Tri it, you'll like it.

Congrats to Emily - She participated and completed her first triathlon! She made it a goal and a priority and completed it in style. (If a 2 1/2 year old and a 9 month old escort isn't style, I don't know what is.)

This was the 2009 Minneapolis YWCA sponsored triathlon, a 500 yard swim, 15 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run.

Race Results

A [modified] quote I think is appropriate: "Accomplishment goes to those who tri."

Coming down the home stretch...


The li'l Gillespies escorting mom across the line.


Go mommy, go!


She's done!


I did it!

Picnics and Adventures

This past weekend, Laura suggested we have a picnic in the backyard, Emily and I thought it was a great idea, so the whole family had lunch in the backyard.


Daddy & his li'l ladies.


Anna loves being outside and Anna loves eating - who knew she'd love eating outside.


Of course, Laura was in heaven playing outside AND having lunch.


After she ate, Laura burned off some steam running. She's getting very fast.


She's even had good running form!


Anna is getting much more interactive with her play. She loves her little people house and many other toys. Now that she's playing with some of Laura's toys, we're sensing some sibling rivalry.


Anna loves her little people. They must taste great!


Last week the kids went to the children's museum in St. Paul. They had a blast. Anna loved playing in the toddler room.


Hmmm, that looks like a smirk. I wonder what she is up to?


Laura's driving the bus!


Laura's highlight was seeing Clifford, the big red dog. She walked right up and have him a big Laura hug.


Laura showing off her cooking skills.


Laura painted her own face, that was a big hit.


There aren't many places you are encourages to mess around with water, better make the most of it.


She even met a new friend in the parking lot! I wonder if his name is Compass, like George's friend pigeon.

Soccer Potties, Digital Art Studios, and Fun in the Water

First a story:
On Friday, we took Laura and Anna to the park to have some fun on the playground. In our excitement to get Laura to the park, we forgot to remind her to use the potty before we left. Doh!

About 5 minutes into it, Laura told me she had to go potty. The only option was a port-a-potty in the park. Laura had seen one at her cousin's soccer game, so she has named them 'soccer potties'. I asked her if she wanted to use the soccer potty, and she said yes. I took her over, got her in, and she just stared into the chasm of unpleasantness. I asked her if she wanted to sit in the potty.

"Nope". And not the whiny 2 year old "Nooooo!", just a calm, matter of fact, "Nope".

So I asked if she could hold it, and she said yes. Predictably she had an accident about 2 minutes later.

I changed her into the spare outfit and set her loose on the park. About 20 minutes later, I saw her assuming the peeing position, so I asked if she wanted to try the potty again. This time, after the accident, she seemed a little more desperate.

So again, I took her to the potty, she took one look at the toilet and said, again very calmly: "Nope".

Trying to be creative, I asked if I held her in the air, if she thought she could go. She thought about it, and said yes. I picked her up, and she took one look into the toilet and said "Nope."

So I set her free and a couple minutes later she had the second accident, and without another spare set of clothes we had to take her home.

I don't blame her one bit for not wanted to sit on the soccer potty.


Laura takes her digital arts and crafts studio projects very seriously. You can barely catch her attention.


Given today was absolutely perfect, we set up the pool. Laura even got to try her new goggles.


We tried out her new float toy, or also called the "Laura Boat". I guess Mimi has a boat, Bumpa has a boat, Laura needed a boat.


Laura even got her goggles wet.


Laura even got to take the Laura boat out on Prior Lake.


She got the hang of kicking the boat around very well, she even managed to elude daddy for a while.

Make your own pizza

Laura loves to watch me cook, so every once in a while we let her make her own pizza. She gets to pick out the toppings and put them on "All by myself".

Pool Time and New Hairdo

Laura and Anna got some pool and lake time this weekend. Laura loves it, and always wants to 'Go Deeper?'. She practiced her scoops and kicks and floating front and back, as well as jumping in.

Anna warmed up to it when she learned she could make splashes.


Laura loves the water.


It is hard to get her out these days.


Anna's been sporting a fun new hairdo - the pony-spike.

She's not so sure of daddy's hairstyling.


But she got used to it.


"Hey, I can see now!"


Happy little girl... until you take away her toy.


Gimme some food!


Anna likes it.


Nice hairdo li'l lady.

Happy Independence Day

The kids had a great 4th of July weekend. On Saturday, they spent most of the day at grandma and grandpa's on Prior Lake with the rest of the family. Great Uncle Jim and Auntie Cathy brought the Banzai Falls Original Water Slide. Needless to say, the kids enjoyed it. Laura went with mommy a few times, then she got brave and "Do it myself!"

Oh dear, this isn't your daddy's slip & slide.


You have to climb up the big hill.


Riding down with mommy!


Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Mommy had fun too.


Now we relax in the water. Good thing grandpa Bud hooked it up to the warm water, so this is like taking a bath.


On Sunday, we went on a boat cruise. The lake was so busy, that the wakes from the other boats were drenching the kids in front, much to their delight.


Laura showing off her sea legs.


Anna, adaptable as always, says she doesn't care as long as she gets her bottle.

Anna is sitting up

Slowly but surely, Anna is sitting up all by herself. She is very proud of herself, or so I like to think.

Anna sitting tall.


Sitting makes her smile. Just like everything else.


"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!"


Mommy and Daddy are proud of you.


Close up for Anna.