Chef Laura

Last week, Laura attended her first 'big girl' birthday party (i.e. Mom dropped her off rather than staying with her for the party). The party was for Laura's cousin Sophia, who is really into cooking right now. To set the stage, you have to see the invitations that my sister Michael designed for the party:

Each guest was given an apron and chef's hat, they 'cooked lunch' (make-your-own pizzas and cupcakes to decorate), and they got to decorate their chef's hat.

Laura loved her chef outfit so much that she wore it the rest of that day and night. And she wore it to daycare the next day. And she wore it to daycare the day after that! I think her smile shows how much she loved celebrating Sophie's birthday with her... and without Mom and Dad!

Time for a brief update (pun intended)

Mike has not been able to post a blog update recently, so I thought I would take a stab at it.

First, the news on Anna. She has been learning how to dress herself. For a 21-month old, I think she's doing a fine job.



And yes, that is Laura's underwear on Anna's head. Laura occasionally sports the "unders hat" as well.

Anna has also made leaps & bounds in her relationship with Grandma Becky and Grandpa Bud's standard poodle, Koke. Last week, when she found Koke relaxing in the sunlight, she laid down face-to-face with her for some girl-talk.

Then she brought over a book and a drink for the dog.

Apparently unsatisifed with Koke's reading of the story, Anna took over and read it out loud herself -- in Anna-language, of course.

Next, Laura ... With our busy summer, we are grateful that she is such an adaptable girl. She doesn't even mind sleeping on the floor when we're traveling. Here we had made her a nice bed out of cushions, but despite my attempts to continually remake her bed for her throughout the night, I kept waking up to find her like this:

Laura loves assisting Mike with his vegetable garden. Here she is showing off today's harvest.

Anna is also very enthusiastic about the garden, but she indiscriminately picks whatever she wants, whether it's ripe, not quite ready yet, or hanging on the vine half-eaten by some other creature. I thought I had her under control this afternoon until I found her coming around the corner of the garden, with a tell-tale stream of tomato juice dripping down her chin and a huge smile on her face.

And lastly, the sisters together. While they do their fair share of squabbling, they can occasionally be caught in a moment that shows their sisterly bond growing.

Lake Chip and Okee Dokee

Last weekend we visited Mimi, Bumpa, AND auntie Mandi and uncle Silly (Brad). A great time was had by all. The kids played in Lake Chip, rode the tire swing, playing with everyone and even ate some Lake Chip fish courtesy of uncle Brad.

Stop... Hammock time!


The girls loved their time swimming in Lake Chip. Floatie toys and noodles, what more could you ask for.


Even a paddle boat ride with mommy & daddy.


Today, we went to the Okee Dokee Brothers concert. Laura and Anna had a blast. If you are looking for some good family music, I'd recommend it.

Here's Anna doing "The Auctioneer" dance.


Anna dancing with daddy.


Laura was pretty much non-stop dancing for an hour. You really have to see it in action to believe it.


So, here's it in action.

Happy Independence Day

What an action-packed weekend! I think both Emily and I are exhausted just thinking about it.

On Friday night we decided to have our first family test campout. Laura was really excited and had a lot of fun, and Anna was bouncing off the tent walls for an hour. Eventually Anna crashed, then I dozed, but Laura couldn't quite fall asleep. The wind was really blowing that night and it caused the tent to constantly flap, as well as some folks nearby shooting off fireworks. After midnight we called it a night and moved the sleepout 50 feet to grandpa & grandma's spare bedroom.

Laura in the tent.


On the 4th, we went to the zoo for a distraction, and it wasn't busy, which was great. Usually when I am there on weekends it is shoulder to shoulder.

Laura trying her luck with the elusive walleyes.


Anna drove the outboard motor.


Watch out for the state bird.


Before the fireworks, the kids tried their first smores. Needless to say, they liked them.



Mmmm. Gooey.


Earlier in the week, all the cousins went for a family walk. Note - as you can see, Anna thinks she can do EVERYTHING the big kids do. She insisted on riding a bike.

Dan Patch Days

In what has become a Gillespie Family tradition, we took the kids to the town festival "Dan Patch Days". The kids had a BLAST. The inflatable rides (or "Bouncy House" as Laura called them) are perfect for little tykes to play in.

Anna was surprisingly a little hesitant at first (she usually jumps in head first... literally), but once she warmed up to it, you had to pull her out kicking and screaming.

Last year I ran the 5k, but opted for the Jordan Valley Bike Tour, which was very nice. 35 miles of rolling countryside and river valley. We even went through New Prague, and I think there is a city ordinance against vowels in names.

Laura enjoyed the train ride, but that's just the beginning.


Even though it was about as cheap a carnival ride as you get, it was still pretty cool to a 3 year old's eyes.


This year, Emily got to walk through the pony pee. Anna watched intently with a firm grip on the fence.


Laura thinks she's pretty hot stuff riding a horse & all.


Anna stayed and watched the horses for quite a while. Every time I asked her if she wanted to do something else, all I heard was a loud "Nyo!!!". Finally I dragged her away kicking and screaming...


... until she found the "bouncy house". Then she couldn't have been happier.


Most of the sit she just stood and let the other kids bounce, but she did get into the act a little.


A great day had by all. 2 hours of train ride, horsey rides, and bouncy house meant the kids were both asleep in record time. ***

Updated - They were asleep in record time, however a tornado warning caused a slight interruption in their sleep. Oh well.

Trinona & Half Birthday

I completed my first triathlon today - the sprint course at the Trinona in Winona Minnesota. I really enjoyed the race and was satisfied with my race. It felt good to get out there and experience the challenge.

Given that it was my first one, I really didn't know what to expect, but it was a lot of fun and I'd recommend anyone with the inkling to do one. The sprint distance, while plenty challenging, is a manageable distance and the training doesn't take over your life. The training is varied so you don't get bogged down into a rut of just running.

Out of the water. [I am the one with the black and red wetsuit on]. My meandering on the swim made the quarter mile more like a third of a mile, but I finished right about where I expected. The transition ate a lot of time before I was cruising on the bike.


Finished with the bike. Even though I didn't ascend the bluff, there were plenty of hills to keep things interesting. My legs didn't care for the transition to running too much, but after the half way mark, I really got my legs under me and I think my second half was considerably faster than the first.


Cruising into the finish line.

Results Link Cruise way on down to finisher #73.




The other (probably bigger event in some people's eyes) was that Laura got her first big-girl bike. We've had her put coins in her piggy bank from when she helped out a little above and beyond the usual at home, she got a reward. Now (with a little help from mom and dad) she got to buy her bike on her half birthday.

Some assembly required. She picked out the purple Tinkerbell bike.


3 pumps of air dad! Laura was specific on that instruction.


Make sure to look both ways before going on the street!


After a brief adjustment period, she was off like she was born to ride.


Here is the video (nice tracking shot Emily!). The rumbling noise is my pushing Anna in her trike.

Mmm Bop

Anna loves to dance with us, here I caught her dancing to the Hanson 'classic' Mmmbop.



Anna is fiercely independent, here she is trying to dress herself.


Laura with a very creative self-portrait.


Anna made us cupcakes.


The Gillespie girls making out the weekly grocery list. Laura is especially diligent about writing her list.