A trip to the mountains. Or hills that they think are mountains.

When we lived in South Carolina the first time we went to North Carolina each fall to pick apples.  We decided to make it a full on tradition and go again this year. Cause it's fall y'all, 90° and all. 

First up, hubba hubba bbq. Delishious. Outside eating only, with buckets of chalk on the table for kids to draw on the ground. Perfect.  My main interest in the trip, other than fresh cider. 

Picking apples for 10 minutes. We did get a bushel, but it was hot and right in the sun. I'm just going to say, picking apples true fall weather is much more enjoyable. Byu-Idaho is completely underated. 

The hot doughnuts and cold cider went over much better. 

The best part of the trip ended up being Jordan's pick to stop at the last covered bridge in the state. It was a quick and easy hike, bo likes anything the echoes, and we waded in the creek to cool off. Practically pioneers. 

Jordan recently told the kids there was a hungry alligator in the pond at the park in hopes of keeping them out. Effective parenting.  Madilyn asked no less than 29 times if there was an alligator. 

Olympics 2024.

Madilyn has been telling me for 6 months now she wants to go to ballet class. So naturally I enrolled her in gymnastics. 

Good mom all around. 

Mainly I did not want to pay for three seperate recital costumes. Plus there is nothing like a back tuck to win over a crowd. Kidding. Kind of. 

If you give her half a second she will tell you ALL about her first lesson and the super fun trampoline and her overwhelming fear of doing a handstand. 

The class is 45 minutes of 10 three year olds and one teacher and a lot of chaos. Bless her heart. 

And after her show and tell she took her stuffed animals for lesson on the tape measure blance beam. 

It's Funny Now... I guess.

The six most used words in our home, " Oh Bo what did you do?"
Last Thursday was the kind of day that makes me question my vocation of motherhood.
Let me set the stage.  I set the big kids up with lunch and went into my room to nurse Tucker asleep. I'm a sucker for bad (and super easy) habits.  Madilyn comes in to inform me how much Bo "weally weally loves cream." Foolish me thought she was reminiscing of last nights Chick-Fil-A ice cream run.  Silly me. I send her back to the table and come out 15 minutes later to Bo REALLY REALLY loving a Sam's Club size tub of SOUR cream. Loving it in his hair, on the counter, the floor, down the hall and walls, and not missing a square inch of any bare skin.  It's like he lathered it on like lotion during a Rexburg winter.
And then there is a knock on my door. And it's my wonderful and kind, never have they been over before, visiting teachers, popping in for a quick end of the month hello.
To my couch I usher them, asking them to wait just a quick sec while I de-cream the boy.  I banish him to his room for nap time. I field questions of the "tell us about yourself", and "what do you like to do when your not taking care of your kids?" sorts. With a fussy, needs a nap, Madilyn on my lap, and crying baby in my room. 
Note- before you think I am a terrible person for saying this about having my VT come by, please know that I LOVE the organization of the church, and being able to go teach and be taught. It is an amazing and important program that I NORMALLY warmly welcome into my sticky home.
 I excuse myself again and fetch the babe. Why is he crying? His brother is not in his room, but in my room, lights on, white noise off. His signature, I want to play with my brother for 45 seconds so I will just wake him up, move.  Apparently his 45 seconds were up and he had moved himself into the bathroom.  Super off limit room to him and he knows it.  Child locks, be it medicine bottle or door are no match for him.  The damage? 2 shattered bottles of essential oils, 1 emptied bottle of prenatals, and half a bottle of children's liquid Motrin .  Foolish mother.
Again, Visiting Teachers waiting in my living room.
I send him to the hall bath to wash his hands and lock the master bath.
I head back to try to politely wrap things up.  This takes more like 15 minutes as I stand bouncing a crying baby on my hip as I listen to the sisters talk to each other about school bus logistical issues, both current and from 24 years ago.
Finally it occurs to me that I am the dumbo that just sent Destruction Mode Bo into the bathroom alone. I check in. Flooded sink, flooded draws, and a solid inch of water on the floor. He was trying to use an empty wipe container to throw water from the sink to the toilet. 
I really wrap things up with the sisters this time, and honestly tell them I'm looking forward to a much better visit next month.
1.5 hours later the kids are sleeping, and sour cream is mostly cleaned up, but another two hours before I have the courage to consider clean up my bathroom. 
For the first time ever Jordan picked up Pizza on the way home from work.

Moral of this run on sentence? I think I made the mistake of telling Jordan how the kids and I were in such a good routine of things and how 3 kids were WAY easier than two or one kid. I also casually mentioned that it was kind of sad/weird that I wasn't going to be pregnant on a child's first birthday with future younger sibling.  A first for us.  And MAYBE we should have the baby conversation soon. Do you know what Jordan and Heavenly Father had to say about that? hardee Har har.  How about a serving of Humble Pie?

"That girl has an opinion on everything"

During my first year at BYU-Idaho I made friends with a guy named Noah in a foundations class. We sat next to each other for the semester, hung out a few times, and even went skiing with Molly and a guy I do not remember. We saw one and other on campus over the years and were always very friendly, boring, boring, boring, I got married and he transferred to Provo.

So now like 6 years later Molly calls me to tell me has ran into him in Provo and they went on a (horrible) date.  One of the opening lines of date was... ," How is Tracie, that girl had an opinion about everything?".  I laughed at the story and told Jordan. His response, " well if that does not sum you up I'm not sure what does."

I think there is a negative connotation with being someone who forms opinions and sometimes makes the choice to share where they stand. By no means do I think it's ever kind or remotely appropriate to force your opinion on someone. There is a growing issue with that in our society today. However, I think it's vital that we know where we stand on almost any issue, or at least know how to get to a point where are can make an informed opinion. 

It's good to have opinions, it means you have a mind that thinks.  And in my opinion, he could have used a better opening line.  Just Saying.


"There is something reassuring about standing for something, and knowing what we stand for." -Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

You may not agree with me, but at the very least, you will understand that your differing opinion is wrong.
-Stephen Colbert

Unrelated baby picture/ your face after reading this pointless post

At least he didn't make a huge mess.

I nap every other day. My kids nap every single day. It how we survive. I try to wake up before my kids, but I know I've slept too long when I'm woken up by yell whispering in my ear. 116% of the time my kids find me before they venture down the hall. 

So when I woke up to silence I was sure I had woken up first. But then I heard little feet in the playroom. And before I panicked that someone was stealing the Dora puzzles I went to investigate. And found this. 

Bo. Bo dressed in all new clothes, including undies purchased during a failed attempt at potty training over his diaper, who had enjoyed playing with everything his placement in the pecking order does not allow for during madilyn's waking hours. 

And he was just peachy about it. 

His punishment? Chips and salsa with mom. 

And now being held to the standard of always dressing himself. Buttons and all. 

The promise land.

In late 2016 Columbia SC will have everything Jordan and I consider essential to sustaining the Dickamore way of life. 

Temple

Airport 

Costco

When Jordan and I knew we would be leaving idaho and getting back into construction we were trying to decide where geographically we wanted to be. We knew we needed the above three to support our lifestyle.  You know, the lifestyle of a growing Mormon family with flight benefits. 

We most assuredly did not think we would be coming back to South Carolina. We both were actually really interested in Philadelphia.   But as we were being drawn to Columbia we new it had our número uno request, a temple. Oh and a job ha. 

So I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say that a Costco coming to our town is Heavenly Father's gift to the Dickamores for following his promptings to move here. Your are welcome Midlands, we are happy to share its beauty and almond butter with you. 

Sometimes when my kids nap I miss them, but when they wake up I wish they would sleep for 15 more mintues.

Jordan and I are a big fans of the 5 year plan.  We make a new one about every 4 weeks.  At first I was just thinking we were the most flaky and indecisive couple ever, but then as we were talking about that little issue it occurred to us... well life was completely different 4 weeks ago. 

To some families a year doesn't really bring that many changes.  Every couple of years might bring a new couch or a graduation.  But us, every year of our marriage has brought another kid.

This week I can be lazy about sweeping, Tucker doesn't crawl yet.  Next week there is a good chance he will stop belly flopping and be unrolling the toilet paper every time I turn my back.  Bo can still barely talk.  Really he just grunts, shouts, and signs.  I'm telling ya, it is milestone mania up in here.

Why in the world are we constantly trying to plan out the next five years, when TECHNICALLY we could have 4 more kids?! I should put some of that effort into planning our next four meals. 

Really, I had a point to this somewhere.

Anyways, I know while it is good to look to the future, and it does need attention from time to time, I sincerely need to try harder enjoy this time in life. I have had an overwhelming desire to soak in and try to remember all their little personalities, if I don't record them, these couple of years are just going to be a blur.  The first couple of months of Bo's life already feel like a blur to me, and I don't want that.  I want to remember these special times, I love that we do have tons of pictures to look at and have memories and feelings come back in floods, but I also know I need to record more of it all.

 I won't always be dripping in babies, and while I will say that sounded like a dream come true during the 45 min scream fest that was our drive today, at the dinner table it was a little sad to think about.  I think a change I need to make, is to show gratitude to Heavenly Father by enjoying and soaking in these early years of parenthood and marriage, because I know they are a blessing from Him. 

I say birthday, you say party

I turned the big 25 in April.

A couple of weeks ago Jordan asked what I wanted to do for my birthday. I listed off buying various clothing items, new running shoes, make-up, and a bled tec. I also mentioned it might be fun to go camping. 

Apparently a four hour road trip and kids not sleeping in their own beds sounded like more fun than shopping. 

This is coming from the man who brought my engagement ring in no more than 15 minutes. While wearing carhartt  overalls. So maybe I should not be surprised.

Anyways, we've been wanting to check out North Carolina so I found a park up there. Too far never again.  I think our road trip max is 3 hours. Not four. Four hurts. 

We did have tons of fun and were really super proud of ourselves for A.) actually doing it and B.) thinking we should do it again soon, but much much closer. 

One of the best choices we made was not doing a camp fire and just using our camp stove. Seriously, no smoke smell, no trying to keep smoke out of kids eyes, and kids out of fire. And 1000 times easier to clean. 

Bo and Tucker slept like rocks, like to the point Jordan was a little worried about Tucker. Madilyn was cold and didn't sleep well. 2 out of 3- I'll take it.  

The first day we played at the camp, drove the scenic route around some farms, and set up camp in the rain. A pretty fun day. Remember only one kid is verbal, we keep things super low key. 

The next day we were able to visit a few small farms that were participating in a sustainable Ag tour. We are always up for learning more, and seeing how differnt farms run. Mainly we learned we want to add goats, well at least baby goats. Madilyn and I were enjoying them so much I forgot to take any pictures. She held them like a puppy on her lap and licked her face, played chase, and she gave them sweet hugs. She loves calves but they are still huge compared to her, the kids were just perfect. 

My actual birthday was on a Tuesday, which is our busiest night of the week. Jordan has two hours of meetings for ward mission stuff, and I have young woman's for the last hour of his meetings. So nothing major. Lots of love from family and friends during the day. 

Mother's Day is always just a few weekends after my birthday and Jordan always does great and wonderful things with the kids that day, and I almost always enjoy it more. Plus he shops for Mother's Day. We sure have been enjoying all the things a blend tec can do. 

Intentional- Writing about New Year's goals in April.

For the first time in I think ever I made real actual goals/resolutions this year.  Four months in and they are still going strong.
At the end of the year Jordan and I sat down to talk about what did and didn't work for us for the past 12 months.  It was really good to look back at a whole year and see how are family had changed, for better or for worse.  
 We also decided that we wanted to pick a word or phrase for our family to focus on for the year, and pick a new one each year.  For our first word we picked, INTENTIONAL.  We want to be a family that does things with real intent.  This in includes how we read our scriptures, attend the temple, save and spend our money, spend our free time, teach our children, continue to educate ourselves, and so much more.  We want to be a family that is Intentionally trying to become more Christlike.

Some of the things that worked well for us.
1.The Dave Ramsey Plan
2. Learning to work together, often separate, but with the same goal in mind.
3. Listening to a Conference talk in the morning.
4. Getting up before the kids in the morning.

What didn't work.
1. Not having a weekend.
2. Not having our own Garden.
3. Living over an hour from the temple.


Our Goals for this year
1. Read 10 books as a couple, and 5 individually.
2. Read the Book Of Mormon Jr. as a family and go mini golfing when we finish
3. Become Debt Free (DONE!!) and be on baby step number 6 in 18 months.
4. Find a family scripture
5. Attend the temple Twice a month
6. Visit PolyFace Farms
7. Run 1/2 marathon together.

Memories we hope to make this year

1. Beach Trips
2.First camping trip as a family
3.Teaching Madilyn to fish, she has been asking for months.
4. Fun times at the YMCA
5.Gardening
6. Visit Arizona (DONE! Too quick but lots of fun)
7. Trips to the Zoo and Children's museum (we were gifted season passes for Christmas, such a great idea!!!)
9. Weekend trips to different southern states and small sustainable farms ( in our awesome craigslist tent, because hotels are overrated when your kids just ruin things and cry all night)


It had been really fun to have something we are working on together as a family.  Our weekend and even weeknight have been much more fulfilling.  Jordan also loves getting out of dishes and picking up because he is reading out loud to us in the evening.

The First Shall Be Last... AKA Madilyn.

I think I could write a very long, no one needs to know that much of a novel about Madilyn.  Most likely because she has been around the longest, apparently 14 months of no Bo makes a big difference.

Anyway, I think the best way to describe our relationship would be Frienimies.  The girl loves to "be just wike you mama", but also has more sass than I can handle.  She is only 3 and tries to talk her way out of everything. But then again sometimes she puts all the shoes in the basket without asking and I am just floored.  Jordan also reminds me that according to stories from my family she is a carbon copy of me.  I happen to know I was a real delight. 

Madilyn is a really good big sister.  To Tucker. To Bo she is a pretty alright sister.  She loves to hold Tucker, can calm him down long enough till I can come help, pick out clothes, all sorts of great things.  She tell us all the time how cute he his and how much he loves her.

She really loves to help, not always helpful, but wants to try.  I try to remember that by learning now she will be helpful one day.   Mainly she likes to help meal prep and somehow disappears when it is time to clean up. But sweeping, she shows up for that game.

She is my little narrator, she gives a step by step dialog, 67% of the time in song, of her every move.  She also wants verbal conformation along the way.  And not just a yep or right, but a " yep, you sure are putting away your shoes", if you don't she will just repeat and repeat until you do.

She remembers everything, like tonight she asked Jordan if he remembered the butterfly they saw while driving the water truck over the summer. The other morning I was awoken to her biting a carrot right in my face claiming, " Mom, da sun is up! Now I get to eat my carrot." She had asked for a carrot at bed the night before and I said something about having one in the morning.

She loves vegetables. Lots. Like will you please eat some heavy carbs for lunch instead of 4 pieces of celery and a carrot.

She likes to have her turn saying the prayer at dinner. Sometimes she needs word for word help, and other nights she says things like , "pwease bwess mama to learn to take me to school". 

She's one good first born and we love her. 

Real Life.

*** I wrote and published this post before Bo was born. I am not sure how it got republished and moved to the front. So here it stays because I don't know how to move it back. So fret not I won't be re posting all my mediocre deep thoughts. 

So tonight as Jordan and I were driving Madilyn to sleep(yes, every couple of night we still have to drive her to sleep) we were talking about my concerns and worries about having a new baby and her to take care of and how to prepare. The truth is I cried every single day for two weeks when Madilyn was born. As soon as the semester started up again things seemed to get LOTS better, I still had weak moments but 8 out of 10 times things were ok. Then we graduated, moved across the country, left my friends and family, and I started staying home full time. And it was tough. i cried even more. We also were living with Jordan's dad in a small apartment waiting to find/close on a house, sharing a room with her, sleeping on an air mattress and Jordan was working 70+ hours most weeks. Because I lived in fear of Madilyn waking up Jordan's dad, or even Jordan, I began hoping out of bed the second she made any noise at all. This created a monster. She went from being the best little sleeper to not sleeping longer than 45 minutes without wanting to nurse again and be rocked. I also did not have a car, so we never really got out of the house during the day. Jordan is really the only one who knew how hard it was on me, I never told any of my friends or family how much I was struggling. Why? Because I was ashamed. How many of us look at our friend's blogs, facebooks, or instagram and think "wow, how does she find time to do that" or "look at her kids and house, it's clean and they are dressed." "How does she come up with so many fun things for a baby to do"?
Well I am here to be more real from now on. I am not here to whine and complain but here just to be honest, I don't want anyone thinking I am all together all the time, because for me it does me no good to see other moms ( and by see I mean read their blogs and look at their Instagram pictures) never having a hard moment. I hope I am always improving and becoming more of the mother and wife Heavenly Father wants me to be, but I also no longer want to live being ashamed when I am not the mother Pinterest says I should be. Madilyn is very loved and is growing an learning everyday. And she and her soon to be brother always will, even if I don't get out of bed until she wakes up, if most days getting dressed means putting on black workout pants and a track shirt from high school, we don't do super cute crafts and art project that help with 7 different motor skills and sensory development, and yes there are days when she throws a fit and I can't seem to do anything right so we watch Mickey Mouse club house. Oh and one load of laundry usually takes 4 days from start to finish by the time it actually gets put away. The fact is that for me, being a stay at home mom is often mundane and lonely. I love being a mom, and madilyn brings me more joy then I ever thought possible, but there are a lot of diapers to change and toys to be picked up in between those moments of intense joy. I want to learn to be satisfied with that though. I want to become humble enough that at the end of the day I can sleep soundly knowing that even if pants never made it on her bum that day that we still lived the Gospel in our home that day. Prayers were said, scriptures were read, and I tried my best to teach her little mind right from wrong. Yes, it's great to have the extra on some days, but from now on I am going to try to let my satisfaction fall on knowing I am teaching my children to walk in truth. Being a mom is hard. Lets lift each other, not try to show each other up.

Sweet perfect totally not my favorite Tucker

Tucker is 6 months old this week. And I could die. Dramatic much? No.
With Madilyn she was the first so naturally as first time parents we were 1 part overwhelmed and two parts overly excited for each little milestone.  When Bo was born was born Madilyn was only 14 months old, we were so in love with this cute little boy version of madilyn.  So while we loved him more than words and were so grateful to have him in our family... it was kind of like repeating a year. (Sorry Bud, we do love you and think you are super special and all that jazz. But when you were a swaddled baby... carbon copy of your sister.) Again so in love and so tired.

Since Bo was 20 months old, (and kept up with madilyn 100% percent and I sometimes forgot he was not two already), when Tucker was born we basically hadn't had a baby forever. haha. joke.
But really there is something about having two toddlers that makes you realize how fast they grow up.  So really I just want to hold him and make silly faces at his smiley one all day.

He is the perfect third baby.  Beyond the whole eats well and sleeps well good stuff, he is sturdy.  A highly desirable quality when Thing 1 and Thing 2 want to hold you 90 times a day.  He is so happy and content just hanging out in his bumbo wherever the action is at.
He loves when Jordan comes home and does the happy baby dance/jerking seizure move.  If dad is in sight he can not stop smiling and giggling to even eat.

Now, pardon me as I go all proud mom on you and list all of his favorites.
Sitting up on this own.  Actually shockingly good at this one.
Madilyn's hair.  If it is in reach of his wobbly gross motor skills he WILL grab it. And pull & smile.
Dad.
Trying to pick up anything in reaching.  When successful putting said item in his mouth.
Mom.  He said mama the other night and Jordan completely melted.

I think it is easy to say he is everyone's favorite in the family.  Bo and Madilyn can not get enough of him. Bo is the first one to greet him when he wakes up, loves to bring him toys, tries to pick him up when I am not looking, and loves to hear about being a big brother.  Madilyn smothers him, can hold him for almost 7 minutes *so helpful*, is pretty good at keeping him happy in the carseat, and reminds/asks me no less than 3 times a day, " mom, Tucker weally lobs me huh? Mom, you know he so really really cute and sweet?"

After three kids so close together I can say with absolute surety that milestone with baby number 3 are just as exciting and fun as baby 1 and 2.  You just want them to slow down a little and soak it all in a little more.  Because babies don't keep.

Guess who

Let's play a game. 

Name that baby. 

If you're in need of a bald, blue eyed, big cheeks baby just let me know. 

Bo at two

 Since I fell off the blog bandwagon for a year I thought it would be appropriate to do a little up date on the family. Sorry everyone else, you are very welcome aunts and uncle.

Let's start with the middle child shall we. 

Bo, bobo, and according to madilyn he is now Jordan. I took the time to explain to her that his name is actually Jordan Boyd and I guess she got the lesson.

So much for the middle child getting a story in first. 

Do you know the little saying that goes, the definition of a boy is noise with dirt on it? 

Well that is Bo, he is all boy. Nosiey, dirty, rough, and sweet.  Such a goof ball.

He gets so excited about the littlest things, it makes even the smallest task more exciting. "Bo do you want eggs for breakfast?" "Bo do you want to open the door for me?" " Do you want to eat dinner?" "Do you want to get out of your car seat?" All are met with a double fist pump and "YESHHHHH". 

He is a Houdini. He can get out of his car seat in less time than the time it takes me to shut his door and open mine. He can open all the doors and locks in the house. I've found him in the neighbors yard more than once. 

He is a climber. The piano, the cabinets, nothing is too high, or too challenging. This is also the boy that could get onto the kitchen counter before he could walk. So really this should not be a surprise to me. 

He loves to play with his sister. But he also ruins madilyn's life at least 8 times a day. On purpose. To the point where he is not even upset or surprised about time out. I am so excited for Tucker to be big enough to rough house with him.

Bo's current favorite pretend play is with the toy kitchen. He loves to help in the real kitchen too. Followed by doctor. He wears his fireman get up no matter what he is playing. 

Speaking of fireman costume, the first two night following his birthday he cried all night long in his sleep because he wanted to be wearing his hat. I did let him sleep in his jacket. He kept patting his head and asking for the hat. 

Although he is a boy's boy and all sorts of rough and tough Bo is the biggest mama's boy around. He would rather hold my hand than run ahead, climbs into my side of the bed every night at midnight, picks me flowers (weeds) from the yard, basically just wants to be close all the time. To be completely honest ist can be a little smothering at times. But most of the time I love to watch his little legs run towards me and give me a big raspberry on my face.

Speaking of raspberries, he thinks he is so funny and loves to laugh at himself if he can sneak one on anyone in the family. 

And what is a post about Bo without a mention of his shockingly high caloric intake.  5 eggs for breakfast. 4 oranges in one sitting. A jar of pickles in a day. I buy 12 gallons of milk a month. I make 6 loaves of bread a week. 2 pancakes and 2 eggs with sausage is his ideal breakfast.

To end this novel on a sappy note let me just say that writing this makes my heart all sorts of full. I am so grateful to be this wild boy's mom. He makes my days harder and happier all at the same time.