Toys For Tots

While we were in Albunukie we took the opportunity to do a lot of our Christmas shopping...and then bring all that stuff back to CR (9 bags total...but that is another story). We ended up having to return one gift due to baggage constraints...so we bombed down to Toys-R-Us. When we got there, the Marines were out front with a big old truck and a bunch of big toy bins....collecting toys for the Toys For Tots drive. So we decided to just put the gift we were returning into the bin and then go inside to buy another toy (and some books) for the Marines. We ended up buying a Fisher Price Geo Trax set since that is just about the coolest thing in the store....according to Kade ;-) Well as you can imagine...when it was time to part with the gift and leave it with the Marines...someone started to get a little teary eyed. Here is how the following exchange went:

Kade: "Daddy...sob...sob...I want the GeoTrax...."

Dad: "Kade, that toy is not for you...it is for another child who does not have toys"

Kade: "Sob....sob...sob..."

Dad: "You already have a whole bunch of GeoTrax. It is just back in Costa Rica..."

Kade: "Yeah...sob...I want to go to Costa Rica...sob....but I still want the GeoTrax..."

Dad: "Kade, there are some kids who's parents don't have the money to buy their kids toys. You know how daddy goes to work and makes money for cheesburgers and toys?"

Kade: "Yeah...I like cheesburgers and toys..."

Dad: "Well, some parents do not have enough money for cheeseburgers and toys. So mom and dad want to give those kids some toys. Wouldn't you be sad without toys?"

Kade: "I want my Geotrax....sob...."

Dad: "We will be back to Costa Rica soon....just a couple of days"

Kade: "Do you know the name of the kids who are getting the toys?"

Dad: "Uh, no...why?"

Kade: "I think we could be friends..."

Dad: "I think so too..."