Old Enough to Know

Big Sissy lost her first tooth today. She's only 5, and that seems way too early to me. But I think I just don't want her to grow up. The new tooth pushing in seems WAY too large for a small child. I think that will be an issue for the orthodontist in a few years. But it is a huge deal. She acts older now, and wiser. Tonight we had this conversation:

Mommy, don't you think I'm old enough to handle the truth now?
What do you mean?
I mean about where the Christmas stocking presents come from. I'm 5 years old, and I've already lost a tooth. I think I'm old enough to know.

Wow....[stunned]

And also, is the tooth fairy real or pretend? I'm thinking pretend because why in the world would someone want all those children's teeth?
Me: Maybe she lives in a really cool castle made out of teeth.
Big Sissy: That's gross.
Me: You're right. That is gross.
Big Sissy: And also, I'm a big girl now. My head is very heavy when I sleep. There's no way a little fairy could lift my head up to get the tooth out and put money under my pillow.
Me: Maybe she sprinkles magic fairy dust on you to lift you up for a minute.
Big Sissy: Or maybe it's all pretend.
Me: Maybe. But can we keep pretending for a while? Isn't it kind of fun?
Big Sissy: Only a little.

This girl is way too practical. Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts. And yet every night she wants to hear an adventure story about Lila (her favorite Webkinz) and Honey (the Webkinz that is waiting for her at Dillard's when she earns enough money from making beds and losing teeth). Growing up is confusing!

Grosser than Gross

What's Gross? Germs.
What's Grosser? Germs on McDonalds' playland.
What's Grosser than Gross? My 2- and 3-year-old licking the playland.

What's Gross? Feet.
What's Grosser? Wet socks.
What's Grosser than Gross? Picking up wet socks and starting to put them on your child only to realize than are not even ours.

Hello. Welcome to McDonald's. May I help you?
NO. I have to go home and disinfect my family. Thank you.

Awkward Family Photos

It is soooo hard to get a good photo of our whole family. It's partly the ages of our children. But there's also my tendency to close my eyes when someone counts to 3, the overdramatic nature of my children, etc. You get the picture. We did get some great Easter photos, but here are some of the more...well...awkward ones.

Reverse psychology backfires. He won't tell them not to smile again.

But then...he can't really tell them to smile either.

There are no words for this one. It just makes me laugh.

Apparently no one noticed his one pant leg being hiked up. In every photo. He sure is cute, though!