Skunks.

(Grant LOVES taking pictures... this is his self portait) This has been a difficult week and a half. But I can honestly say that they have been extremely huge teaching moments. It first started with the death Nick Ivie. If you've known me since I've moved to Sierra Vista, you've know it's been hard for me to be out going and make friends. However, Christy (Nick's wife) befriended my earily on. She has always been thoughtful of me, and what I might need. So when I heard of his death, it stung, and I hurt for her. I quickly just broke down into tears after learning of what had happened. Grant came in, and asked what was wrong. I told him that someone I knew had been killed. That was enough for him for the moment. A day or two later, he noticed that the flags were half massed. He asked why they were. I explained to him in greater deal why it was a big deal. That there were two little girls that were without a dad, and that he was in Heaven, and not coming back. He asked who had killed him, and I explained (at the time it was believed that they were illegal drug runners) some bad guys had done this. In a soft voice he asked me how bad people are made. I was able to talk to him about temples, and how we choice right from wrong, and that people decide to be bad... Unlike the super hero shows he watches. Fast forward to yesterday. We were coming into town, and he asked me why did Heavenly Father EVER make skunks, because they smell so bad! I laughed, and I was able to explain to him again that the animals didn't start off like this. And I told him the story of Adam and Eve. He loves asking questions. More than that, I love that he wants to learn more about the gospel, and really has a desire to be more like Jesus. He is my example. I now know why they say to be more like a child. Meek and Humble.

Tractor Fun.

We have lived in our home almost a year. Our goal, early on, was to borrow a tractor from one of Mark's friends. After nagging Mark enough, he went and picked it up. It was short lived, because the tractor had to go back the week we got it. So every night Mark made the best of it, and tore out at least 10 trees!! We have a few more up front that need to come out, so that we can put a circle drive in, but I am stil happy!! And of crouse, Daddy can't work on it unless Grant is with him. They had a good time just pulling tree's out =)

Kara LOVING the dirt. FYI, I do not let my children run around outside without clothes on. I had ran out to take a picture of the boys, and she quickly escaped!

Cami does not like loud noises. She kept clear.

This is one of the few reasons I love Sierra Vista, and why I love living where I do!

Trying. June.

Seeming how I haven't sat down and blogged in well over three months, I am not sure I could possibly catch up. Quite honestly, it has been nice not blogging... with a little guilt because I know I have family who doesn't live nearby that would like to see pictures of the kids. But the truth is I have had one of the hardest summers of my life. I can only think of 2 others that sucked more than this one. I won't go into details but, I haven't been in the best place mentally or emotionally. However, I continue to push on. So, in my effort to get caught up, here I am. So where has our life been while MIA?? June. Well that is a blur. At the beginning of the month Mark had his tonsils removed and his nose repaired (he had a deviated septum). So for two weeks he was under the weather, and was not allowed to pick up anything over 10 pounds. It was a hard task on me. It gave me a greater insight to what Grant went through a year ago.

The kids started swim lessons, and both did well. Grant was semi-swimming by the end of the 2 weeks, and Cami... Well, she isn't afraid of the water, and the teachers wished they could have put Velcro on her bum to keep her put. But it was fun for them, and I'm glad they were able to do it.

Cami also went to see a special optometrist. Her left eye was becoming lazy (although, only her Dr and I could see it). Her right eye is slowly becoming stronger and in return, her left eye is starting to "wander" and the vision is getting weaker. Now she gets to wear an eye patch for 3 hours a day, and she has glasses. This is hard to do!! She likes to take her glasses off and give them to people, or she'll lose them. But overall it is working and hopefully she'll only have a little longer doing this.

In the midst of this, I turned 30. I looked back on my last 10 years, and I see so much wasted time, and a lot of hurt. It only added to my ever spiraling out of control depression. But regardless, my life is where I always imagined it would be. It just took a little longer, but I learned a lot of important lessons along the way. So here's to the next ten years!

The Maroney Gene

Last week I was trying to get every thing and everyone ready for Morgan and Spencers open house. I left the kitchen to go get some thing out of my room, and I returned to this.... I am pretty sure that with each kid I have, they climb earlier than the last one. Which can only mean one thing... I must be done! ;)

It's summer, all over again!

I put the two older kids in swimming lessons this year. Again, taught by Mrs. Karen. Grant loved it and did very well his first day... Cami drank the water and tried to get out of the pool many, many, times. Both teachers remembered her name by the end ;). Here is to the next 2 weeks of swimming!!