Greetings from the Bicknells...

Hi Everyone! I know I haven't blogged in so long, but I read it often and think of all of you! We have settled back in a routine since our vacation to CO. The girls are busy, as ever.

Olivia had her first ever soccer camp last week. It was sooooooo hot, but she LOVED it! I was a little surprised, as soccer is not really my thing. But, we decided to enroll her in the fall soccer league with her classmates. The first practice is on Wednesday and her first game is in 2 weeks. She is very excited. A couple of weeks ago, something "clicked" with her and she began really reading. Up until then she was able to recognize some words but now she is able to read to us from books or signs when we're out and about. She is getting so grown up!!! We have gotten all of her uniform stuff for school. That is a new experience for us. She has a few options for shirts and bottoms, but on Tuesdays they wear "formal dress" and dress up in a B-T plaid jumper, white peter pan collar shirt, navy cardigan, white socks or tights, and black or brown shoes. They have chapel on Tuesdays, so they dress up for that. Her school starts on Sept. 5th. This week, she is attending a little Bible School class that is put on by some of our neighbors. She had a Bible verse to memorize today, it is Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost." She's got in down-pat!!!

Delaney has been displaying quite a little personality lately. She has become quite demanding and is known to sit on the floor and throw a fit if she doesn't get what she wants. Of course, she wants to do everything Olivia does and when she can't, that makes her very, very mad. We just finished decorating her room with coral/peach paint and Dora the Explorer wall stick-ups. It looks cute. Delaney starts at the babysitter on the 14th when I start teacher meetings. We found a lady just a couple of minutes from our house that has in-home childcare. She is great and her mom helps out with the kids, too. I know she will love it there. She jabbers constantly and once in awhile we can understand what she is talking about. She says woof-woof now for dog, book, ball, drink, mine, and Mama which seems to be her favorite.

Joel is busy, busy, busy. But, he loves his job. He has already dealt with some difficult parents but is handling it like a pro! He helped me paint our bedroom yesterday. It's a brownish color with white bedding and curtains. It looks so much better than before!

I start my first teacher meetings on Wednesday and our first students come on the 23rd of August. I am very pleased with my classroom space and am looking forward to meeting my colleagues.

I know this is LONG, but I wanted to update you! I tried to put some pics with my post but it won't let me! I'll try again later...

We love you all and hope to talk to you soon!

Regina and the fam