Super Server!

Ethan has been in a super serving mode these past couple of days. It started Tuesday morning, when Sophia spilled a bag of baking M&M's all over the kitchen floor. I got the broom to sweep up and when I turned around, Ethan was there sweeping my piles into a dust pan. I thanked him profusely, and then the next thing I know he is getting the lunch boxes out, putting the ice packs in them, and getting the Capri Suns. When he got home from school, I praised him again, and then I see he has his wallet in his hand. He said, "I want my 5 dollars for serving, Mom". I guess he was confused about what type of reward he would get from serving. I told him the reward was feeling good. Wednesday he was up and ready, with his bed made, before scripture study. Then, I'm upstairs getting ready, and Boston starts yelling up the stairs that Ethan was getting into the Peanut Butter and Jelly. I figured he was just making his own sandwich, but when I came down he had made Boston's lunch, too. (He couldn't find Aubrie's lunch box). When he got home yesterday, he told me I needed to give him 10 dollars. ( I don't know if he is trying to get money for a Halloween Costume or not). I told him, again, that the reward for serving was how good it made him feel. I asked him if he felt happy, and he said he did. I told them that's what you get when you serve; happiness. Today he was up and ready again, and made all the lunches. Wonder if he'll be asking me for 15 dollars today. I'm just loving his serving spirit, and hope it lasts a long time.
Speaking of a loving spirit, Aubrie did the sweetest thing the other night. Sometimes I wonder how much Aubrie and Boston care for each other, since they seem to be at each other's throat so much. What she did for him made me feel much better. Tuesday night, while I was at Young Women's, Ben said that Aubrie had a hard time going to bed. The next morning, Aubrie was excited to show me something in her room. This is what she showed me. She spent all night making Boston a Skeleton Costume.


So here is a little background to explain it. This year I told the kids it was time to get creative and use things they have to make their own costume, or use one of their many costumes we have purchased over the years. As much as I would LOVE to take them to get something really cute, I decided that it was time to stop giving them everything, and let them use their imaginations a little, like I had to do when I was a kid. It was hard, because I love dressing them up so cute. Anyway, Boston was disappointed with the news, because he wanted to be a Skeleton for Halloween. I told him he could cut out some bones out of paper, and put it on clothes. He wasn't happy with that, so he decided to use his reading money to get his own. Aubrie didn't know Boston was planning on doing that, so she decided to surprise him by making him this. She put it on his bed the next morning, to surprise him and all he said was, "Aubrie, I'm going to buy my own costume with my money." Aubrie was crushed, and told me, "Mom, I got in trouble last night for nothing, because he doesn't even want it." I told her whether he used it or not, she was blessed for the thought. I also told her that men are retarded at expressing their feelings, and that I'm sure Boston was grateful in his own guy way, but didn't know how to show it! That made her feel a little better. What a sweetie!
In other news.....Sophia had a fun play date with her friend from church. They are in the nursery together and Sophia always wants to sit with her in Sacrament meeting. They are a about a year apart, but it's perfect because Sophia will follow her lead and she loves it!

This week seems to never stop. I'm impressed I've made time to blog. I just know once the holidays get closer, there will be no catching up! Why does the middle of October through Christmas seem like one month? So, so busy! This week I was asked to teach a cake decorating class last minute. I was a little nervous since I haven't made cakes in like....FOREVER! I was also a little nervous that the girls were not going to like it or pay attention. They have been a little "uninvolved" (to put it nicely) these days. I LOVE, LOVE them, but I think we have been enabling them a bit. The activity went well. They had a fun time, and the girls were good listeners, after I finally got feisty and laid down the law. I hate being "that" leader, but it had to be done. They were surprised at first, but then very respectful. Good thing!:)