My Gift

Last night I decided to take Marlee down to the toy room and go through the massive amounts of toys that rarely get played with, so we could sort them and make room for possible new toys from Christmas.

As we started sorting Marlee said "can we give these to some kids who don't have any toys?" It warmed my heart that she thought of the kids who may be less fortunate, especially at this time of year. So, we took all evening and ended up with a 30 gallon trash bag full of stuffed animals, barbies, games, etc. to share.

We got a tip from a gal in my ward who knew of a place in downtown Colorado Springs that helps abused children. I called there this morning and she said they would LOVE the toys. Marlee wanted know where the toys were going, so I told her we were taking them to Safe Passage. She asked what it was, and who the kids were who would be playing with the toys. I didn't know if I should really tell her or not, but I decided she was old enough for the truth. I told her that unfortunately there are some kids out there who have a really hard childhood, and some of them get hurt. She asked why, and I told her that sometimes other people make bad choices and hurt them. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me with huge tears in her eyes and said

"Mom, why would anyone want to hurt a little kid?"

Her heart was breaking for these children, and I could see it. I couldn't help myself... I teared up and gave her a huge hug and told her that I didn't know why anyone would ever do that.

Marlee is such a special little girl. She has always been a tender hearted child, and over the coarse of her life I have had several people tell me she is an "old soul".

It is hard for me to believe that my "baby girl" is growing up so fast and starting to see the things in the world that are hard to see.

We went down there and the lady showed us the room where the children get to go play, where her toys would now be "living". Marlee gladly handed her the bag with a huge smile on her face and we went on our way.

I am so proud of my sweet little girl and the example that she is to me.

She really reminded me what this season is all about.

I am thankful for my savior, and everything that I have been blessed with this year.

If I get nothing for Christmas this year, I will be more than content.

I have all the gifts I need.

Swiming Suits and Hiking Boots...

That's what you where out swimming in the snow

I didn't know we were going to have a hot tub/pool, but luckily Maggie brought an extra suit so I could join in.The weekend before Thanksgiving a group of 8 of us went up to Keystone for the weekend. We all left out kiddos and left for the mountains Friday morning. The condo was gorgeous and so close to everything, it was awesome. We went out Friday night to check out the nightlife in Breckenridge. We went to a Pub first and played games, then went to a bar/arcade where we had the BIGGEST pizza I have EVER seen. There were 10 adults (6 men, 4 women), we shared ONE pizza and had leftovers! We went to a cool steakhouse after that, it was on a boat. We were tired by the end of the night. Saturday morning the boys went skiing and the girls went to the outlets and went shopping. Our old men pooped out early and were back from skiing by about 3. We sat in the hot tub, swam, had cobbler for Lara's birthday and played games for the rest of Saturday night. Sunday morning we slept in and watched the Steelers game (we HAD to with Sarah with us). We got home Sunday afternoon to our kiddos. I missed them a lot, but it is always nice to have a few days away! We had a GREAT TIME!!! Me grabbing Maggie's booty to mess up her shot...I thought this picture was hilarious because Lara stuck her finger in at the last minute, but it looks like Maggie is holding her finger to her lip. Ha ha

Excuses, Excuses

That's all I have for the reason I haven't posted in a month....

I borrowed my dads camera so I could take pictures of Halloween, but my sister did too. By the time she got her pictures off and I got the card to get mine off it was already 2 weeks into November. We went to the mountains on a little couples getaway that next weekend and left the girls with my parents. We left them Friday morning and Saturday morning I got a text from my sister saying that my mom was on the way to the ER and she had my girls! Turns out, my mom had some pretty bad gall stones and they ended up taking her gall bladder out a few days later. I ended up staying in Denver a few extra days. Then it was THANKSGIVING already! And, last but not least, my computer is on its last leg. Every time I have tried to blog or work on my blog book it freaks out and stops working, SO FRUSTRATING! Anyway, that is the reason it is now Dec. 4 and I am just now posting Halloween. Oh well though, at least it's up now! Better late then never, right?

Our Halloween was pretty calm, Marlee had a little program at school where they sang some songs. We went to our ward Halloween party and then the next week went to my parents ward for their party so the girls could see all the cousins in their costumes.

Silvermist and Alice in Wonderland
(Kenna called herself "Alice in the Lundaland")

I didn't realize how LONG Kenna's hair is until I flat ironed it for her costume!

Marlee was trying so hard to be scary!
Marlee at her preschool with her BFF Delaney teh Avatar