The Riley Tree

There was a special spirit at Primary Children's hospital the moment I walked in the front door. An overwhelming feeling that the veil was very thin throughout this miraculous place. We saw an ity-bitty little girl in a gown pushing her IV stand as if it was no big deal, a baby being pushed in a crib down the hall, parents holding their baby going for a walk. I'm telling you I was on the verge of tears the entire hour we were there.

Brittany and I had the privileged of going with Grandmas White to set up a tree on the 3rd floor of the hospital. The tree is filled with toys, coloring books, puzzles...all kinds of things to brighten a child's day. Grandmas has been doing this tree for years. She started doing this tree when a young neighbor boy passed away. This is how the Riley tree came about.

We completed the tree and with much thanks from the nurses we headed down the hall to leave. One of the nurses decided to go get a boy who was recovering. She said he had a rough morning and hoped this would help him smile. We stopped and watched the boy come from his room. Sadness filled my heart as I saw this maybe 7 year old boy. His head was swollen, shaved and had large zig-zagged stitches from ear to ear. His eyes were glassy and red. Down the hall and around the corner he went. As soon as he saw the tree he just lit up. He crouched to his knees and started to pick out his present.

I can't really put into words how I felt. My heart ached. This year, can we all please take the time to give of our time, talents or monetary means to help someone in need. We are unable to put on the Bloggers Give Back Project this year, so I'm looking for another way to help someone in need. Do you know of anyone? This season is just not the same for me unless I find a way to brighten someones life.

Keep the spirit of giving and love bright this Christmas season. Love you all!!

..........

XOXOXO     

my world is...

this picture is me and steele to a tee.

look at his little bashful smile.

his coyly shrugged shoulders combined

with his "mom's going to tickle me again" smirk.

i can say my whole heart loves steele.

every mischievous bit of him.

me...

 always wanting to squeeze his guts out and then kiss him to death.

asking him for loves way too often and he almost always replies "ok".

in love with steele's personality right now.

makes my heart melt into million pieces by the things he says.

he talk well beyond his age.

serious smarty pants on our hands,

but i'll refrain from bragging.

he also has become quite the photographer. 

i let him take pictures with my old camera now that i have a new one.

he's gotten pretty good. 

i can't help but laugh at the pictures he gets.

pretty good right?

love my steele wheeley. 

just wanted to make sure he got some love here too. 

i'm one lucky mommy!

  

pear pear, month by month five

this is my perry girl.

who do you think she looks like?

i think she has both of us in her.

i've never been a good judge 

of who my kids look like. 

they just look like them.

i love her eyes. 

steele's eyes were very blue too but 

are now a grayish blue with a brown center.

i hope her's stay this way.

she is such a sweet baby and

i'm trying to soak up every second of her.

i love the way she pulls me toward her

and gnaws on my face. i think of it

as her way of giving me loves.

she enjoys chewing on her binki 

more than she does sucking on it.

she is always biting down on 

everything and drools all over the place. 

i don't think she's teething yet but

 she sure has discovered her mouth.

anything within her reach is in her mouth! 

she is so talkative. 

every morning she wakes up so happy 

and just chatters util i come get her.

she is still sleeping about ten hours a night. 

can i just say how much i dislike the time change.

sure wish kids got the memo! 

i'm trying to start regular naps.

it is so hard because she still likes to 

take mini naps all day long.

and i love to hold her when she sleeps.

she is just so precious. 

i forgot to document her stats at four months.

now i've forgotten exactly what she was.

i can remember;

height 95%

weight 13lbs 14 oz

she rolled over for the fist time a few days ago. 

she did it over and over again. 

today i tried to get her to do it and she wouldn't.

funny girl. i love everything about her precious spirit. 

she really is such a special little thing.

love you pear pear!

sundance get-away

our little get-away was to the overton's cabin up in sundance.
beautiful views of stuart falls, vibrant leaves, great food and awesome people.
loved the time with family, extra sleep and heated games of bs and scum.
my family always knows how to have a good time.
till next time skousen fam!