Hello, cello!

Olivia and her strings class had their first parent concert today.  She is about 6 weeks in to playing the cello and loves it!  It has been exciting to watch how much she has learned already.  She is playing a 3/4 size now and will move up to a full size when she grows more and gets more experience.

Here are a few videos and pictures of the concert...  We have gotten a good laugh out of the grandma in front of us trying to get video of her violin player.  That's the good thing about playing cello - you get to sit in the front!  :)  At the end of the concert, the teacher asked the students to bring a parent up front to give them their first lesson.  Joel was more than happy to take part!

And yet another...

Hello everyone, it's me again!!!( Olivia ) My mom finally agreed to let post another one of my favored entries.
Well, The Bicknell house is joined with yet another trouble maker... Collier!!! While I'm still wondering when he ever got his first tooth, he is up to bigger and better things. Walking, throwing, running, laughing, and crawling faster than ever. Yesterday he somehow managed to get himself stuck in the piano bench! Yes, there were quite a few tears during that. If this is year one, then I'm afraid to reach the terrible two's stage. And, having a messy house doesn't really help. I don't think we've ever really put the winter clothes away, but I'll stand back on that one. It was my idea to get out the summer ones and clothes seem to be in a heap in every bedroom!

Wish me luck with my crazier-than-ever family,

Olivia Bicknell

Ummm, yeah! I really don't think Collier liked the turtle...

He Walks!

This video is a couple of weeks old, but I couldn't resist sharing it - our little boy has become a walking machine! He has been able to take a few steps here and there for quite awhile now, but in the last 2 weeks or so, he has become very confident. And sooo proud of himself! :)

This video was taken a few minutes after snack time. Collier walks over to his high chair and finds a couple of goldfish crackers in the seat. And yep, he eats them. :)

Olivia is 11 and our trip to the big D!

Last week our sweet girl, Olivia, turned 11. WOW! She is getting so grown up. We also made a trip to Dallas to watch her sing in the SWACDA honor choir event with other 5th-7th graders. What an amazing concert that was! She made it through about 20 hours of rehearsal from Wednesday to Saturday, plus the concert. I think it's fair to say she was worn out by the end, but she had a great time. On our way home from Dallas (with the grandmas in tow, too) we stopped in Paris for some sight-seeing and then a birthday dinner for Olivia. Oh! And on Sunday we had a yummy Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, too! Here are a few of the moments we captured... (Probably out of order - and since I'm having trouble with iPhoto they are sideways, too! Oops!)

CJB's First Birthday!

It is so hard to believe our baby boy is already 1! And here it is a month out and I'm just now uploading some photos. Bad mommy!! :(

Collier's 1 year stats:
-Length: 31 inches (90th percentile)
-Weight: 23 pounds, 11.5 oz (55th percentile)
-Head Circumference: Extra large (95th percentile)

Shortly after his b-day he sprouted his first tooth - one of the top middle ones, and now has the other top tooth. There may be more in there by now, but he's certainly not going to let me check!

Favorites:
-Climbing stairs (and he is FAST, too!)
-Sisters, especially Olivia - they have a really awesome bond
-Table Foods, especially baked fish, noodles, cheese, and graham crackers
-Cleaning out/Sitting in every cabinet in this house. We have moved almost everything out of the base cabinets. It's normal to have toiletries and cleaning supplies in your clothes closet, right? :)
-Outside - I think this guy would live out there if we would let him! He got a new swing for his birthday that hangs in our big tree outside and he loves it!

Not-so-Favorites:
-Bottles - somehow it seems he's drinking less and less from the bottle. He still nurses well, thankfully.
-Shoes - let's just say a major tantrum ensues...

What a joy you have been the last year and continue to be, Collier John! xoxo

Seven!

Our sweet girl Delaney turned 7 last Saturday. I don't know where the years have gone, seems like our little peanut was just starting school. And now she is in 1st grade and getting so grown-up! We love our silly, loud, chatterbox, determined, creative girl. And what a wonderful big sister she is to her little brother!

Will blog more pics of the birthday parties later, but here are some cute shots I've captured of her lately. She doesn't stand still too long!

And here are some of Delaney's favorite things:

-Reading: This girl is a reader! She will literally read for hours without making a peep. That's my girl! :)

-Food and Cooking: Proudly, she tells me every day she is the "mini Betty Crocker" and then she procedes to give me tips on what I'm doing in the kitchen. Sometimes the tips are actually pretty useful! I guess watching those Howdini clips has really paid off!

-School: Oh how I wish I could go back to first grade with her. She is doing so many fun and exciting things at school. From skits to programs to art and writing, she is just learning so much.

-Baby Brother: I'm sure Delaney and Collier are kindred spirits because they share a January birthday! She adores him and he adores her! I hope they like each other for a long, long time! :)

Love you so much, sweet girl!

Guest Blogger- Olivia

Since my mom isn't blogging, and she won't let me have my own, I decided to update her blog a little bit!

Christmas brought lots and lots of toys including doll-sized beds for our American Girl doll's, new clothes, and my favorite, a new purse for me!!!

Delaney just turned 7, and Collier is a little over a week from turning one! We all look forward to seeing our family on Saturday! Me and my mom still have shopping to do, and it is less than a week away! AHHHHHH!!!

Meanwhile, at the Bicknell Household, it's a mess! Thanks to our new trouble maker, almost one year old Collier. He gets his hands on anything that looks shiny, big, or interesting!!! He manages to knock over the baby gate, climb up the stairs, and bang pots and pans on the floor constantly!

I'm sure my mom will put some birthday photos on. GTG- I'm off to go make no-bake cookies!!! YUM!