Snow Day

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Our love and best wishes, The Bickels

Cado Toupee-do

So David and I couldn't resist getting Caden the latest in Donald Trump head wear this winter for Christmas, doesn't it look completely natural?

For real though, that's my kid's hair!! Outrageous. I cracked up at this image because he's had some hair issues in his short life: first the curly rat tail, next the mohawk, now this. Thank goodness for winter hats and his adorable face to make me forget all about wanting to chop all his little locks off.

Tropical Christmas

Ok, so I can't exactly spell what he's saying but you'll also know it as the Hawaiian Christmas Song. He was watching himself sing while being videotaped and he only looks like a smurf because of all the blueberries we feed him, and the glow of the big TV screen. (Notice the "sway" when he sings it~choreography, baby)

Turkey Time Bowling

This is a scene from our Thanksgiving fun. We went bowling, candlepin bowling. It certianly doesn't seem like "real" bowling, but it's WAY easier for the kiddo. He eventually got around to chucking it down the lane like a baseball as opposed to using the granny-roll method I taught him.

Thanksgiving Guests

We had 3 guests for Thanksgiving. So it was somewhat of a houseful. Although I should mention that one guest took up no more room than a cage but had no trouble eating constantly...like the rest of us.
Grandma and Grandpa Bickel came to visit and left the snow behind in PA. Dottie, the guinea pig, came to us from a friend who needed a pet sitter. Caden absolutely adored having everyone around-human or not.

Classic Song for Toddlers

Give this kid a microphone and he will sing your ear off. This will be great footage to use when he tries out for American Idol, or when he starts a boy band.
Just wait, we've got some Feliz Navidad up our sleeve for the upcoming holiday.

New Look

I just wanted to say...welcome to the *new* site look. The other look seemed to bubble gummy and I quite frankly was over it. I'm going to try to step it up a notch, considering I've been doing the site for about a year and nothing much changed. Plus, I've had the chance while I'm at work to check out more blogs and see what others are doing. I will say that while I think I've got the best subjects to take pictures of (my guys), I don't always capture them like I want to. We'll see what happens from here.

I'll see what we can get into this holiday season and keep you updated.

PA Trip

Got to visit PA and MD last week with Caden and see all the family there. We wanted to be sure to visit my Nana, as Hospice is helping take care of her in her home and she can't get out anymore.
Here are a few highlights: Hanging out with family, going to the Oxford Halloween Parade (where Caden collected candy till his pockets ran out of room), and having a day with his older cousin Pierce at the playground and various other places.

Topsfield Fair Fun

On Monday, since David had off work, we went to the Topsfield Fair. It is America's Oldest Agricultural Fair right in our backyard. They had a petting Zoo, kiddie rides (Caden's still too small), games, food, live entertainment and lots of general farm animals to look at. Caden had a blast taking it all in and enjoying some treats along the way.

If you're Mappy and you know it...

In an effort to make our Cado the smartest ever...or at least smarter than David and me, we've been teaching him some states and letting him know where some of the family lives. A little shout out to far away Bickels!!

Piece of Disney

I didn't exactly forget to mention Grandpa, but this take only recognizes Gram. So thanks to you both and lots of love.

FIA Movie

I "filmed" and edited this little movie for church. It's posted here for people to view but not necessarily having anything to do with our family.

Been awhile

A lot has changed since I posted last time. So there is a good reason or 2 for my slow blogging. We have moved to a little town called Andover, Mass. It's only 15 minutes away from where we used to be but a world of difference. We can walk to so many more things now (which is crucial with only 1 car and a toddler). The library, playgrounds, town common, coffee and 'downtown' are all only a 10 minute walk away. So we are enjoying ourselves. The apt. is a tad smaller but with better outside benefits.

I started back at a part-time job a few weeks ago. I am the front desk girl for a fitness facility a mile from our place. My hours are 6-10 AM, M-F. Couldn't ask for anything better. The 'workload' is non-existent..I get to blog and check email and surf the Internet for crying out loud. And it works with David's schedule-still no day-care for Caden.

Life is good, and we are all adjusting well to the *new* things. It keeps us on our toes.

Just for Laughs

Last Birthday update, I promise

Caden, the sweet boy (come on, you have to admit THAT is a sweet face) and the inevitable monkey picture. We've used this little monkey in pictures since he was born to show how big he is getting. We did month by month for the first year and now we'll do it every birthday.

Caden is 2

Some pics of the party at home

The train set was the highlight of his week and still going strong.

Birthday Fun

Here are some more of the activities we did for Caden's Birthday...
We had some bad luck going to see a couple of David's gigs, one at Hampton Beach (that got rained out) and one at a Hot Air Balloon Festival (too windy for balloons that day)



We also visited the zoo as a family

Caden's Birthday Week

Thanks Pop-Pop and Mom-Mom!!!

What a great day for this to arrive, so hot and sunny it was the perfect pre-nap cool down.

Thanks

Cali 2

Chillin with Aunt Caryn
Up on Mount Wilson
Grandma on the mountain
Say "Cheese" Bickels!!
Walking and throwing rocks with Uncle Scott

Cali

Ok, this will mostly be pictures and captions so I don't give oodles of details and you get the highlights of our trip. Some things I don't have pictures of are Aaron's graduation (which is why we went), the graduation party, Groundlings!!, In and Out Burger, and LA traffic.The Chinese Theater (?) and red carpet event.
We missed seeing all the celebrities.

Boats off of Venice Beach.
The Bickel Boy(Rock)Band. The drummer is taken, ladies.






Aunt Caryn and Caden enjoying the Ferris Wheel at Long Beach. And David and me on the same Ferris Wheel ride.

Uncle Brad and Caden bonding over some Guitar Hero.


Caden rocking out.

Cutie Patootie

He seems to be looking like a big boy a little more each day. And a close up of this shot will show you some more of those pearly whites coming in!! Otherwise we wouldn't know, he's so good to us. Have a happy, cheesy day.

Mommy Song

Caden and David made me a little song for Mother's Day and I just had to share. You'll laugh, you'll cry...Enjoy!

Scar Face

Here's the worst kind of update to have to write about. Caden's first scratched up face. Last Thursday he took a tumble down a few of the deck stairs and landed on his face, of course. There was some blood and crying and lots of squirming when we were trying to clean him up. Not that I blame him. And 15 minutes after it happened he was so exhausted he went right to sleep (it was naptime). Here's the evidence, but he is healing up nicely.

For Gram (and Pop Pop)

Little Hillbilly

No we didn't punch his tooth out, although this morning he did take a dive off some of the deck steps and scratch up his perfect little face. This is just what happens when your kid can't seem to get enough Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Getting Old

So this is what Caden learned by watching my Nana get around with her walker. He just came up with it out of the blue one day and proves once again he's paying attention even when I don't realize it. More craziness to come next time.

Watch and Sing Along

Peeps

Happy Easter everyone. Well, the holidays keep sneaking up on us and Easter was no exception. Last Friday I got into some spring cleaning and still have more to do. But while I was cleaning the only bunnies I knew were visiting were the dust bunnies. And they don't leave fun treats.

We did manage to get in some festivities with Caden over the weekend. We colored some eggs and ruined a shirt (it was worth it). We hid some eggs around the house and busted out the biggest basket we had for some treats. Caden's treat of choice were the coconut covered marshmallows we picked up in Target. Unfortunately for him, only mommy and daddy get the chocolate.

Enjoy the magic of Easter...Cado style.