Blessings

A few months ago I blogged about some exciting things changing in the Mark Maroney family. Vowing to my husband that I wouldn't say anything until he was ready, I kept my mouth closed on my blog about it. Work for Mark has been touch and go for over a year. Some days, he has plenty of work, but mostly he doesn't. Back in May, Mark went in for an interview with the Army base here in Sierra Vista. About a month later he received a call informing him that he had been selected for the position he had applied for... Pending a security clearance and physical. Here it is, August 30, and he just finished up his 3rd part of the physical!! But much to our excitement, they gave him a start date of Sept 13!!!! This means we will know exactly what is coming in every pay check... And he will always have work. I feel truly blessed about this.

For those that don't know, I am still working for the hospital. Back in June I knew that they would always find a reason to keep me working there. I have always had great employers, and CQCH is no different. However, I knew my place was in the home. Which is why Mark and I felt I should give my notice. On my last day of work they came to me and offered to double my pay to just come in 1 day a week (my mouth dropped), and at this point I knew that could offer them my plan, which was to work from home. They accepted. So I have been able to work from home while the kids nap, and at night. Can I just say, how blessed I feel? Mark and I have done what we felt was the right thing to do, and Heavenly Father has poured out many blessings on us.

Ok, ok, that was the just of it all. In case you couldn't tell, I AM WAY EXCITED FOR MARK!! GOOD JOB HONEY!!!!!

Happy Birthday Grant!!

Where has the time gone?? I am so amazed at how fast Grant has grown up, and he's only 3!! Tuesday was officially his birthday, and he woke up to a party!

I borrowed this tradition from a friend, and Grant loved it!! His first words out of his mouth were, "What's this??" I wanted his day to be special, and all about him.

Grant every morning asks for pancakes for breakfast, he's a kid after my own heart. Mark was still home, so we sang happy birthday to him. His eyes just lit up, knowing we were singing to him!!

Ruth had asked if we wanted to come over to decorate cupcakes with the daycare kids. Grant LOVES going to Grandma's, and LOVES it when the daycare kids are there!! After that we went to the park and library with them. I dropped Cami off with Grandma, and Grant went to lunch with just mommy and daddy. After we dropped Mark back off at work, Grant had one simple request, to go to the tool store. And so we went to lowe's to look at tools... I love this little guy!!

I remember how I felt when it became clear to me that I was probably going to be a single mother. How hard it was to take, and how bitter I felt. When we woke Grant up Tuesday morning, I looked at Mark and told him he has made it to all of his birthdays. Although, he wasn't there for his 'birth' day, Heavenly Father knew Grant would have both parents in his life. How grateful I am that he came to me, and that I could be his mom!

Grant has really changed so much these past few months. He has begun speaking clearer and learning new words everyday. When we go to the store, he listens so much better than he use to, unless he's tired of course! He has been potty trained since June. Grant is also a great helper, and is some times Cami's second mother!! I hope you had a great Birthday Grant!!! I LOVE YOU, and look forward to many MANY more birthdays!

Master of Disguise

Don't you have girls so you can dress them up??


Bet you can't tell who I am!!

Ok, it's really me!!

I love Cami. She is so much fun, and really is getting her own personality!

Tucson Zoo Trip

I some times feel like a bad mother. Grant doesn't get out as much as he would like. Last night he was watching Diego, and it was about Polar Bears. I asked Grant if he wanted to go to the zoo and see the animals. He was so excited!! He did so good there!!



Poor Cami. She wants to run around with Grant so bad!! I can't wait for them to be excited and running around together!! But she did great there!



We went all the way to Tucson to see the Polar Bears rear end!!

Yeah, I know, my kid is a stud. And for the record, he turned his hat backwards!

Birthday Party, 3 year old style

What a day... What a week!! Grant has been asking about his Birthday Party for weeks now, and finally, today it came. Tonight I'm sitting here, not thinking about all things that happened today, or what other people thought. When I put Grant down for bed tonight, I asked him if he had a good day, and his smile went ear to ear, and he told me yes. That is all that matter today. My baby boy is no longer a baby, and he often times reminds me of that. He is growing up so fast.

There are a lot of pictures. My camera is a pile of poo, and for whatever reason, the pictures came out funky. OF ALL the days to mess up, today had to be one of them!!

Grant helped make his birthday cake!! He loved it. Papa Maroney and him also did some last minute decorating with the icing too.

I had picked out the cake, and was SO excited about it. But this morning was almost in tears because it wasn't working out for me. So my super husband came to my rescue!

You have to love the kid. And yes, that is the piece he got.

Grant got a bike, helmet, sunglasses, bell for his bike, games, pj's and a flashlight! He loved everything!!

I had planned on having a few more people show up, but they were unable to make it. I had purchased a pinata, and the kids LOVED IT!



Cami and Papa watching the excitement.

And of course we had to bring in the pro, Morgan.

They didn't quite understand running for the candy.

Again, Cami wishing she could join in.

We had to make the kids take more candy!! Over all, I enjoyed my day. I love that Grant had fun, and finally got sang to! He has asked me all week to sing the birthday song to him. I love this little guy so much!!

Touched

On Sunday we came home from church and Grant quickly disappeared. After a few minutes, I went to check on him. He was in his bedroom listening to the Children's Hymns I borrowed from Ruth. He sat there trying to sing "I am a child of God". What a touching scene for a mother!!