The Worth of a Cookie

How many times have you come to a decision on a disciplinary action for your children only to have it completely not have the effect you were hoping. This happened to me the other day with Haven.

Haven has this thing with waking in the middle of the night or real early in the morning to eat. She will get into the pantry and eat anything she can reach. Then knowing she has done something wrong she hides all evidence. One morning I found she had eaten 3 cereal bars and hid the wrappers under her chest in her bedroom. I have learned the chest is her favorite place to hide evidence and so I check it often. I'm always amazed at how much she gets past us.

My friend Jen is an incredible baker. I enjoy all things made by her. She had made her chocolate chip cookies and brought them to work. Yummy. That day I was not eating sweets so I took 2, put them in a baggy and took them home to enjoy the next day. I was pretty excited to reward myself with her cookies.

I made sure to hide them in my room so Haven wouldn't find them and eat them. The next day while getting ready for work I noticed the bag was a cookie short. I found out Todd did not eat it, my next person to question was Haven. It was her. I was a little sad and upset, one of us, Todd or me was not going to get to enjoy a cookie.

Punishment for Haven was a talk about stealing. When she takes something from someone else that is stealing and so she must pay for it. She has no concept of how much money actually is, but she does know that she wants to save her money to buy things. The cost of one cookie was a quarter, since she doesn't know how much it's worth, she does realize it is the biggest coin. My job done on this one.

A few hours later I am in my room folding laundry and Haven walks in carrying her ladybug money bank. Very quietly, almost like testing the waters to see if she might get in trouble before asking the real question. She says, "Since I already payed a dollar for the cookie, how much can I pay for the rest of them?" Handing over her bank.

It was worth giving up her money to have those cookies. Lesson not learned.

Meet Molly

In her own words, "I can't believe I got an animal, a real animal and she's mine all mine!" Those were the words spoken by Haven after receiving Molly for Christmas.

Haven more than anything wanted a bunny, or a dog, or a horse, or a bunny. Mostly a bunny, but anything real that she could hold and cuddle and that was soft.

With the help of Robin, a lady who works with mom, we found a rabbit breeder in Bolivar. We went to visit the rabbits and fell in love with this little fur ball. She was only 4 weeks. They held her for us until Christmas so we could keep it a surprise for Haven.

This is Molly, a Holland Lopped Ear rabbit.

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas celebrating with family. We woke up early so the kids could open their presents and stockings from us.

Then we had brunch with the Mema and Pappy and the rest of the family.

After a much needed nap we went and celebrated with Nana and Papa and the rest of the family. I stole these pictures from Aunt Mal.

Hope your Christmas was filled with joy.

Merry Christmas From the Wallaces

Silver Dollar City

Christmas at Silver Dollar City is beautiful. We always try to make it down there each year. This year the entire family went minus Nana and Papa and Uncle John. The kids missed them being there.

One of the best parts is the Parade. All the grandkids lined up waiting for it to start.

Now time to ride the rides. No amount of cold was going to keep the kids from riding. Todd's first experience riding the bouncy frogs.



Santa Pictures

Our annual pictures with Santa were with one of my mom's employees. For the last 2 years he had dressed as Santa to greet children who come through the GA.

Jude was not so sure of this strange man dressed funny. I love the "look at you out of the corner of my eyes" look.

The two ladies in their red Christmas dresses. 

Wrapping Presents

I admit I love to wrap presents. I don't always do the fancy bows, although I do love how they look. I really don't do anything fancy with my presents. I love to pick out wrapping paper and will get paper that matches my tree and I have to wrap the kids presents differently from the adults.

There is one distinct difference that makes my presents different than everybody elses. If you have ever received a wrapped present from me you probably know what makes them unique.

My family likes to tease me about all the tape I use when wrapping. In my defense it is not to make it hard to open, but I think the wrapping looks so much prettier when there are no gaps or bubbles. All the tape I use makes every corner and seam very straight and tight.

I can't help that having a perfectly seamless wrapped present makes it difficult for the receiver to open it.

Are you a wrapper or do you prefer gift bags?