Cameron Blayne Marlow

That's the name of the guy I'm most thankful for.  Do you know why he's so great?  Oh...there are so many reasons that I can't even name them all!  To name a few, though...he's sooooo funny!  He makes me laugh and I love his sense of humor!  He's so handsome!  I can stare at him all day and never get bored!  He's so smart!  I am so proud of how well he did in college with such a hard major (Biochemistry!) AND at the same time going through ROTC and lots of early mornings and weekends training!  He's such a guy!  Steak and potatoes for dinner, horseback riding, motorcycle riding, and football, football, football!  Which makes it even more funny that everyone else in our household is female...even our dog!  Hahaha!!!  He's so romantic!  That's right.  He's got the whole package, ladies!  Be jealous!  ;)  He's so talented!  When we first met, I had no idea how talented he was...until our first date when he serenaded me whilst playing his guitar.  *insert "Awww!" here*  ;)  He's a wonderful husband!  He does dishes, cooks, vacuums, does laundry, AND changes dirty diapers.  Does your guy do that?  He's a wonderful father!  Our little girls LOVE their daddy so much!  They look up to him and adore him and they've definitely got him wrapped around their dainty little fingers!  He's the bestest friend I could have ever dreamed of!  He's always there for me to lend a listening ear or just to hold me and not judge me when I cry at the movie "The Phantom of the Opera" for the fifty billionth time!  He's a spiritual giant!  I can feel the Priesthood power emanating from him.  He's a hard worker, dedicated, and always working to challenge and improve himself.  He can't stand to be just average or mediocre.  Just take a look at what he's going through...just to prove to himself that he can:

For these reasons and so many more, I love my husband so much and would give everything for him.  I am thankful for him and all that he does for me, for our family, and for our country.

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Today was a really lazy-hazy day for the girls and me.  We got up, had breakfast, and then went to the playground for about an hour.  Who says girls don't like to play in the dirt?  I wish!

We went home, colored, played, and had lunch.  Then Odette napped and Alegria and I watched some cartoons.  

When Odette woke up, we went to the mall.  I happened to have a $10-off coupon for JCPenney and decided to get her some new shoes there.  Last year, she got a new pair of shoes at the beginning of the school year and they lasted her til the beginning of this school year.  This year, she got a new pair of shoes on her birthday (August 19th) and they are already destroyed!  She chose a cute pair of Disney Princess shoes to replace her worn out Tinkerbell ones.

After our shopping trip, we went to Denny's for dinner.  It was already past dinner time by the time we were done and since Denny's has free kids entrees on Saturdays and I didn't want to cook dinner (as if I ever do anyway!  Haha!), we just went there to eat.  I was a little disappointed in the quality of the food.  Their menu was similar to Perkins, a place Cameron and I used to frequent in Bozeman, but when they brought our meals out to us, I was particularly unimpressed with mine.  Even the Oreo shake was runny and warm!  :(  Note to self: don't eat at Denny's in Columbus.  :(  That's just too bad.  I always had fond memories of Denny's from when I was growing up and we'd go there sometimes with my family.  At least the girls got to color while we waited and their meals weren't too bad...but then again, how can you go wrong with mac & cheese, mini pizza, and an order of goldfish crackers?!  :)

Waiting for our food:

Once we got home, we were all so tired!  The girls got in their PJs and were ready to count down another day closer to having the man of our life return to us:

We sure do love Daddy!!!

Good night everyone!!!

My Savior, Jesus Christ...

I am thankful every day for Him.  He gave the ultimate sacrifice so that I might live.  I will live life to the fullest, being always ever so grateful for the opportunity He has given me to one day live with Him again.

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After a slow morning getting out of bed again, we had breakfast, I jogged on my elliptical, and then we went outside and jumped on the trampoline.  It was absolutely beautiful today and the girls enjoyed every single moment out in the cool and sunny fall morning!

Well...Odette DID get a little upset when she realized that she didn't get free reign of the trampoline.  Share, Odette...it's what we do!  :)

We finally came inside for lunch.  Alegria was so hungry, she tried eating with her cheek, too!  Hahaha!!!  :)

Odette loved her cream cheese rolls!  :)

Once I was done getting ready, we didn't wait around at home for it to be almost one like we usually do.  It was a gorgeous day outside and I've been slacking on getting us up early to go on our walks to the park/playground, so we left early to school and the girls were able to have about 30 minutes of play time on the playground before it was time for Alegria to go to class:

Odette and I then went home and took naps.

We picked Alegria up from school at 3:30 and headed to Walmart.  While we were there, I decided to let the girls pick out a small toy.  I couldn't help it.  They're such good girls and I decided to treat them to a little something that would last longer than a trip to the ice cream store.  :)  Poor future husbands of theirs, though...my girls have acquired my habit of browsing while shopping and what should have been a mere 30-minute shopping trip turned into a 3-hour trip.  Oops!  Haha!  Most of the trip was spent browsing the toy aisles for just the right toy.  Down one aisle and down another, everything Alegria saw, she would tell me, "Mom, I don't have this!"  And my response would be, "Yes, I know."  Lol!  :)  At one point, Alegria wanted a plastic elephant and giraffe...replicas of the countless safari animals she already owns...and Odette wanted a baby doll...even though she already owns about 5 on her own!  And then there was this:

I don't know where she found it, but she did...and she wore it.  Even when we went to take a potty break!!!  Silly baby!!!  :)  She sure wears it well, though!!!  :)

We finally got home a little after 7, had dinner, and then had a "movie night," complete with popcorn.  We cuddled on the couch and just enjoyed each other's company until it was time to get ready for bed.

Alegria decided she wanted to be like Odette today and instead of crossing off the day, she drew some symbols...oh well!!!  :)

Odette removing a bead:

Alegria never lets me forget that they have to hug, too!

And last but not least, a picture with their new Snuggimals (Alegria got a polka-dotted puppy and Odette got a baby seal):

That was our day, everyone!  We hope yours was just as great!!!

Good night!!!  :)

I'm Thankful...

...first and foremost for my Heavenly Father.  He has given me EVERYTHING.  Without Him I would not even be alive.  He has granted me my daily breath, my free agency, my health, my strength, my family, my home, the Truths of the Everlasting Gospel, the promised blessing of Exaltation if I keep His Commandments, which He has given me because of His infinite love for me, and every big and small blessing that I see and even those I do not see every single day.  God is truly Great!

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On that note, this morning, Alegria, Odette and I lazed about at home, enjoying each other's company, cuddling in my bed and watching cartoons before getting up for the day.  

After breakfast, I jogged on my elliptical while the girls colored and played.  Then after lunch, we dropped Alegria off at school.  Odette and I stayed and played on the playground for a little bit:

Then she and I came home and had naps.

We came back to Alegria's school at 3:30 and went in to Alegria's classroom for a parent-teacher conference.  Alegria and Odette colored and played while I talked to Ms. Brobey, Alegria's pre-kindergarten teacher.  She went over the "grading" system with me and I'm happy to report that Alegria is doing extremely well at school!

Once our little conference was over, the girls and I stayed and played on the playground a little longer:

We played for about 45 minutes and then finally came home for dinner.

The rest of the night was our typical night.  I bathed the girls, they brushed their teeth, and we counted down another day closer to Daddy coming home.  Odette got to mark off the first day of November (Alegria's trying to teach her how to make a cross, but Odette isn't interested in conforming yet):

Oi!  That Homecoming Necklace is getting long!!!

Daddy's little girls:

Good night everyone!!!  :)

Halloween 2012

The morning dawned brisk and cool.  The girls and I got up and got ready and went to visit our friend, Kira for a little bit.  Afterwards, we came home and had some lunch, I filled out my absentee ballot (...and not a moment too soon!  Five minutes after I set it out on our mailbox, the postman picked it up...an hour sooner than he normally picks up/drops off mail!).

Oh, happy day!  We got a letter from Cameron!!!  (Thank you, Mr. Postman...you're my new best friend!!!)  There was a letter for me, a drawing for Alegria, and a drawing for Odette!!!  There was NO WAY anything could put a damper on our day now!!!  :)

Our friend, Emmy showed up a few minutes later with a yummy loaf of pumpkin bread for us!!!  YUMMY!!!  Wow...what an absolutely great day so far!!!  :)  She stayed and visited for a little bit...always fun!!!  :)

At 1, we all left.  Emmy went on her way and Odette and I took Alegria to school.  Then Odette and I came home for naps.  Did I mention yet how great of a day this has been...?!  :)

At 3:30, Odette and I went and got Alegria from school, then we filled the Jeep up with gas, and we headed over to the mall.  I had a Victoria's Secret coupon that expired today...and I did NOT want to miss out!!!  :)  We got to Vicki's, I made a purchase and used my coupon *angel choruses singing---enter here!* and we came back home.  :)

The girls and I had dinner and then we all got dressed up!!!  Even though Alegria had jumped back and forth between wanting to be a doctor, a witch, a cat, or a princess, she finally decided on her very first choice...Doc McStuffins!  And Odette chose to be Nurse Hallie, Doc McStuffin's assistant, rather than a cat or a cowgirl.  :)  I dressed up as a bunny.  :)  Yes, I even had a tail!!!  :)

With their pumpkins...ready to go trick-or-treating!!!

As soon as we stepped out the door, Odette came almost face-to-face with a scary goblin...and started screaming and wanting to go back in the house!  Hahaha!  I had to chase her down and pick her up and start walking with her in my arms to calm her down.  After a few minutes, she was ready to venture on her own, following in her big sister's footsteps:

After an hour and twenty minutes and having zig-zagged our way down four blocks of houses, Alegria FINALLY said that her feet were hurting.  By then I'd already been carrying Odette AND both of their pumpkins for a while and I was tired, too, AND we'd trick-or-treated at every house we'd come to, so we called it a night and came home.  It was only 7:33 and there was still candy in the two bins I'd set out on our front porch, so I left them out there for any late trick-or-treaters and the girls and I relaxed, had some candy, and watched a Halloween cartoon called, "Spookley the Square Pumpkin."

Then it was into pajamas, brushing teeth, and counting down another day til Daddy comes home for good!  :)

We sure missed Daddy this Halloween...but we love him and are thinking of him and know he's thinking of us...and having gotten a letter from him today...well...it was just as perfect as it could be without him actually being here!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!!!  We hope it was a safe and happy day for all!!!  

Good night!!!  :)