Here she is with her Charlie Brown. Papa loves the Peanuts characters so she is really into them also. Papa got a dancing Snoopy!
Here is the tree before we opened the presents.
Dora the Elf got a bit brave this year. She was very inventive too. Wish I would have gotten pictures of all the places she found to watch Lanie! It was touch and go for awhile. Lanie was on the Naughty list for quite a while this year!
We were quite crafty this year. This was our attempt at a Graham Cracker Village. Oh well, better luck next year! We also did painted sugar cookies, and made some gingerbread men magnets and tree ornaments.
Lanie helped bake cookies this year. On this particular night, we had so much fun. She was such a sweetheart and was so lovey dovey. She kept telling me, Mommy, I love you. Your the best Mommy. It was very cute.
She was a great helper and my number 1 Taste Tester!! We made Gingersnaps, Painted sugar cookies, chocolate chip, peanut butter and snickerdoodles. Oh yeah, I made Carmels on Saturday.
I know this is Halloween but she made such a cute witch!!
Lanie and I are going to counseling once a week so that I can learn to guide this Strong Willed Child! She has her own mind and ideas and she wants to be listened to. I am learning to guide her to the right decisions instead of stifling her. I want her to grow up to be a leader among her peers but she cannot do that if I try to shut her down. I have to say though, that it is hard raising a SWC. She wants what she wants and she wants it yesterday. She is learning delayed gratification and also learning to do for herself. If I cannot get her what she wants when she wants it, such as a glass of chocolate milk or koolaid or water, she will get up and get it herself. There is usually a mess to clean up afterwards, but she is learning to clean that up also. That is a good thing for everyone to learn..."Clean up after yourself". I am also learning to not be so controlling. Very hard for someone like me. I have learned that if she does not pick up her toys Lillie will teach her the lesson...by chewing up whatever toy she left on the floor! (Lillie is my chihuahua and likes to chew!)
Lanie is in Kindergarten this year as I think I told you in my last blog. She has had a rough year but is learning very well. The week before Christmas she got suspended FROM KINDERGARTEN for a day because she hit a kid in the nose and gave him a bloody nose. I asked her why she did this and she said the kid kept pulling her hair and when she asked him to stop he wouldn't do it. I asked her if she told the teacher and she said that the teacher didn't do anything. I was kind of torn on punishing her except that I want her to learn that there are better ways to handle this than hitting so we discussed her maybe moving to the back of the line. She was very upset that she would have to give up being in the front but we talked about how that still would have been a better choice. She said she would do that next time. She did get punished though...she was unable to watch any t.v. for 24 hours and was not allowed any treats or special goodies. Meals were very boring and she got tired of only being able to drink water and no chocolate milk. She now will talk to me about things she can do when she gets mad like taking 5 deep breaths and smiling instead of hitting. She said she is going to walk away from this kid next time and not hit him. It seems like this kid is a reoccuring feature in Lanie's troubles at school. I am going to sit in on her day when she goes back after break. I want to see what is going on in this classroom. If this one kid is her problem then I want them seperated!
Well, time to get back to work. I hope 2016 brings you all much happiness, joy and prosperity!!
