Great article!

While checking in on my friends blogs, my girlfriend Rebecca posted an awesome email about being a Mormon Woman and included some of her thoughts. I enjoyed it and thought some of you might as well. In addition to her thoughts, she links to an article in Vanity Fair that I loved!

I get so frustrated when people think they know my beliefs because they've read something about it on the internet or heard something about us.  I wish rather than assuming things, people would ask me.  I love it when people get to know me well enough to know that I would never be offended by a question, especially if they really are curious about something. Vent of the day I guess!

Look alike!

Everyone always tells me that my kids look exactly like Tony. Well I've had enough! The Dickamore genes aren't as strong as everyone thinks. I think everyone agrees that Blake and Taeya look a lot alike but I've found Blakers twin -- me! The poor kid even has my crooked, disappearing-upper-lip smile. Now if only I could figure out where Aliya came from . . .  By the way, the dumb 'deer-in-head-light look' I still get when I am tired. Lovely!

New Hair-do

Okay, so I am dumb! (Shocker, I know) Forever ago I polled 

everyone to see what I should do with my hair. Most people said leave it long and go blonde. I decided to keep growing it long and donate it again. 

Well, boredom struck and I completely blew off any and all plans I had! Not only did I cut off 7 inches but dyed it darker. Sorry! Like Tony says, I am good to ask people their opinion then I just go off and do whatever I want anyways. 

This is soooo not a cute picture of Blake (nor does my hair look all that special but its the only pictures of me that I have -- If I die my kids wont know what I look like. I'm in about .05% of our pictures).

Urban Campin'

This weekend was another reminder of why Daddy's ROCK! I swear if it wasn't for Tony, my kids would never get to do anything fun. I tend to only see the end result, not the journey. I often shoot down his fun ideas because of all the work required, rather than appreciating the potential fun to be had! I guess we make a fairly good team -- I keep us from getting into too much trouble whereas Tony helps us experience new adventures.

Tony has been wanting to go camping for a while now so Saturday he took the girls shoppin' for their 'adventure'. I came back from the store to find a large blue tent erected in my backyard and two little hyper girls. That night, he takes the girls back to the store to buy fixin's for S'mores. At 9:30  he proceeds to build a bonfire in our backyard. I am totally anxious knowing at any moment the police will be knocking on our door to arrest Tony (I figure there is no way I'm going to jail for his pyro ways). 

The kids made some ummy-yummy S'mores then head to bed for some urban camping. They LOVED it. I got a fabulous nights sleep (in our huge bed all alone), the girls were in heaven and Tony engineered some great memories for our girls (although he didn't get any sleep). Thanks tons babe for all our adventures!

Kindergarten Graduation

I cant believe this school year is already over! I am amazed at how fast this year flew by. I am also thoroughly impressed at how much out little Taeya has learned. She is one smart cookie. Since when did Kindergartners learn how to read? She can pick up almost any book and start to read. Sure she gets tripped up at some words but then again so do I. She loves to read books to anyone who will listen. Her teacher, Mrs. Brown really has helped Tae develop into a fabulous reader.

Not only did she learn how to read and write, she discovered that she wants to be an author, illustrator and scientist when she grows up. I think I just learned what an illustrator was when she told me. Her love of arts and crafts has continued to develop.

Another great thing she learned this year was how to be a good friend. This class has already started in on some of the mean girl crap that happens and Tae has learned that no matter how people act to her, she needs to be nice to everyone. Its been good to hear from others that Tae is always one of the nice girls. I put a picture up with Taeya and her bestfriend Kate. 

This past year Taeya has also learned how to be an even bigger help for me. One evening when I was busy with Blake she got Aliya out of the tub then dressed and ready for bed all by herself. She later asked if she could have $1 for helping out. I figure I pay a babysitter way more than that, she earned it. What an awesome big sister she is!

Tae is such a terrific kid and we know that whatever she puts her mind to, she'll be able to accomplish. We are so proud of her for this graduation and hope to attend at least 3 more (High School, Undergrad and Graduate degrees). 

Stinker!!!

This afternoon, Aliya and I were on the computer looking at pictures of her as a baby. Afterwards I told her we needed to turn the computer off and go play. She firmly responded she wanted to play Barbie.com. I said No, turned off the computer and left the room. I stopped just outside the door and heard her turn the computer back on. With that I came back in the room to watch the little turd bring up the Internet and click on the bookmark Barbie.com. She then continued on to bring up the games and started to play. Where on earth did my 3 year old learn how to not only turn the computer on but bring up the Internet and navigate to the sight she wanted? We are in such trouble with her. She is such a smart little stink. Both Tony and my parents like to remind us she is our payback. Good thing she is so cute or we would have left her in Mexico a loooong time ago! 

Do you like her makeup? She also got into Tae's makeup and dolled herself up! 

Crazy Daddy

On Saturday Tony decided to restain our swingset and enlisted some 'cheap' labor. Crazy man gave our two girls a paintbrush and let them go at it! They were COVERED by the end (these pictures were after only about 5 minutes of painting -- I was too worried when they were done to get pictures. I was trying to save carpet, tile etc)! I ended up scrubbin paint off their skin, out of their hair and just tossed their clothes. Afterwards Tony took them to get ice cream as a reward. They had a lot of fun and hopefully learned that if you work hard, you can play hard later. 

Bathtime fun!!!

Blake loves to get in the tub. The kid will kick, splash and squeal the entire time in the bath. I swear I am covered with more water than he is. He'll start out laying on his yellow bear but he moves so much that by the end he has scooted totally off!  He is definitely my water baby. The girls liked their baths but not nearly as much as old Blakers.

Check out those baby blues! Watch out ladies!

Biker chick

Taeya is so proud of herself for learning how to ride a bike (as well she should be)! She's been hounding me for days to put up some pictures of her on her bike. She thinks she is famous because she is on the computer. She'll tell her friends to check out her blog (little tyke actually knows the web address).  

I also had to include a picture of me attempting to ride her bike. I have multiple stories of how horrible I am at riding a bike yet I can ride a unicycle -- yea, I know I'm special. Sucker was tough to ride with my knees in my chest the whole time! I rode a good hundred yards before I ate it!

Gag reflex

Last week we started Blake on cereal. Like his mama he has a great gag reflex! I don't know why but I get a kick out of watching kids when they are first learning to eat. He kept gagging and spitting the food back out. Its taken a few days but I think he is finally getting at least half of it down! Once we start in on the vegetables is when Tony's gag reflex kick in! Its a good thing he is not the mom or our babies wouldn't have eaten anything but fruit! 

Check out the darling bib! Becky gave it to Blake for Christmas. 82 is Tony's football number with the red and white U of U colors (GO UTES!). She also had made a cute Harley Davidson bib that says "B.A.D. Boy". Too cute!

On a side note, we've finally gotten our house taken care of -- at least temporarily! We've been trying to sell it since December but due to a weak real estate market and a couple foreclosures on our street alone, nothing has happened. All along we've said that we'd end up renting it out.  Finally last Tuesday we put it up for rent and the next day it rented out to a great family that has already asked about renting longer than a year. We wish it would have sold but we're grateful we can at least rent it out until the market picks up!

Yea Aunt Becky's here!!!!

So my sissy flew in last Thursday from St. Louis and we've had a blast. Her cute hubby, Tex, emailed a month ago and said he wanted to surprise her with a trip to AZ for her Birthday. So for the next couple weeks we tormented her. I'd beg her to come see us and he'd keep 

coming up with reasons why she couldn't! It was fun to hear how much she wanted to come see us. Poor Tex did both Mom and Dad duty for 6 days. I cant imagine taking care of 4 kids while working too! Thanks a bunch Tex!

The kids LOVED Becky. Aliya immediately gave her a big old hug. From there she developed a special bond with her 'Naunt Becky. Becky couldn't go anywhere without her little shadow Liya. Aliya loved watching her do her hair and makeup (maybe because her lazy mommy doesn't do either).

Taeya finally learned how to ride her bike without training wheels -- thanks to Aunt Becky. Beck watched the kiddos on Friday night so Tony and I could go out on a date. I don't know how she did it but Beck was able to tend all 3 kids and teach Tae how to ride a bike.

Becky kept picking Blake up and commenting on how little and skinny he is. Becky has an almost 8 month old boy Mason who is oh so fat (plus a 5, 8 1/2 and 11 yr old sons).

On Saturday night after a full day of play, Becky and I went out for a little "Girls Night Out"! Yahoo! We did a little shopping, ate too many fried appetizers at dinner then more shopping. For the first time in my life I have to admit that this shoppin' stuff isn't too bad. I bought a cute white and red polka dot shirt that for some reason reminds me of Minnie Mouse but its fun!
Sunday we did our typical feed-the-ducks with Beck. Tae and Aliya both rode their bikes all the way there and back (its more than a half a mile away). We saw the typical ducks, geese and fish but this time we saw a couple turtles. The weather has been gorgeous!

My sister is awesome. I am so lucky to have her in my life. She has always been there for me. Beck has so many characteristics that I want. She can talk to anyone. She came to church with us once and already knows more people than I do. I love that she is sensitive to others. I also think that she is such a great boy mom. Dont get me wrong, I think she'd be a fabulous girl mom (she spoiled my girls with purses, jewelery, toys and treats) but she is perfect for boys. She loves the bugs, dirt, noise, bodily functions and smelly, stinky boys. I think she is gorgeous, both inside and out! Love ya sis!

Bye Nuncle Jeff

Uncle Jeff left us Monday night and the girls have been missing him! The last day he had a fun time trying to teach Taeya how to ride her bike. When I told Tony what he was doing his only comment was "That's my job!". If that is his only job I think he'll be out of it soon -- my sissy is coming in tonight from St. Louis and after teaching 4 boys how to ride their bikes, she'll have Tae riding her before the weekend! We are excited for Becky to come but once she leaves we know there are no more visitors in sight. I can understand not wanting to visit us with 110+ temps! You are all welcome to though!