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.

Family Updates - in pictures!

This weekend, Emma pulled her first tooth.

Here she is showing what happened.

She has to make a pit-bull face to really see the hole!

The weather this past weekend was great- Ethan came over and rode the tricycle with Emma.



I love this picture. Isn't she so pretty?



The kids were excited to jump on the trampoline.

Tripper's truck battery was dead. So he pushed it to the top of the hill, got in it and rode it down to the bottom. It is still sitting there. His words? "IT WAS AWESOME!"

Notice the bare feet? The kids were outside barefoot all day Sunday.
They asked me to fill the swimming pool. I told them no, it was just February. So then they asked me if I would squirt them down with the hose.

Can you tell they have been cooped up too long?

Here is another view of Emma with the missing tooth.

She was so excited!

Here is a great picture of Emma and Ethan riding. These kids are so funny.

Is everyone ready for SNOW tomorrow?

UGH.

What to do?

THIS IS A CRANKY POST... MORE FOR ME JUST TO WRITE.
I AM IN "A MOOD"

Do you ever feel overwhelmed, like there is so much to do, that you don't know where to start?

I do.

I feel like I have so many responsabilities. One day a couple of weeks ago, I got upset in class because I knew my kids were at home with long, nasty fingernails. I usually clip them on Sunday - anal, I know *but when you are a stay at home mom what else is there to think about* - anyways, I knew I was behind.

And it drives me nuts.

Add that to the pile of bathtimes, laundry, a dirty kitchen, a ton on snow, bills that need to be paid, well.... See, I feel overwhelmed.

More, you say? Well, I have more.

• Science fair projects for the kids,
• I HAVE A MIDTERM ON WEDNESDAY!
• I work full time
• A cranky teenager with a dramatic girlfriend
• Did I mention that I work full time where I go to church? Well, that means when I go to church, I am kinda at work again.
• Dirty sheets that need washing, no milk in the fridge - should we go organic? -
• What is for dinner tonight, tomorrow, all next week?
• Emma is having tummy trouble and has a stomach ache all the time - so now, add in doctors visits,
• Tripps sippy is broken
• Emma and Tripp's rooms are a disaster
• I don't even look at Eli's room.
• The couch in the living room broke
• Edward won't give in to Bella and JUST BITE HER
• I don't have time to exercise
• I have consumed my own weight in cupcakes this week (that is alot of cupcakes!)
• A bag of dirty dishtowels that were left at church that I have to take home and wash and make sure they get back to the right spot
• Communionware wasn't washed from Sunday night - "why didn't you get it, Mel?"

Well, I think I have made myself feel worse. But now I have a checklist.

Sorry if you made it this far. If you wanna come clip fingernails, let me know.