firsts and fairies

Poor Grace was starting to worry that she would be the last child she knew to loose a tooth. She was ecstatic when the tooth started loosening up while we were on our little Fall getaway. But that excitement wore off quickly.

The tooth came out October 5. I was away on a Church assignment and missed all the action. But reportedly, Grace was tired of the wiggly interference being there and asked Cori to pull it out. He tried with his fingers, then with a tissue, then with a pair of tweezers all to no avail. Grace continued to complain. Cori told her the only thing left to try was a pair of pliers. She said, "No way!" and Cori was glad because he didn't want to try that either. But then five minutes later she changed her mind. She really wanted that baby out. So Cori had her lay on the couch and before she knew what happened the deed was done! And because Cori is so awesome, he thought to take a picture.

The tooth fairy had her work cut out for her that night. Grace is so pragmatic about make believe things. She asks us very direct questions about what is real and what is not. We decided before we had her that we would answer honest questions honestly. And, for the most part, we have. (Not giving up on Santa Claus yet) The truth is always given with the clear explanation that we want to keep the fun alive for other children and that she is part of it now too. We had talked about the tooth fairy some time before. Grace had asked the direct question. We asked her what she thought. She said that she knew fairies are make believe, so she didn't think the tooth fairy was real. And the idea of a tooth fairy didn't make a lot of sense to her. I told her that the tooth fairy is a fun tradition to keep up and wasn't she curious to see what would be under her pillow after she lost her first tooth? To which she responded, "Yeah, but I know that the tooth fairy isn't really real. Just so you know."

Fast forward to October 5th. Cori and I gathered up a dollar bill, a bag of gold glitter, and the precious little tooth fairy pillow my mom gave me, and headed into Grace and Grant's room. We felt under Grace's pillow - where she had been instructed to leave her treasure laden envelope - and found nothing. We searched her covers, under the bed, inside her pillow case. Still no trace. I was so sad. Just before we tucked in for the night, Cori found the envelope in Gracie's jewelry box. The tooth was put in a special bag and tucked in the pocket of the tooth fairy pillow with the cashola. Under her pillow it went, along with a generous sprinkling of sparkles. She was sufficiently surprised in the morning. Grace had put her tooth in her jewelry box because she wanted to keep it. You know, so she could put it in the mystery bag for school the next time it was her turn. She wasn't interested in trading for money. So she was very grateful to have the tooth back. And maybe a little impressed with her "tooth fairy."