32 years ago we were living in a crappy apartment (with ancient '70's shag carpet, this is important), and I was working on my Colt Series '70 1911 IPSC pistol. I had it completely stripped in a magnetic parts tray, down to the smallest pin and spring, and was working on a makeshift bench with a clamp on vise on the kitchen table.
I worked nights, and during the day while I was sleeping my wife gave the tray to my 3 year old to play with, ON the long shag carpet. "He just wanted to look at it like you do! What's the big deal!" I spent an hour on my knees with a huge magnet, and never did find several of the parts, including a mag release button I had checkered 30 LPI, and several pins that I had had NP3'd by Robar.
Turns out after much freaking out by me, that the whole thing was really MY fault, for not having a better job and being able to afford a house with a yard for him. Go figure!