Dickamore Family Reunion

We were so excited that while we were in Utah, we were able to attend the first ever Dickamore Reunion. It was a BLAST! Tony's Aunts, especially Aunt Becky, put so much time and effort in planning the party. It was an all day event (started with Golfing in the morning and didn't end until after fireworks) filled with all sorts of games, activities and a TON of food!

I think Blakes highlight was definitely when we went fishing. Tony had taken him a couple times to the stocked pond in our subdivision (without any luck). This was the ultimate lazy man fishing experience! Blake alone easily caught a dozen fish ... I am not exaggerating at all! He did it all by himself. He'd stick his pole in the water and trout would be jumping over each other to get to his hook. He was calm and patient at first then I think he got bored with how easy it was!

Blake was so proud of his first fish!

Not quite sure he wanted to touch it ... he loved catching them but wasn't too fond of taking them off the hook! 

This picture classic to me. After the first couple catches, I think Blake got bored (evidently so did Tony and Matt). Dude started hitting the fish with his pole. He STILL caught fish. One he brought up with the fishing wire wrapped around its tail (honestly, it was upside down). Twice, he got the hook in the side of a fish and brought it out horizontal. Not once, but twice. He was so proud of himself and took his fishing quite seriously. 

Also in the picture you can see my girls fishing. Tae was the first to catch a fish. Aliya tried it but once she saw a fish come out of the water, she opted to be the fish feeder. She gets that from me - I don't mind touching the fish, baiting the hook etc I just think its mean. Guess I'm a hypocrite for eating meat eh?

After a busy afternoon of fishing and providing food, Blake thought it was time for a nice skinny dip. Sad to admit that this happened not just once, but twice. The second time someone came and said "Just so you know, Blake is naked again". Yep, I know where he gets that from (I was a streaker when I was little -- shocking I know)!

Our kids had so much fun with their second cousins. Each of my kids, with the exception of Kai, have a cousin their same age/gender. Luckily they all get along really well!

Matt was Kai's fill in parent for the day. He was so good to take care of Kai. I felt baby less most of the day and it was great. It was so nice to get to sit and gab without worrying about needing to feed him or put him down for a nap. Kai was a definite trooper as well. It was a long day for him but he did great!

Here is Blakers with Great Grandpa Dickamore. Blakers had fun driving his trucks all around him.

Camille and Michelle, Tony's cousins, painted all the little kids faces. My girls loved it. You'd think they'd pick hearts or stars or tiaras etc but nope, they picked a skull and cross bones!

I love that Tony's Grandma jumped on the tramp. I don't know of too many other Grandmas that will jump on a tramp!

Here is Aliya with Aunt Kristi and Uncle Ben. Kristi is preggers with the first non-TamiandTony grandbaby. They are going to have the cutest little girl and be the best parents. My kids absolutely adore them and we hate that we are so far away at such a fun time of their life!

Rather than do a typical Pinata, Aunt Beck had a big bowl of candy that Dan and Curtis were going to throw out to the kids. Blake got in on the action and LOVED it. He was chuckin' handfuls of treats out!

Uncle Kevin was Blakes hero for the day. He took him for a ride on his tractor. And not just any tractor, a big, HUGE tractor. When Blake talks about it that is how he describes it "big, HUGE tractor"!

Later on in the evening we played a bunch of 'minute-to-win-it' games. The kids loved it because they could play as well.

Thank you, thank you for such a fun, terrific day. I hope we can make it out for all the others because it was such a terrific day. So many memories were made and shared that day!

Blake's new obsession

Blake found a new favorite hobby: 4-wheeling. He LOVED it. Everything about it, the way they looked, the way they smelled, now fast you could go etc. He had so much fun! Tony's dad, Papa Bruce, has two little 4-wheelers that are the perfect size for kids. They've got some control thing on it where you can limit the speed (we didn't know that one of them had been broken until Aliya decided to go all out). Its one of the things my kids, and their cousins, look forward to doing when we head back to Utah. 

Tony is so good to let the kids help him get things ready. I don't do well with extra 'helpers'. He loves it. Here he is letting Blakers fill up the tire with air. 

The girls loved getting to drive all the vehicles. Here Tae is manning the 6-wheeler. Eventually Aliya got banned from the 4 wheelers. She was FLYING on it, standing up and showing off (I know exactly where she got her showboating: her Dad). Kid almost crashed into the school. After that, she was only allowed to drive with an adult, or Taeya, on the back! Not that this is shocking to anyone who knows her. 

I didn't think Kai would really care too much about getting rides but he LOVED it. He would bawl when he was taken off. He'd lunge to get on them, even if it was just to sit on it. Who knew an almost 1 year old would have so much fun. He was great to just sit and enjoy the ride.

Note: In case you were wondering, yes, the machines are small and yes, Tony is a big man. How in the world these suckers have so much ump in them I'll never know. I think/know Tony had just as much fun on them as the kids did. He had so much fun zooming around my parents neighborhood. He'd take them up the hill, down to the school, all around and those little 4-wheelers just keep chuggin' along!

Blakers was in his glory. He loved when we'd take him down to the school and let him drive. He did awesome, well, until his thumb would get tired then he'd let us drive. There is no doubt in my mind this kid is going to love anything with a motor, just like his Daddy!

The first day we used the 4-wheelers was the first day Kai got to sit on real grass. Houston has horrible grass. Its prickly and stiff and is incredibly uncomfortable to walk on, let alone sit on. He actually somewhat liked it I think!

Blake's Best Day EVER!

The day after we arrived Papa Bruce had a surprise planned for Blake. It was the chance to go play at a gravel pit and 'drive' the big machines. As I've posted before Blakers is OBSESSED with construction vehicles. After this trip, its even more so. He was in heaven! The pit was closed down for a holiday so we had our run of the land. 

Blake and Papa Bruce in the ginormous front loader (or as Blake says 'front yoader')

I think the digger was his favorite. He loved to watch the bucket scoop and dump the dirt!

That face may look a little bored but he kid is in AWE! He absolutely loved it. I repeatedly said I don't know who is having more fun: Bruce, Tony or Blake. Tony had a ton of fun driving the machines. At one point he told me he was going to quit his job and come work there! He'd then be Blake's hero for sure!

Even Kai got in on the action! The girls liked it but they almost had more fun running up the dirt hills then riding in the machines. Hey, they're girls ...  we're wired different!

I love this picture! You can tell all my men had fun on their man-bonding morning! Thanks Bruce for arranging such a terrific experience!

We attempted a family picture ... not sure what on earth I'm doing!

This is Blakes new prized possession: a master key to all the CAT vehicles. I guess this key will open and start any CAT construction vehicle. That is a heck of a lot of responsibility for me. Do they remember who my hubby is? Do they know about his history of 'borrowing' cars? I swear I am going to have to sleep with this key around my neck for fear that Tony will take it and go out joy-riding on a digger ... and take my son with him! Well, at least they'd have fun!

Many, many, many more to come ...

In the middle of July we did our first Texas-Utah exodus. We had a ton of fun and made so many terrific memories. I swear I could post something everyday about all our adventures (I just might too). Unfortunately there are so many activities that I didn't have my camera around for: Nuncles sleep over, giant doll  house, 4-wheeling by the 'B', Bountiful parade & activities, family fireworks, 'This is the place park' with the Uncles, cousin sleep overs and many, many more.  Thanks to all who made our trip so fantastic. It was a great experience with a ton of fun!

The afternoon we arrived Taeya was so excited to show us all she had learned. She had spent the previous 2 weeks in Utah being school in all things Cowgirl by her Grandma Nette. Gma Nette and Papa Bruce had asked if she would like to come spend a couple weeks and really learn how to ride.  That meant she had to fly alone - she did great, me, not so much!  She is so comfortable with such a huge beast (a feat her mom will never master). Taeya had chores and had to help groom the horses. Thanks again Bruce & Annette for such a terrific experience for her. 

Uncle Matt was excited to see the kiddos so he joined us down at the stables. Obviously Kai warmed right up to him!

Not only did Tae fall in love with the horses but I think they grew to like her too. Her favorite horse to ride was Spider. 

Tae loved going thru Gma Nette's Cowgirl gear. The blinged out belts were her favorite (she and Aliya came home with the CUTEST zebra print blinged belts. They've both worn them to school a couple times and love them. Try as I might, neither will fit me!)

Each time the girls would ride they were responsible for feeding and rubbing down the horses. I love that in this picture Aliya is doing her 'chores'. That girl wont work for nothing but I guess the possibility of  riding a horse will help her to get it done!
L-R: Gma Nette, Kinzie, Tae & Liya

Neglected

Some times I really do think that people believe Kai is neglected. He's not, I promise. He is so stinkin cute and has so much personality, how could you neglect him? Sometimes I am just too tired to clean him up or take away whatever snack he's pilfered from his siblings. This day he found a brownie ... obviously he love it. Why there is a Taeya name tag on him I'll never know. Cute, gross little boy!

Smooshed

Why do smooshed faces make me laugh? I love them ... especially by this kid. This day he was throwing a fit while smooshing his face. He loves to shut doors then gets upset when he cant open them. These doors to Tonys office are always gross. I think I've just quit cleaning them because they dont even stay clean for an hour.

By this point Kai was getting ticked that I was just taking pictures rather than rescuing him from the locked room. 

Oh dear!

Poor Blakers! His sisters have been playing dress up with him since he was itty-bitty! 

Quite the ensemble he's got going on!

Ah this face! Earlier in the day he'd somehow unearthed a long-lasting lipstick that I had yet to wear. After this experience, I'm sold that it REALLY is long lasting (like 3 days long lasting). Oh buddy, I love you! Those eyes will melt me every time!

Why do I????

There are many activities throughout my day that have me asking myself "Why do I this to myself"? They always sound like fun then this occurs:

... and this happens ...

but ultimately, THIS is why I do it. I love to see my kids smile. Most of the activities I do to entertain them turns into HUGE messes and often I end up yelling but at some point during the activity, there was a ton of fun! Blakers, I love you. I love that you finger painted not only your arms but you somehow figured out how to highlight your mohawk. Impressive buddy!

Guess who's turning one? Kai, Kai!

Wow, where did the past year go? I swear, it seemed like I was just bringing home this skinny little baby boy. Now I've got a squishy toddler! What a terrific addition Kai has been to our family. He is such a sweet boy with such a killer smile! He is going to be a ladies man when he gets older!

Tony's cousin Steph was sweet enough to offer to take pics of Kai for his first birthday and of course I accepted. She brought some darling props and even got him a delicious cupcake. Thanks a ton Steph, I love the pics!

I absolutely love this picture. You can see his cute, fatty-fat-fats thighs. They are my favorite and I will miss them once he starts to thin out!

I have to admit I was surprised with how timid he was. Who knew that if he eats out of his highchair he doesnt make a mess. In his highchair he is pure destruction. His new favorite is to throw food ... grrrr!

I love, love, love his fat fingers and double chins. I must admit I am sad to see my baby growing up. In some ways I am excited because it will make life so much easier but in other ways I am sad. I will miss his baby snuggling, feeding him bottles and some of the other cute little baby things. 

Kai, thank you for having your own agenda and time frame. We are so lucky to have you as our little boy. We love you so much!