Service with a Smile

Each year, instead of buying Christmas presents for each other, my family does a service project altogether. Each one of the girls (Jodi, Jill, Jessi, Justi or me) takes their turn, picks out the project and sets everything up. We've done things such as "Sub for Santa" to people in need, gone caroling at local nursing homes, etc. This year, it was Justi's turn to organize the project. She and her husband, Kent, felt strongly about doing something involving missionaries. So, Justi called the mission homes in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico and talked to the "Mission Moms" about how we could help. The sweet sisters were so excited and gave Justi names of missionaries in their area who were not expecting anything for Christmas this year. She relayed the information back to each of us and off we went in search of small gifts, candy and any other surprise we could find to make this Christmas special for "our missionary". My boys had a blast picking out things, writing notes and helping fill the box and take it to the post office. This ended up being such an amazing opportunity for ALL of us. The sweet missionary my family was given was Elder Baten serving in the Colorado, Colorado Springs mission.

Elder Baten is originally from Guatemala but his parents sent him to the US a couple of years ago to make a better life for himself. He was introduced to the missionaries and later baptized. After about a year, he talked to the Bishop of his branch and told him he wanted to serve a mission and share the gospel with others, just as the missionaries did for him. However, he had nothing..... no money, experience and didn't even speak English very well yet. His bishop was so touched by his willingness to serve that he is financially supporting Elder Baten. He hasn't received any packages, and hardly even hears from anyone, let alone his own family. We were so excited to be able to surprise him with a little something for Christmas. My boys each wrote letters introducing themselves and talking about how one day, they too want to serve a mission. They expressed their gratitude for him and the example he shows.

This was a great opportunity to remind us about the TRUE meaning of Christmas. It is about serving one another and remembering the birth of Christ. I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity. Thank you Justi and Kent for setting up the project. We had a great time and feel blessed this time of year to have the gospel in our lives.

Thanks to all of you who are a part of our lives. We love you all and wish you a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.

We spent Thanksgiving in South Fork, Colorado at the cabin. It was a great time~ we even got snow all day on Thanksgiving Day! It was awesome! Grandpa and Grandma Rhees were there, and Jason & Melinda and their 3 kids were also there. We rode the four-wheelers and pulled sleds behind them trying to lose the kids! No such luck!! =) Grif and Bos even got to go skiing on Sat. It was Boston's first try so he had a private lesson. He picked up on it pretty quick and really loved it. We played games, cards, had snowball fights and ate WAY too much yummy food! Oh well~ that's what turkey day is for, right?? Hope all of you had an awesome Thanksgiving day. We are truly grateful for family and friends and the relationships we have with each of you. We are certainly blessed!

"Bos" is truly "THE BOSS"

Ok, so I have to write a quick note about Boston. He seriously is so funny, I almost can't stand it! He is definitely a leader, not a follower, and we can all honestly say we picked the right name for him...... "Bos" since he is totally the "BOSS" of our house!! I mean look at the picture..... he even has to take over at the wheel!! Anyway, a couple of quick examples:

When we went to "Meet the teacher" for his preschool class in Sept. we went with Jason & Melinda (Brian's brother and his wife) and they took their son Cole because he, too, was in Ms. Cathy's preschool class. We all walked in and Boston walks right up to Ms. Cathy and says "Hi, my name is Boston and this is my cousin Cole"... as he kinda shoves Cole into Ms. Cathy's legs. Cole is pretty shy so he immediately turned around and headed for his mom. Heaven forbid Cole ever try to introduce himself! GEEZ!! Don't worry Cole, Bos has you covered!

Then today, we had a cute little friend from his preschool come over for a play date. He is also in our ward and they are in the same primary class. The boys were playing in the play room while watching "Kung Fu Panda". I overheard Boston say to his friend "SHHHH!! I'm trying to watch the show..... Helloooooo!!" The little friend was quiet for a minute or two, then started shooting his pretend gun making some more noise. You guessed it, Boston about lost it! "Hey! I told you, SHHH! I am sick and tired of it!" What the ??????? Now I know what you are all thinking, Jeni must talk to her kids that way and that's how Boston has learned it! No, no, and NO! =)

A couple of mornings ago, as I was trying to get Grif off to school, Bos was being typical Boston and running all over and being crazy. I called him over when it was time for our morning scriptures and prayer. He, of course, fought me on it, came and sat down for a minute then jumped up and started chasing Maggie (our dog) around the house while screaming 3 octaves higher than a little boy should scream! I was REALLY trying to be patient and ignore the behavior, (and those of you who know me know that is truly a big challenge for me!!) so I began reading a little louder over the chaos. Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer and I said "Boston, come over here." Nothing......."Bos, right now!" I said, a little louder...... silence....... then, he appeared from around the corner with that look of mischief in his eye. I said "Come over here and sit on my lap" and he did. I tried to explain to him that it makes Heavenly Father really happy when we try and read our scriptures every morning and have family prayer. I told him it was hard for Griffin and I to read when he was being loud and running around. He seemed to understand and sat down again ...... for another 30 seconds that is.......then off he went again! At my wits' end, I found a good stopping point and said "Ok, Bos, it's time for prayer, come on over." He came racing around the fireplace and said "I want to say it!" Grif looked at me like "Mom, I swear, if you let him say it after he has been totally out of control, I will scream!" I said "No, it is Griffin's turn to say it today". Oh no... Meltdown Mode!! The kid seriously has a split personality!! I know this is a really big "No-No" when it comes to parenting, but at this point, I was loosing my mind! So, yes, I caved in and said "Ok, fine, you can say it! Just kneel down and hurry it up!!" Wow, now doesn't that just set the spiritual tone for a nice family prayer!! Lordy! So, off he goes..... "Heavenly Father....... please don't put a black X by my name........... in the name of Jesus Christ, amen". What, where did that come from?? We've always taught him to ask Heavenly Father to help him and I guess that pretty much summed it up! Maybe he IS listening to things I tell him afterall! Holy Cow, I seriously almost busted out laughing right there in the prayer. I always flash Grif a look during Boston's prayers like "don't laugh, Grif!" He definitely got that look on this particular morning!

It's a good thing Boston was my third child....... if he would've been first, I'm afraid he might've been an only child! My Grandpa Griffin once told me "You know what BOS spelled backwards is, don't you... S-O-B?!!" Yikes! "Bos-man", "Bostonian", "Bossy-Boo" or whatever else we choose to call him, just remember, he truly is THE "Boss" and living up to his name!

Our lives would not be the same without him! He is the "icing on the cake" and completes our family just perfectly! We love you Boss-man!

Finally, the weather in Colorado was nice for Halloween! Usually, it is freezing cold, snowing (sideways!) and blowing. It was so nice this year, we sat out on the porch and waited for trick-or-treaters to come to us! The boys had a ball, as you can see. Paden and his group of friends dressed up like nerds. So funny!

When Bri got home from work, he looked at all of them and said "Why didn't you guys dress up this year?"

Griffin was Elvis.... he even had the voice for it! Halloween in Castle Rock!d even Maggie dressed up this year! I thought a "devil" costume would be appropriate!! =)

Boston and Cole (his cousin) were Army guys~ surprise, surprise!



And when the kids asked me if I was dressing up and I said "No" Boston freaked out, so I decided to go for it this year! Go me!

Deer Hunting in South Fork, Colorado

Here is a slide show of some other fun pictures.  The leaves were changing and it was beautiful!  What a great time!

It's that time of year where the testosterone in my house goes crazy!!  My four "boys" look forward to this time each year!  Brian drew out on an Elk tag, four point or better, so off we went to the cabin in search of our elk!

Boston, imagine this, can't get enough camouflage!  Add this to the fact that he changes his clothes at least 5 times a day.... URGH!!   But I guess some clothes are better than NONE, which is what happens frequently too! 

It's hard to believe Paden could've actually hunted this year!!!  YIKES!   He didn't get his hunter's safety course taken so maybe he and I will do that for next year.  He still enjoyed the hunt though, especially with 4 - wheelers!

Grif also enjoyed the hunt.  Opening morning, they all saw a big herd of cows and at the back were two bulls.  It wasn't quite daylight and they were too far away to see if they were big enough to shoot.  They tracked them for a while but lost them in some trees.  Later that day, Brian asked "Wasn't that cool to see all those elk?"  Grif replied, "No!  You didn't even shoot one!"  I guess they haven't learned that hunting is, to me, all about the treats stuffed into your pockets and the beautiful scenery.  Actually shooting and tagging the elk is an added bonus!! =)

5 Things! Thanks Katie!

I tag: Jessi, Gretchen and Catherine

10 years ago I was:

• Skinnier!
• Thinking about having another baby!   
• Teaching piano lessons to 16 students!
• Loving my 2 year old Paden!
• Glad to be in our new house in Castle Rock
  

5 Things on my "to do list" today:

• Laundry, laundry and more laundry!
• get to the gym
• volleyball game tonight
• answer emails from being gone all weekend!
• vacuum my gross car!

5 Snacks I enjoy:

• Do I seriously only get to name five??!!  Ok.... tootsie rolls!
• Diet Mountain Dew from Circle K in my huge insulated mug!
• Brownies
• String Cheese
• Mint Chocolate Oreos!

Five Places I've lived:

• Price, Utah
• North Ogden, Utah
• Harrisville, Utah
• Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Castle Rock, Colorado

5 jobs I've had:

• Edgewood Reception Center (kitchen help!)
• Ogden Pizzeria (waitress)
• Coleman Knitting Mills (Sales Rep.)
• Skyline Sign Company (Sales Asst.)
• Wife, mother and C.E.O. of my house!!

5 Pet Peeves:

• People chonking while eating!!
• Sleepers grinding their teeth!
• Toilet seat left up ( I live with 4 boys..... it's ALWAYS left up!!)
• Fake personalities
• Braggers!

5 things that bring me joy:

• My husband
• My three beautiful boys
• Playing ball
• Reading
• A good massage!

Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to the Pumpkin Patch with our friends, the Barton's.  The kids had a great time going through the corn mazes, picking out pumpkins and even walking through a spook alley! It was fun to see the fall colors and get into "Autumn Mode"!  I love this time of year!

Griffin's 9th birthday!

I can't believe Grif turned nine this past week!  He is growing too fast!  He is an amazing kid and I'm so glad he's part of our family. Here he is getting ready to dive into his favorite dessert.... Oreo Cheesecake!  

I thought I'd write a little tribute to him to let him know how much I love him.  I included a slide show of him doing his favorite thing..... FOOTBALL!!  

My sweet Griffin........

I can't believe you are turning nine.  

You're growing up so fast~ where goes the time?

You're such a sweet kid, a big part of our family.  

One older brother, one younger... how great that must be?

In school you're a "gem" as your teachers would say,

At home, a huge help... I thank Heavenly Father each day.

You are so fun to watch when you play all your sports.

There's football, basketball, baseball... heck, there's all sorts!

You are an example to those around you and I'm happy to say,

A good sport playing games... I sure like it that way!

Named after your grandparents, a name we all know.

They are both proud of you and the strength that you show.

Thanks for the sweet spirit you bring to our home.

Being your mom is the best feeling I've known.

Keep being the boy I know you to be,

Time goes so fast, a young man you'll soon be.

So happy birthday, I want you to know

I think your awesome... and I love you so!