Happy MLK Day!

When I picked Finley up from school today, I asked her if she learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. She said, "Yes! How'd you know?" As if that wasn't cute enough, she then said, "He taught people how to be treated. He was nice to everyone. But he's not alive anymore. He's in heaven. With God." Tears!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Finley celebrated her 5th Christmas this year by going to Grandma B.'s in Trimont, Grandma and Grandpa's in Waseca, celebrating the Laven Christmas at her house, and heading to Trimont again to ring in the New Year with the Peterson's. It was an exciting Christmas - although it certainly wasn't a white one like last year! Santa was very good to Finley despite the lack of snow to land his sleigh in. Her favorite presents were her three Barbies ("well, actually, they weren't all Barbies - one was a Brat, one was a dance dolly, and one was a Barbie.") She also loves her "brand new boots," as well as her camera, her clothes, her games, her books, her accessories, etc. We have not been bored once since Santa made his appearance!

Besides celebrating the holiday season, Finley went to the dentist for the first time over Winter Break and will be getting her first filling in a couple of weeks, as well. She was a great patient and has been very vigilant about brushing and flossing since her visit. Better than that, she's been working VERY hard at losing the binky for good after the dentist showed her a mold of the teeth of a thumb-sucker and told her she'd have to get braces if she didn't stop! There have been moments of weakness, but she has given her binky to SiSi (who can take it or leave it) in an effort to make herself feel better for not using it.

As for the New Year, which Finley was wide awake for as it is very hard to sleep through all those Peterson's in the room outside your bed, Finley has decided that her resolutions are to "stop using my binky, go the bathroom by myself (she's scared of the vent), sleep in my bed by myself, cook with my mommy without getting burned, ride a bike by myself, and learn how to tie my shoes." It's going to be a BIG year!