Tooth Fairies and Thanksgiving

Maliana ~

I think at the end of last week I was mentioning something about how I'd be surprised if your wiggly tooth lasted through Thanksgiving. Well...your wiggly tooth popped out on Monday at daycare, just before lunch! Daddy got a phone call at work so you could share the news with him. You were SO excited! I picked up your tiny tooth in a baggie from daycare before picking you up at school...it was so cute in a very weird way. And you were adorable as you explained the whole process about how you were going to wash your tooth in a half full cup of water because you didn't want to give the tooth fairy a bloody tooth. I love your step by step explanations of things. I also think Miss Jessica was just as excited as you were because when I picked up your tooth, she wanted to give me a play by play of what happened. She said you got a little teary eyed and admitted you were a bit freaked out, but after it stopped bleeding, you did great. As for you...we are now entering a whole new era. I can't deny it anymore...my baby is growing up!

Check out your tooth fairy explanation HERE! So cute!

the gap!

this is what I picked up from school...and you did clean
it up but for some reason, were afraid to hold
it after it was all clean...silly girl!

reading your special Tooth Fairy book before bed
while holding your first lost tooth
in its special box

showing off the box and book before hitting the hay

and voila! the Tooth Fairy has arrived!
(she left you a gold coin, poem,
and of course fairy glitter!)

This week brought with it Thanksgiving...and we actually celebrated it twice. The first time was on the actual holiday and we did our usual pilgrimage across town to Aunt Connie and Uncle Pat's. It was warm, cozy, funny and furry as we had 5 dogs celebrating with us. If there is one thing for certain...one has to love dogs to truly enjoy a Wilkinson Thanksgiving. This year has had a lot of ups and downs for me personally, especially when it comes to the concept of family. Therefore, I really appreciated being able to spend time with this family, the one I was lucky enough to marry into...the Wilkinsons. You don't often come across a group of people that is much kinder or easier to be around than these guys.

cousins = trouble ;)

3 of the 5 dogs (Bosco, Reesie, and Sophie) with Aunt Connie

turkey cupcakes!

and Sammy dog *almost* got all of them!

Wilkinsons ~ Thanksgiving 2013

obligatory silly picture

grandparents with their grandbabies

The second celebration was the very next day, Black Friday. We were smart and stayed in to cook and hang out. It was a much smaller gathering, just as cozy but a little more laid back. In fact, I don't think you got out of your jammies all day. Unfortunately, several of the people who were supposed to come over could not make it, either being due to not feeling up to it (the holidays are tough and can take an emotional toll sometimes) or having to work, etc...however Lao Lao, Grandpa Rick, Uncle Forge, and later Audrey Ayi came over for some yummy food. Our house smelled awesome and you seriously chowed down on the turkey, even begging for some with Abby as Daddy carved the bird. Ha.

helping Lao Lao stir the gravy

begging for some turkey with Abby
(seriously, this Thanksgiving you
could not get enough of the
stuff ~ turkey crazy!)

getting tickled by Uncle Forge

goofballs

That evening we all settled in to watch some TV...Daddy and Audrey watched The Hobbit while you and I tackled decorating the tree. It's always so fun to go through the ornaments each year and you got a kick out of them even more than in years past. You say some of the best stuff...I just love this age! (Of course, I think I'll probably say that every year,,,you're just such a fun kid).

Audrey Ayi!

tree is finished ~ we rock!

Pipsqueak is so lady-like

You and I ended up sleeping on the couch under the Christmas lights on Friday night...what is it that makes that so much fun? Anyway, you were then Daddy's football buddy on Saturday while I went out shopping and running errands. Lao Lao came over that night and took you out for some fun at her house and then back home so you could continue the party while Daddy and I went to see Uncle Vince's show at the Funny Bone and then out for drinks with Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina. You and Lao Lao met us briefly at the Funny Bone so you could see Uncle Vince. I guess on the way there, as you pulled into the parking lot, you told Lao Lao, "I'm not going to call Mom and Dad tonight. I want them to relax and have fun. If I call them, they'll worry and I don't want them to worry." (Um, wow! Are you sure you're not a little old lady in a 5 year old's body?) Such a thoughtful kid, you are.

yay! Uncle V!

It was a much needed night out and always fun to have Lao Lao here for a sleepover. In fact, Daddy and I had set up the Christmas lights through the house so that when you got home you would be surprised. Evidently you were, saying, "Whoa! This is baaad!" when you walked in. (Huh? I haven't heard that since the 80's!) Anyway, seeing you and Lao Lao snuggled into sleeping bags by the Christmas tree was so adorable when we came home.

smooching Daddy on date night (I know..."ewwww!"...right?)

you both crashed by the Christmas tree...in spite of us still
having so many boxes of decorations cluttering it
all up...so adorable.

Sunday we played all morning before putting on your new Christmas dress for your holiday portraits. It must be girl code to do this because as soon as you put on the outfit, you spun in a circle to watch the dress swirl around you. Same as I used to do as a kid. You put everything on without a fight, but when it was time to head out the door, you didn't want anyone to see you because you didn't want them to say, "Oh! She's so pretty!" Evidently, that is one of the main reasons that you shake your head and refuse anything girly. Interesting. My little modest mouse.

We finally headed off to get your pictures taken but since they were all backed up, you and I wandered over to the toy section and played around until they were ready for us. You were so silly all morning which carried over into you doing a wonderful job cooperating with the photographer. I let you pick out a small toy as a reward for doing such a great job and you were so excited to get a Littlest Pet Shop "blind bag"...something you have kept asking for for a while but with your current speech, I had a hard time understanding exactly what you've been saying. Now I know. So glad we found it for you! You also wanted to get a diary and as soon as we got home, you were very careful about writing your first secrets there. You kept asking and making sure, "I'm the only one who can see this, right?"..."No one else can see this, right?"..."Not even my friends can see this, right?" I was actually surprised that you knew what a diary was, let alone wanted one. Very, very interesting. You are getting so much more mature that it takes me by surprise every single day.

showing off your reward

The rest of the evening was pretty calm and quiet...just what we needed to rest up after a long holiday weekend and gear up for the week ahead.

Love you kid,
Mama