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.

Go Twins! 4 Gillespies at Target Field

Emily, Laura, Bumpa (my dad), and I went to Target field for the first time to watch a Twins game. We had a great time, and even got to see them come from behind and get a solid victory.

Before the game, Emily took a picture of us getting ready to cheer. I am eating a Murray's steak sandwich. It was very good.


Bumpa even shared some of his peanuts with Laura, she loved them, as long as he cracked them a little ahead of time. her favorite part was that she could throw them on the floor (something mean old dad would never permit at home!)


Laura loves her bumpa.


She got to choose 1 treat to eat: Cotton candy. It was surprisingly hard to find. Emily had to chase down the vendor, since it only seemed like there was 1 guy selling cotton candy, I think most of the guys were trying to sell lemon ice on a 90 degree day. Laura said that NEXT time she goes to Target field, she'll have ice cream.


Anna stayed home with Mimi, her 1 minute attention span might not have been compatible with a 3 hour baseball game.

But after we got home, we even let Anna have some sherbet.


You can't give Anna sherbet and not Laura. 2 sweet treats, a very special day indeed!

Crazy (Hair) days of summer

Now that the summer humidity has kicked in, we're in for some crazy hair days. And that isn't just me! Much like my hair, any heat and humidity in the air tightens up the curls. Fortunately for the kiddos, they look great with it.




Anna's hair is shorter, so there's a little less curl, but it has the same potential.

Anna in her 'Hollywood' pose. Bumpa would approve.


Toddlers love balloons. The balloon fights between Laura and Anna are priceless.


Anna can be a real silly girl, especially after a balloon fight.


A very happy gal. Hopefully the balloons don't pop, or we'll be in trouble.


Here Laura fell asleep in the middle of her book - polite as a princess.

Laura's Photoshoot

Some of my coworkers were testing out a new camera system, so naturally they needed some (free) models. I thought Laura would fit the bill, so I brought her in. Turns out, Laura's a natural! She posed as directed and was cute as a button (see for yourself)

The camera system uses "Background Replacement Technology" so I put some backgrounds in photoshop.


Same picture with a different background. The real background is a light gray.


I thought this was a great background for this shot... "Did I do that?"


Again, striking a pose.


Showing some of her attitude.


She's a natural, and she had a lot of fun, we'll have to do it again!