The Simple Things

Labor Day Weekend turned out to be busier than I had planned, with Todd having friends visit from out of town. They had a great time and I laid pretty low at home. But on Monday, the family all got together at Dan's house for a bbq and sprinkler run through.

It goes without saying that all the cousins had a rip-roarin' time.
I present the following evidence:



Running, jumping, splashing, drinking, slipping, laughing, laughing, giggling, laughing, chasing, laughing.


But it couldn't be all crazy running time. There had to be a point where they stopped.

For popsicles, of course.


Luke got the "Incredible Hulk" popsicle, which created immense joy. (He has no idea who the Hulk is. It didn't matter.)

"Gracie?? Whatchu DOING?!?!"
"Making faces."


"Me too! Me too!!"

Yeah, it happens.

Its a pretty normal thing around the Bickel household. Head bonks. Man, they happen all the time. We run into things, we fall on things, we slip, we trip - we do it all.

It had been a while. I clearly became a little too comfortable.

Didn't even see it coming.

I offered him a chip, he ran to follow me into the kitchen, then suddenly: WHACK! and tears. Somehow he ended up face first on the kitchen tile. *sigh*

But he recovers so quickly, its almost silly. Luke took maybe two or three minutes and then he was done.

I'm okay Momma! Its okay.

Though maybe a little Sally quiet time isn't a bad idea.

Poor Miss Helen - I brought him to daycare on Tuesday with a huge bonk on his head and his arms and legs all scratched up from running (and subsequently falling down), he looked quiet a mess. But its become the norm for Luke.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

For Auntie Ellen's birthday, we celebrated down in Monterey by visiting the aquarium and having lunch at Bubba Gump. Luke had never been to the aquarium, so he was completely enthralled by everything there, but most importantly: if his cousins were excited, he was excited too.

Cousin pictures are tough - they're always headed in opposite directions and looking different ways. This was understood from the time Luke was 6 months old. Its really just wishful thinking at this point.

They always kept Luke right between the two of them - keeping an eye on him and holding his hand.

We arrived early enough for the kids to play in the water area without competition from 50 other kids. (I have never been with a kid, so I've always avoiding this area like the plague. I had no idea.) But Luke loves to splash and enjoyed one type of fish (yellow) and could have cared less about everything else. He is quite particular.

Everything was exciting.

Initially, Luke was not sure about the water (tide) rushing over his head. It took a few times . . .

Oh thanks Grandma. I get it now.

Its freakin' awesome!


Come on fish, come on! This way! Let's go! Aw, man.

It all ended up okay, in the end.


I like my hubby. I will keep him.


Even on her birthday, Auntie Ellen still makes sure Luke is a happy little boy. We really shouldn't have started this climbing stuff. I mean, its one thing when its mommy or daddy, but when he starts climbing on everyone else . . . and we know he's prone to head injuries. Its just not a great combination.


Yup. She's so nice. She let him climb and flip over and over . . .


Yet no trips to the ER. Sweet deal.

Was able to catch Collin in the Forrest Gump shoes, but Luke was too impatient to wait for me and the camera. Aw man.

It was such a fun day - we were able to celebrate as a family before school started (bleh) the next day. Which is what has been preventing me from keeping everything updated. This is quite the class this year. Yikes.

Happy Birthday dear GRAMMMMMMAAAAA.

Luke loves loves loves singing "Happy Birthday" and it was made even better when he gets to sing it for grandma. We love that Grandma was able to come up from SD for her birthday and we were able to celebrate with her. Normally, we spend the week before school starting down in SD, but with me finishing up a class and attempting to get ready for the new school year, it just wouldn't work.

Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Uncle Joe and Aunt Nancy all came down to our place to celebrate with a BBQ and . . . (wait for it) . . . homemade peanut butter cupcakes. I have never had such a miracle, but clearly, it was made with kisses from angels. They were amazing. (Thank you Great-Grandma!)

Luke is losing patience with my picture taking, especially when there is a tower of cupcakes so close and almost available.

Grandma's always need help blowing out candles. The spit is the bonus, no extra charge.

Grandma was given funny birthday glasses for her birthday . . . and I had a matching set from my birthday! So Grandma and Luke-pie were cute in their glasses. Luke was not feeling so patient about taking a picture and not eating the cupcake in his hand. It is the face of trying to be good in front of company.

Happy Birthday, Grandma! We had a wonderful time and we're countin' down to Thanksgiving! Or sooner - let us know! :)

It all begins and ends with family

The family on the deck after the celebratory anniversary dinner.

Our weekend at Clearlake was a really wonderful opportunity to reflect on the importance of family. It all begins and ends with family, after all. I'll admit, it made me nostalgic about being with my extended family (they're all over the USA!) it is certainly a blessing that Todd's family has accepted me with such open arms. I couldn't have handpicked a better family to become a part of.

We were shooting for a new family photo . . . Luke was not cooperating. He really just wanted to run up and down the pier. And so he did.



And please note, I have the best mother-in-law ever. I think I make this face in at least 85% of all my pictures and I'm glad someone else will happily do it to in any attempt to make my kid smile for the camera.

Its a great pic! Luke is looking at the camera and smiling - its a miracle!

Happy Anniversary!

We were thrilled that (most of) the family was able to get together to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's 60th anniversary. We planned on going to dinner to celebrate, but first we had to have a champagne toast and drink to the happy couple. As always, the sisters know how to throw a shin-dig, so the room was decked out!


Some important parts that were not to be missed:


The bride and groom are the same from their wedding cake 60 years ago. The bride and groom come out and Grandma and Grandpa take a cake picture for the major anniversaries. They have a wall of cake pictures in their home - its fun to see their wedding picture, compared to their 25th anniversary picture compared to their 50th anniversary picture, etc. So of course, we had to have another one!

The champagne flutes in the background are from their 50th anniversary hoopla and were brought out, as well as the cake cutting knife and server.


Linda, Grandma, Grandpa and Nancy - aren't they cute!

I have no idea what Luke did that was so funny, but they all thought it was pretty funny.


Cheers!



"Cheers me too, Daddy! Cheers me too!"

Nancy was so sweet to put together a DVD of photos from the past 60 years and gave one to each family. Luke, of course, loved seeing himself on tv, so we watched it a few times.

Old family 8 mm filmstrips were put onto DVD as well, which we watched. How fun it was to see everyone running around and having fun in the 1960s! Todd and I got a big ol' kick at seeing film from Disneyland in the early days!

Swimming is for chumps.

Luke does not enjoy the lack of freedom that swimming brings, so he was off with Great-Grandpa to play on the playground and kick/throw the soccer ball. I loved just watching the two of them together - they are truly two peas in a pod!

Luke's belly laughs get me every time. You can't help but laugh along with him.


No standing still for pictures Mommy!

(most photos of Luke involve him running out of the shot.)

Great-Grandpa is so much fun!