nothing to do except take Emma to the eye doctor for a check up.

It kinda feels strange.

I have already been out of school for one week. I have nine days left to be off. I am in the habit of staying up until one or two in the morning and sleeping till nine'ish. It is almost ten a.m. and the kids are still sleeping soundly.

Emma pulled her eighth tooth last night right at bedtime. I was somewhat drowsy and she went and wrote the tooth fairy a heartfelt letter, asking for her to dip her wing in the water, and then to write her name in the glitter. I was just so tired and a little perturbed at the request. Yet, the tooth fairy came through for Emma and she was excited about 5 a.m. this morning when she crawled in bed with me to tell me her findings.

And I know that this season is almost over. So I was glad that the fairy made it right last night.

Tripp does not have any loose teeth yet. I checked. He is following in Eli and Emma's footsteps and will be past seven when he loses his first tooth.

The Tooth Fairy.

As I mentioned earlier, Emma pulled her first tooth.

Let me clarify.

Emma pulled it. Herself.

At church.

During services.

It was great - she was so excited. I always knew she was a take charge, bossy kinda girl. She is the closest-acting kid to my mother in law EVER. She knows what she wants and goes after it. So, when she decided the semi-loose tooth was ready, well.... it came out.

So, that day, we started preparing for the tooth fairy. She carried the newly extracted tooth with her in a ziplock baggie all day, showing it - along with the gaping hole - to anyone who cared to look. Finally, it was bedtime. She hurriedly got the jammies on. And then it was time for the glass of water.

Let me back up.
Last time the kids went for cleanings - December, I believe - our awesome dental hygienist told a special story to the little kids. It goes something like this:

*(spoken in a sweet whispery voice)*

"Did you know, sweet children, that when

the Tooth Fairy comes to your house to collect your tooth,

IF you leave a glass of water out,

she will dip her wing in when she flitters by?

And, that water will turn the color of her wing.

Sometimes, she will leave the tiniest hint of shimmery glitter -

it will serve as a reminder that she has been to visit -

and you can remember her forever and always."

To which my fru-fru daughter replied, "WOW!"

This is why the tooth fairy's appearance has been greatly anticipated. Emma concentrated all afternoon about the color of the water... would it turn pink? how about purple? Finally, she decided on a light blue. As I was tucking her into bed that night, she found a shirt out of her closet with just the right shade of blue that would match her Tooth Fairy's wing water.

With the glass of water in place, kisses were given. The tooth in the ziplock baggie was tucked neatly inbetween two pillows - it surely couldn't slip out. Out went the lights.

I went to bed.

At 1:30 a.m., there was a squeal right by my head that pulled me from my sleep.

"MAMAMAAAAA! She was here! The THE TOOTH FAIRY WAS HERE!

I GOT FIVE DOLLARS! AND THE WATER IS BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!! ItwasjustthecolorIthoughtandsheleftmemoneyandtookmytooth! AUUUHHHHH!!!!!

So, Emma and I walked back upstairs. She was so happy. I couldn't believe it - the water was blue! And it was the right shade of blue!

Content, Emma went back to sleep. But she told me, "Next time, I hope the water is pink."

It was a good day.