Preston Fair

I am a little behind... We went to the Preston Fair almost 2 weeks ago now, but the pictures of the kids turned out so cute that I could not help but add them. My sister, Kim, lives in Preston and invited us to stay with her for the weekend. Kyle could not come, so my sister Jenny and I rode up together. We also met my other sister Jaci and Mitch her husband. We spent all Friday at the fair. They were selling just about everything but we mostly went for the food. We ended the night with a concert given by Diamond Rio. It was fantastic!

Here we are at the concert, it was freezing but so fun. (Kim, Jaci, Jenny and me). We were not as close as this picture of the concert shows, but we sweet talked our way to the floor for a few songs and some pictures.

Dayton and Cole are best buds. I wanted to leave Dayton home with Kyle, but I knew Cole would never forgive me. And I am so glad they got to play together. They love to wrestle and jump on things, but here they are showing off their softer side as they have on their baby sisters head bands.

Tayla and Camrie, also buddies, spent the weekend together. Tayla was so nice to share her toys with Camrie. Just 6 weeks apart, these two are such good babies, but Camrie has to be watched because she likes to poke Tayla in the face.

boys will be boys

Lately I have been trying to be showered and dressed before noon. In order to do this I get Camrie down for her morning nap, put a movie on for Dayton, lock all the doors and set the alarm. Dayton is almost 4 so he knows to just watch t.v. until I come back down. Most the time all goes according to plan, but today Dayton went exploring in the bathroom drawer and look what I found when I got out of the shower.

We had a good laugh, I grabbed the camera, took a picture and then we had a little talk about how we don't put things in our ears. I am pretty sure it was very affective after the picture taking, but I did try.

Need A Nap?

Dayton is almost 4 and I have been wondering if I should still have him take naps in the afternoon. If it was up to me I would have him take naps till he goes to school, but I know that is not how things usually go. Well last night at dinner my question was answered. He had been playing outside with friends so I did not have him take a nap, and this is what happened...

I asked him if he wanted to lay on the couch for a little, but he told me he was not tired.
(This is about 5:45pm).

Girls Night In

There was no way I was coming home to an empty house for 5 days while Kyle and the kids were in NY, so I made some plans of my own. After I dropped them off at the airport, (holding back tears), I headed down to Provo for a few days. My little sister Jenny has just graduated from BYU and is living there & working, so I went and stayed with her. We hung out, went to the movies, went to the pool, ate out, and stayed up way too late. I felt like I was right back in college. I was there till Friday when I came home to get ready for my sleep-over.
After I found out Kyle was leaving me home and I was going to have the house to myself, I sent out an e-mail to my sisters and sister-in-law to clear their schedules for the 25th and 26th. As luck would have it everybody was able to come. We started with a nice dinner while catching up on what everyone had been up to. Everybody brought a snack to share and we ate, and talked and laughed and ate some more till 3 in the morning. Saturday started with some more candy and cookies for breakfast, pancakes for brunch, then we got ready and spent the day shopping. It was so much easier shopping with out the kids. The fun did end as husbands and kids started calling, but we had such a good time we have decided to make this a tradition.


Kristen and I as we are out eating lunch

Jaci, Jenny and Kim at lunch

Here we are playing games and laughing with are are late night snacks and our breakfast!

Here we are at the mall just before everybody had to take off. Everybody found something to buy at one store or another so the shopping was a success.

Home to New York

Kyle was father of the week last week when he took a long weekend and went home to upstate NY to see his family. He took Dayton with him, and at the last minute he decided to take Camrie too. So on a red-eye fight Kyle took both kids on a plane. Not only did Kyle have both kids by himself, this was his first time flying with our kids, so I knew it was going to be an adventure. I tried to prepare him for all the hassle of getting through security and all, and reminding him that he needs to make sure Camrie gets fed and changed and that when Dayton needs to go potty he needs to go at that moment. Kyle just reassured me that he could do this and they would all be fine.
The rest I only know in bits and pieces from stories that they have told me. Kyle said the kids were as good on the plane as he hoped and they made it to NY. Not long after getting to Kyle's home, the kids were passed on to grandma Jody and Kyle was off to play some golf. On Sunday there was a memorial service for his grandfather and more family time. To sum things up, it sounds like Kyle golfed, Dayton played, (during so he won his first teddy bear at the little town fair), and Camrie was showed off all while seeing family and friends. They had so much fun and were so busy they did not bring me back one picture. But they made it home safe and Kyle, with the help of grandma, did a great job.

6th Month Check Up

We had to go to the doctor today and Dayton was all smiles after he found out it was not for him. Poor Camrie had to get 5 more shots and it was so sad but like always she took it like a champ. There were some screams and a few tears but as soon as she got her milk she was all better. She is growing fast and the doctor says she looks great. She now weights 16lbs. 4 oz. and is 26' tall. Both are in the 50% for her age. Dayton did not want to feell left out so he had the nurse weigh him and he now weighs 34 lbs.

5 Years

This past Saturday Kyle & I celebrated our fifth anniversary. So to celebrate we went out boating with a friend. It was a beautiful day and the lake was nice and close. It was Dayton's first time on a boat and we learned he gets his adventurous side from his mother. He cried for the first half hour yelling for us to slow down. He did warm up to things though and even started to enjoy himself, but this was only after he found a pole and my arm to hold on to. He did like it when Kyle rode the water skis and tube, and he laughed when he fell off. I stayed in the boat the whole time taking pictures and worked on my tan, just what I wanted. And Camrie was all smiles and a few giggles when the boat rocked in between taking her naps. Kyle looked like a pro out on the water and was very entertaining for the rest of us.


We stopped to have lunch on a little beach area. This was by far the kids favorite part.

Camrie does not care where we are or what we are doing, when she is tired she just takes a little nap. We are on the beach here and she is sleeping again.

This is the only time we could get Dayton to go in the water. He would not jump in or swim or anything until... we made him.

We are such good parents that we bribed and pretty much forced Dayton to get on this tube and ride with Kyle. After he got on he was okay and even liked it till the tube went under a little and he got a face full of water.

Happy 4th!

The 4th was a nice relaxing day sleeping in and having donuts for breakfast. We just hung around till about 6 when we went to a friends up the street for a BBQ. We ate and played games. There was croquet & knock-out for the adults, and jumping on the trampoline, basketball, & wagon rides for the kids. We played till it got dark & then went and saw fireworks. After the big show we went back for some sparklers and pop rocks. It was a late night but we all had fun!

Kyle and the kids watching fireworks.
Camrie watched the whole show with no tears.



Dayton could not believe he was allowed to play with the sparklers. He kept pretending it was his sword. As soon as it would burn out he would run back for another one. I am just glad we got through the night with no burns.

American girl, Camrie was the best dressed of us all in her stars and stripes!

Potty Training

This past week we did not really leave the house. For one we were not getting great sleep because of Camrie, who was not sleeping throught the night, and two we were dedicated to potty training. I am happy to say that both have been accomplished. Also occurring this week, Camrie rolled over for the first time. As usual it was just the one time, but now she rolls all the time.

Dayton though, had to be heavily motivated with snacks and treats & has done great with very few accidents. He does go about every 10 minutes, but I can't complain because we are done with diapers!

There were some rough nights as Camrie got kicked out of our room. After about 5 nights of crying she sleeps from around 10pm till 8am. The worst part of this experience was while she was crying herself to sleep she lost her voice. I felt like a terrible mother, but we are all sleeping better now, and her voice is back, so I am over it!

Here is our little girl showing off for the camera.

Getting So Big

Just some pictures of the kids at the house. Camrie seems to get bigger everyday and Dayton is a great big brother.


I had Camrie on the couch and Dayton hopped up there by her, they were so good they did not move till after I had taken the pictures. They make our lives so fun!

Just a normal day, but I wanted to show off Camrie's cute personality. She is such a good baby and so fun to have around.

Power Ranger

Just the other day Dayton and I were looking at pictures on the computer and my brother's family has a blog so we were looking at their pictures. There was one of my nephew on a rock and Dayton said "Camden's a power ranger...awesome". So after that Dayton was after me to take pictures of him being a power ranger just like Camden. So this is what we got... But to tell you the truth these are just 2 of about 15 that he had me take. I was very entertained!

Cooling off

My sister Kim came for dinner last week with her kids and to let the boys, (Dayton and Cole) play. My parents were also here just for the night before they went back to VA. We had a great time together, but I think Dayton and Cole had the most fun!

Dayton and Cole in the backyard in our little blow-up pool

Camrie tried to cool of too but it was too dangerous that she didn't dare put in more then her feet.

My parents, Papa and Nana, with Camrie.

Here is Nana again with the girls, Camrie and Tayla my niece

It was a pretty hot day so Kyle jumped in too!

Here are the swimmers in action...

Weekend in Boise

Another exciting weekend with a trip up north to Boise, Idaho for a Mitch and Jaci's reception. We had a great time, and it seemed like all we did was eat and play and then eat some more. When we were not "at the party" as Dayton says we were at our hotel relaxing and swimming. Dayton had a great time swimming with Kyle and his cousins. It was a quick trip, but we have lots of fun memories from it.

This is Mitch's uncles tractor they brought in for the gifts. It was a very cute idea and the kids enjoyed it too.


More then once we had to get the kids down after they had climbed up and all over the tractor.

Dayton and cousin Kyon kicken back in the hot tub. Dayton spent more time in here then in the regular pool. He was a little sad that he could not reach everywhere, but that did not stop him from jumping back and forth between the pool to the hot tub.

Another favorite part of the pool was this little fountain that the kids kept sitting on or running through. Here is Gracy and Dayton, I am not sure what they are doing, but this picture is a keeper!

Here is Camrie at the pool so exhausted from the "party" that even through the yelling, screaming and splashing she managed to fall asleep.

Visit to Virginia

We just got back from a trip to Virginia for my little sister Jaci's wedding. While we were there we threw in a few other activities. We hung out with all the Decker's and some of Kyle's family too. We went to Franklin Farm, a couple parks, hit Chuck E Cheese, played a little miniature golf, went downtown to DC, went swimming in our old neighborhood, and to top it all off had ice cream our last night there in celebration of several family birthday's. And in the middle of this we had a beautiful wedding. We were sad to leave, it was great to be in Virginia again, and Dayton was in heaven with all his cousins, (always someone to play with). But we are glad to be home and have been catching up on some much needed sleep!


These are some of Dayton's friends (cousins) that he played with every chance he got. Kaden (2) and Marae (4). This is them walking to the park.

Dayton swinging at the park, only giving me a smile so I would push him.

Here is Jared, Grandma Jody and Papa Mike hanging out with the Decker's at the park. They drove down from NY for the weekend and we had so much fun!

Kyle and I took Cache and Amy on in trying to knock the other couple off while trying to stay on. I was the first one off almost every time. (And have the bruises to show it)!

Grandpa Bill came to visit, also from NY, and met Camrie for the first time. We had a great time together and Kyle & Dayton had a sleep-over with him at his hotel.

Chuck E Cheese is not just for little kids, but big kids too.

To be honest with you I think Dayton won this game!

Dayton and cousin Gracy don't let being little stop them from playing games, they just make their own rules! They hung out pretty much the whole night playing games. They had no idea how to play, but they seemed to have a good time. Here they are playing ski ball, but they could not throw the ball hard enough so they walked it up instead.

This is called "The Awakening". My family would go see him all the time and climb all over him so we thought it would be fun to take our families there. And it was fun, but it was soooo hot.

I can not express how hot the metal was, but Dayton was really good about letting us take some pictures.

Here are all the grandkids on the face of the man, and they were not thrilled to be in this picture. Especially when there were at least 7 of us taking pictures. There were even people we did not know taking pictures. But they sat there till we were done and then they all jumped off.

Here we are at the National History Museum in downtown DC. There were tons of animals there, but Dayton liked the dinosaurs best. We wanted to put Dayton inside his mouth and get a picture but Kyle was not quite tall enough.


Here we are a the Nationals game in there new stadium. It was awesome and a good game to be at. Sadly we left after the 9th to beat traffic and missed the cardinals tying runs and the game going into extra innings but then the Nat's won it with a walk-off home run in the 10th. That would have been fun to see but we still has a good time and it is a great new stadium.

Here is their number 1 fan! Camrie was ready for her first game.

There is only one word to describe these three and that is trouble. Thank goodness we had our own section because all these three did was jump up and down these stairs.

The Eagle came over to say hi and all the kids ran to him for hugs. (My guess is it was there favorite part).

Just after the wedding we took some pictures. Here is the bride and groom (Jaci and Mitch) and all the nieces and nephews dressed in there best for the wedding.

Here is the Decker group. We are now up to 37 and we were all there.

All 5 married couples in the Decker family had baby girls a few months ago all with in 4 months and here they are in matching dresses for the wedding. (This trip was the first time all 5 babies were together, it was a lot of fun).

Kim & Tayla, Kristen & Emery, Jamie & Bekah, Me & Camrie, and Amy & McKell)

Again here is trouble, but at this moment these two were dancing. But don't be fooled for just moments before they were taking turns marching on the back of the brides dress while she was dancing with her dad and thought it was so funny.

The 5 babies again with Papa and Nana Decker.

Camrie went to the pool for the first time

She spent more time out of the water then in, but she looks cute in her new bathing suit!

Here is Uncle Brady taking care of all the kids. We felt okay with this because he does not have any kids and a little practice never hurt.

Dayton showing off his moves, ( but don't be decieved he is just in the baby pool)!

And for our last night in VA we all got together for a little ice cream that was much enjoyed.