Finally Got (Most of ) My Groove Back!

Today I finally felt like I had our schedule down pat (except for the my-getting-up-early-and-working-out bit...that's to come on Monday!).  

We got up and went to the park.  As usual, we had lots of fun.  Odette even got the hang of kicking her legs back and forth on the "big kid" swing!

When we got home, like clockwork and with no complaints, it was homework time for Alegria while Odette colored.  Alegria even got caught up with all of the home practice work (not to be confused with her actual handed-out homework packets that we've always turned in every Friday since school started) that I had neglected to do with her during the weeks preceding Cameron's departure to Ranger School!  I was so proud of her (and me!) for getting it completed and ready to turn in!  What satisfaction I had to place Alegria's homework folder in her backpack today.  :)

These last few days (ever since buying the sectional plates for the girls the other day), I've been really focusing on making sure I have four of the five food groups represented at every meal for the girls...four because instead of giving them both a fruit and a vegetable at every meal, I give them either one or the other, along with the other food groups: grains, dairy, and protein.

Today at lunch, they both ate everything except their apple sticks...buuuuut they did drink their juice along with their meal, so in essence they got all four food groups that I was hoping, right?  In any case, I was a happy momma.  :)

Then it was off to school for Alegria and after that, back home for naps for Odette and me.

Odette woke up from her nap (and therefore woke me up) a little earlier than I had hoped, but that gave me a chance to call the Atlanta Vehicle Processing Center before they closed, to ask about shipping our car to Hawaii.  I found out that it will be almost a thousand dollars less to ship our vehicle from the West Coast, so we're good to go on that.  :)

We went to pick Alegria up from school and from there we headed to Soyoung Salon & Spa for my appointment.

In the waiting area:

And when we went to the back room, the girls continued to behave so well and were nice and quiet.

Once home, we relaxed and colored and watched some cartoons.

Dinner was not as big a hit, but I attribute that to a few snacks during the salon appointment that helped to keep the girls in line...  ;)  Oh well!  

While at the dinner table, we read some more out of the Book of Mormon. Today we read 1 Nephi 2:16.  At the end of our reading, I asked Alegria what we should do and she said, "Obey Heavenly Father."  I'm glad she pays attention and I hope she puts into practice what Cameron and I try to teach her!

Finally it was time to clean up, get PJs on, brush teeth, and then do our nightly ritual of removing a bead from Daddy's Homecoming Countdown Jar and to cross off the day from our calendar...only Odette doesn't cross off...she makes her mark...a nice, round "O."

Alegria got to remove the bead today:

These cute girls sure love their Daddy!

After that, we watched Daddy's DVD and went to the girls' bedroom, where we read two more books, sang a song, said family and personal prayers, and then the girls went right to bed.

Now it's off to write Cameron his daily letter and then to bed for me.

Goodnight everyone...and sweet dreams!!!  :)

Crazy Hair Day!!!

We met up with Heather and Ryan on our way to the playground today.  It was fun to hang out with them again!  Ever since Ethan and Alegria started pre-k and since Ethan is in the morning class and Alegria is in the afternoon class, it's been difficult to coordinate playing at the playground together.  But today we did and the kids really enjoyed themselves!  When Alegria and Odette saw Ryan, you could tell they'd missed their little friend!!!  :)

We parted ways and got on with our day.

It was crazy hair day at school...I guess Alegria's hair would have been crazier if I'd just left it alone instead of actually fixing it!  Hahaha!  But I decided to make an effort and here's what we got:

Right before we went to pick Alegria up, I noticed a caterpillar on the gas tank cover of our car.  We were running late, so I thought to myself that I'd take a picture of it if it was still on there when we got back.  And it still was:

When we got home, there was another animal that I noticed...this poor little giraffe:

Isis had apparently found it and was bored and decided to use it as a chew toy.  I showed it to Alegria and explained to her that this was one of the reasons why she needs to remember to pick up every single one of her toys.  Thankfully, Isis did not choke on the pieces she bit off, but also, now she no longer has a baby giraffe to play with.  I wonder if she learned her lesson...?

That evening, we had Heather and Ethan and Ryan over for dinner.  Colby was out of town for work, so I invited them over.  :)  After dinner, the kids   jumped on the trampoline for a little bit:

Notice how Odette didn't seem to gain her feet until the very end...!  Lol!!! :)

After our guests left, we still had lots of leftover dessert from dinner, so we took some over to a friend and STILL had some to spare!  YUMMY Oreo bites!!!  :)

It was late by the time we came home, so the girls got ready and went straight to bed.

Now it's my turn...

Good night!!!  :)

Little Faker!!!

I was too tired and decided that I will slowly get my sleeping habits in working order so that I can, starting next Monday, get my workouts in  early in the morning before getting the girls up...because you know you can't start a workout on a day other than a Monday...  ;)

We DID stay true to form and went on our walk again.  That, coupled in with jogs on my elliptical in the evening are a good start to working out again, I think.  :)

Anyway.  At the playground, we had lots of fun, as usual.  Odette likes me to swing her WAAAAAY up high on the swing...

...while Alegria likes me to push her low and slow:

Making a "birthday cake" and then singing to each other and "blowing out the candle."

On our way back home, I got a picture of the "Marshall House."  I can't tell you why it's important, I can't remember, but either way, here's a picture of it...just because I felt like taking it.  :)

I had to drop off Alegria's updated shot records today, so we went to her school early and went through the front office.  It didn't take us long, so we chilled for a bit in Alegria's classroom while we waited for her teacher to pick the kids up from the back entrance of the school and for the teaching assistant to pick other kids up from the bus.  Alegria and Odette had fun chasing each other on the alphabet rug:

Back home, I thought it would be nice if Odette and I napped together on my bed.  Yeah...that didn't happen.  Hahaha!  But it was ok.  Today was Alegria's short day at school (only an hour and 45 minutes of class), so for that time period, Odette and I snuggled and cuddled and tickled and were silly and just plain enjoyed some quality her and me time!  :)

She pretended to sleep at one point...but it would have been more believable if she'd closed her eyes!!!  The little faker!!!  HAHAHA!!!

When trying to nap didn't work, we tried to learn:

She found my Nook on my night stand and wanted to play games on it, so I let her...and when it was close to the time to go pick Alegria up and I had to change her diaper, it was so funny to see that she just went right on playing!  Hahaha!

Silly Baby!!!

Once we got home, I put Odette down for a nap.  This time she actually went to sleep.  :)

Mondays are my laundry days, but since yesterday I was not yet "back" to reality with it being our first day without Cameron, it wasn't until today that I did laundry...and I decided to have Alegria help me sort the laundry!  She did really well!  I need to have her help me more often!!!  :)

That's not my sock...it's hers!!!  Haha!  :)

While the laundry was washing, Alegria and I went to the back and I watched Alegria jump on the trampoline for a little while.  I guess I could have jumped with her, but the sensation of jumping on the trampoline just makes my bladder feel weird!  Maybe it's from having had two kids already...I don't know...

When Odette woke up, the girls each drew a picture for Daddy:

Another day without Daddy has passed and we're one day closer to having him back home with us!!!

I decided to let Odette mark the day off of the calendar on her own...

Good job, Odette!  :)

We love you, Daddy!!!  :)

Good night, All!  :)