Doug, Jenni, and Kendall in Seattle

Kendall at the Space Needle

Kendall intently wiggling her tooth at the aquarium

Doug, Jenni, and Kendall at Pike Place Market

Kendall and her tooth, bloody napkin and all!

The six-year-old toothy smile

I made it back to Seattle just in time to meet my uncle Doug, aunt Jenni, and cousin Kendall for the holiday weekend. This is the first time they've been to visit Seattle since I've lived here. A couple of years ago, I sent Kendall a book called "Larry gets lost in Seattle." It's about a little dog who gets separated from his owner and wanders all over Seattle visiting famous landmarks while trying to find his way home. Kendall has read this book many, many times and had a few things picked out that she wanted to see here.

The first thing on the list was the Space Needle and the weather couldn't have been better! It was in the 70's and we had clear views of the Cascades, the Olympics, and Mt. Rainier. Kendall told me after she got here that's she's been studying sea animals in school, so we headed to the aquarium where we saw among other things, harbor seals being fed.

All the while we were downtown, Kendall was furiously working on pulling out a loose tooth (she just lost her first one a few weeks ago). She was VERY serious about getting that tooth out, even to the point of making it bleed! Despite all the encouragement from her parents to let it come out on its own and not pull too hard, almost every time I'd look back at her while walking down the street, she'd be wiggling away at that little front, bottom tooth. After the aquarium we visited Pike Place Market, where she excitedly announced she had finally lost the tooth! Doug and Jenni quickly got the video camera out while Kendall proudly displayed her tooth and bloody napkin.

After Kendall's bedtime, a lengthy discussion ensued on the appropriate amount of money a tooth fairy should leave. Doug and Jenni were in a bit of a pickle with Kendall's first tooth as they were camping and the smallest bill they had was a $5 - so Kendall got $5 for her first tooth, a bit of a high standard (my first thought was wow, that is some inflation!). Apparently tooth-rewards are also quite the topic of conversation on the first grade playground, making keeping up with the Jones's a concern. We even googled the going rate which seemed to be anywhere in the $1-$5 range. In the end, a reduced rate of $3 was decided upon. If any disappointments arose in the morning, it would be explained that one's first tooth was special and subsequent teeth result in a slightly smaller monetary reward. Jenni also pointed that Kendall won't believe in the tooth fairy forever; there are only so many times when loosing a tooth will be this special. That was a funny conversation to listen and one that I've never really thought about when I imagine having kids some day!

Tomorrow we're on to another landmark Kendall is keen to visit: the Fremon troll. She's been asking whether it's a good or bad troll. I guess we'll have to find out...