One Final Visit

 Last Friday night the tooth-fairy made one final visit to our house. And much like when Grace's tooth-fairy made her final visit Emma's tooth-fairy left a beautiful fairy necklace as her final gift. 

The next morning, Emma came downstairs, covered in fairy dust and clutching her tooth-fairy box and note. She was very quiet and very teary.

Me: "Oh Emma, what's wrong sweet girl?"
Emma:
Me: "Are you sad that Violet made hr final visit last night?"
Emma (with tears flowing): "Yes. I am really going to miss her."

And, while I have no doubt that the tooth-fairy will continue to stop by every now and again I am sad that we have completely come to the end of this part of our girls childhoods. I take great comfort in the fact that both of our girls still believed in the tooth-fairy through loosing all of their teeth, and my guess is that they will, on some level, always believe in fairies (tooth-fairies and otherwise). I am so grateful that our girls have had such long and magical and extraordinary childhoods. The magic of childhood still remains for them and I have a feeling that it always will. And when the time comes for the tooth-fairy to visit their own children I hope that they enjoy every moment of it as much as I did.  xo

A Magical Ending

Six years and six days ago, Grace lost her first tooth. The magic of having the tooth fairy come to visit was far more than she could take and it made for a very, very, very late night for one so young. That first tooth fairy visit brought lots of glitter, a sweet note, and a lovely fairy dust necklace. Yesterday, Grace's final two baby teeth were taken out and once again the tooth fairy brought lots of glitter, a sweet note and a lovely fairy necklace. The adult teeth were so crooked that there was no way they would ever push the baby teeth out so out they needed to come. We were in and out of the dentist in nineteen minutes, and truly the worst part for her was that she couldn't go to dance class that night.

Last night, she found it hard to get to sleep. She was not looking forward to this tooth fairy visit at all. She wasn't ready for them (and this part of her childhood) to end. Perhaps it's because she's homeschooled, or perhaps it's just speaks to what a truly magical (and sweet soul) she is, but even at twelve-and-a-half she very much still believes and is very connected to Lily her tooth fairy.

And so, we both got a bit weepy last night (well, I may have been more than a bit weepy) as we sat together in the girls' bedroom with Emma sweetly dreaming and the stars from the turtle all around. It reminded me a lot of the night before Emma was born. I tucked Grace into her crib on our last night as a family of three and then promptly burst into tears. My guess is that this little ritual of ours will always be part of what we do as she moves on to each new stage of her life. I can already see the night before her wedding being one much like this. 

In a day and age where children seem to grow up way too fast I am so grateful that both she and Emma have had such a magical and long-lasting (and in many ways old fashioned) childhood. One full of magic and wonder and love and enchantment (and so much fairy dust)! And even though she's on the cusp of becoming a teenager there is no doubt in my mind that she will always believe. That she will always look for magic wherever she goes and that she will always find the fairies. xo 

{This Moment} A Visit From The Toothfairy

{This Moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! xo

A Visit From The Tooth Fairy

Yesterday brought with it Emma's first lost tooth at home and a visit from the tooth fairy that night! 

She woke up this morning covered in glitter (as always) with a sweet note and a little bundle waiting for her, too. "That's an awfully big bundle. mama! I wonder how she got it here? Maybe she needed lots of fairies to help her!" She was so very happy to see all the beads when she opened the bundle, and quickly set about deciding which beads she would keep and which she'd give to Grace when she woke up. "I just love my tooth fairy, mama! She always leaves me the best treasures!" she said as she spun around the kitchen after she had finished making her lovely necklace. "I can't wait for Grace to wake up so she can make hers, too!"  xo

A Gift From The Tooth Fairy

Yesterday, in addition to our anniversary, Emma lost another tooth! And this one, surprisingly, was actually lost at home! 

The last time that Emma lost a tooth they were in the other room. Since we're a little leery to stick anything on the newly painted walls we have yet to move the tooth fairy doors back into their room. To make sure that her tooth fairy knew where to find her Emma left her a note outside her fairy door. The tooth fairy clearly found the note and then flew from her door to their room leaving a trail of fairy dust along her entire flight path! The sparkly path was discovered this morning along with the note and gift left for Emma. And yes, as always, both girls woke absolutely covered in glitter!

"Mama, I just love this tooth fairy! She knows me so well!" xo

Of Tooth Fairies, Carousel Horses and Packing

Yesterday, in keeping with her tradition of loosing her teeth everywhere but at home, Emma lost a tooth after church. She was playing with her friends when her tooth fell out and much excitement ensued. She woke up this morning covered in glitter ("Purple glitter this time, mama!") and with some new treasures in her tooth box and a note from her tooth fairy, too! 

And as if waking up covered in purple glitter and with treasures from the tooth fairy wasn't enough, it was also the first day of dance camp for Miss Emma! Could this day be any more fabulous?! 

 While Emma was off at dance camp Grace and I went on our first Grace and Mama Adventure of the week. First up: a ride on the local carousel! 

 Followed by the packing up of the kitchen in preparation for the interior painting that starts tomorrow. 

And since we're run out of room to store things in (and want to have access to a few key small appliances) we've decided to put our lovely claw foot tub to good use during this phase of the renovations! 

After dinner tonight, Emma donned her pink toolbelt and hardhat to help David with the wall in the upstairs bathroom. While they were repairing the wall, Grace and I continued with the last bit of packing that needed to be done in preparation for tomorrow. We were all pretty tired by the end of the day, but we were also so very happy with how much we got done and with how much fun we had in the process! xo

Keeping With Tradition

It's been Emma's tradition to never loose her teeth at home. So far she's lost a tooth a dancing, at Panera, at the library and now at the Alwife T Station. The funny thing is it's not even the tooth we expected hoped  thought it would be. Rather than the front tooth (which is super crooked and clearly very stubborn) it was a tooth that had only been wiggly only for a week or so (rather than the several months we've been waiting on the other one). We arrived at the T, and while Dave was adding money to our Charlie Card, Emma turned and showed me her ready to fall out tooth. A gentle tug and out it came. We got her all cleaned up, deposited the tooth into the change section of my wallet and headed in to Boston. 

 And so, this morning she woke, covered in glitter with a new treasure (a bracelet) and note in her tooth fairy box. 

We're now super curious about when and where this stubborn tooth of hers will fall out! Here's to hoping that wherever this next one is lost it happens soon! xo

A Visit From The Tooth Fairy

 Her first tooth was lost during dance class, so it only makes sense that her second tooth (another bottom one) would be lost somewhere other than home, too. This time, it was during lunch at Panera yesterday. Thankfully she didn't swallow it! 

 I adore this picture of Em not only because you get to see a hint of her sweet dimples, but also because this picture captured her essence so completely. 

This morning she awoke covered in glitter and with a new treasure in her box- a glitter covered seashell! Violet, her tooth fairy, left her a very sweet note, too. What a lovely way to start a Sunday! xo

Emma's First Tooth Fairy Visit

Last night was an exciting night in our house- the tooth fairy made her first visit to Emma! The biggest question that Grace and Emma wanted to know was would Emma's tooth fairy be the sister to Grace's? The answer is a resounding yes (and Emma's tooth fairy is named Violet for those who were wondering)! David and I were awoken this morning by Emma at our bedside saying: "The tooth fairy came and she left me a note and a necklace just like Grace's!" It was a sweet way to start our day!

 And this tooth fairy, just like Grace's, likes to cover both girls (and their beds) in glitter. Glitter, by the way, is very hard to photograph. Although it does not look like it here it's safe to say that she is in fact covered in it. So much glitter!  

And just like that our days of awaiting the loss of a first tooth are over. They are growing too quickly these girls of ours. While we love seeing each new age and stage and adventure (and tooth fairy visit) it sure would be lovely if we could slow down the passage of time just a wee bit. This mama can't take how fast it's all going by! Congrats on your first lost tooth, sweet youngest daughter of ours! We love you and your sweet (new) smile to the moon and stars and back! xo

Morning, Noon And Night

Today we began our week with a lovely new tradition- a Waldorf inspired Rose Ceremony. I had read about this ceremony on various blogs that I frequent and couldn't shake the feeling that this was a tradition that we needed to add to our world too. With this notion on my mind and heart it worked its way into my soul even more when I saw this video of one school's Rose Ceremony. Maybe it was the song, or the sweet grade one students walking over to their grade eight buddy to receive their rose, whatever it was it just about did me in (and if I was that emotional over it I can only imagine what the mamas and papas of the kids were like).  So, roses were located, a sweet message to each girl was written and we welcomed a new year (and a new tradition) together today. 

After our sweet start to the day, the afternoon found us at Hopkinton State Park with other area homeschoolers for the Not Back to School gathering. It was a stellar afternoon spent with some kindred spirits and their sweet children. Kerry over at City Kids Homeschooling is one of my most favorite mama bloggers. To have the chance to finally meet in person was such a blessing! We have long known that we were kindred spirits and to spend and afternoon visiting only offered further confirmation of that fact. Through Kerry (and this gathering in general) today I am honored to have had the chance to meet Tracy from OFFKLTR. How she and I had not met in person before is beyond me but I am so very glad to have met her and her sweet girls today. Another kindred spirit indeed! Here's to the beginnings of a new circle of friends! Let our gatherings be frequent and plentiful! 

This evening brought the first day of the new dance year and with it Emma's first lost tooth! We had been waiting for this tooth to fall out for some time now, but especially for the last week where it was beyond loose. Leave it to Em to lose her first tooth at dance while practicing kicks! So tonight, the tooth fairy will be visiting her for the very first time. No doubt she will wake covered in glitter tomorrow morning and feeling just a smidgen older than she felt when she went to sleep tonight. What an amazing start to the week. I don't think this day could have been any more wonderful if it wanted to be! xo