The missing Dragon

On a recent trip to the mountains Sara and Kate had been collecting little pieces of nature which they would later beg to bring home with them.  Along the way they both found small pieces of tree branch that had some unopened pinecones still attached.  Kate also found a tiny piece of a "dragon" toy and gave it to Sara.  When walking in the hip deep snow seemed to no longer be fun we decided to call it quits.  On our way back Sara broke down into an emotionally devastated display.  She had put her little collection down on a big rock and could not remember where.  At first thinking ok, time to hunt...
Was it a big rock?  "I don't know"
What colour was it? "I don't know"
Where were you when you put it down?  "I don't know!!"

Each response becoming more and more upset.  She was absolutely devastated!  I have never known a child to be more attached to everything she lays her hands on.  She had only complained of loosing her tree branch at this point so, logically I thought,... well there's a reasonable facimile.  "Here you go honey!"

"NO!"... that's not it!
I am thinking,... how on earth can she tell the difference??  OK, moving on... Tried a few more ... nope, no luck.  After much more searching over the significant area of ground that we had hiked over... I gave up.  OK, time to get home... she will live,... right?

Sara began to scream and cry in a way that was beyond her I'm just upset & stubborn kinda cry.  Is she sick? Don't think so.   Is she tired? Yes likely.  Is she hungry?  I have snacks in the van, let's go!

We are almost to the van with plenty of melting snow in our boots and Sara confessess.  After she calmed down a bit I managed to decipher through her sobs: there is a toy with the tree branch that she found.  Ah,... the toy is what she is so extra upset about.  We are almost to the van & I have NO desire to go back. Searching for a needle in a snow pile with a very upset, tired & hungry little girl & two more coming down the trail.  Not my idea of fun. 

 Ah ha!  I hiked back to Corey who had gone on ahead and was now headed back with the Kate & Ben.  Told him about the troubles and he being the wonderful Daddy he is went off in search of the prized trinket.  Corey had been with her at the time of collecting so he had a bit more insight than myself as to it's location.  It wasn't long before he came back carrying the key to Sara's happiness.

Like a knight in shining,  um... black leather, there he was making her little dreams come true.  Daddy fixes everything.  Or at least he sure wishes he could!!!  We are so lucky to have him!!