life as a gillespie

Dash is all boy

2009-11-08T09:15:00.006-06:00

Can you believe Dash is almost one? He is such a happy little guy. And already he loves his planes, trains and automobiles.

You can see what happens when his sisters get involved.

Fall at foscue. I am going to have to start wearing some rollerblades while I push the stroller. I am a bit sore from running like a madwoman trying to keep up with kate.

The kids are looking at a family of turtles on the river.

Bikes are still in season here . . .

2009-11-04T07:19:00.004-06:00

And the winners were . . .

2009-11-03T12:19:00.003-06:00

Reasons our kids love utah

2009-10-29T09:40:00.010-05:00

A quick update, but the pictures say it all.
-Dash's first haircut
-Kate's ears pierced
-Halloween fun
-Cousins and family

Stop, Drop and Roll

2009-10-13T13:02:00.004-05:00

Today we had school at the firestation. Favorite comment was from Gray: "My mom sets off the fire alarm all the time with her cookin'!"

100% Hummidity Homecoming

2009-10-10T08:55:00.001-05:00

2009-10-08T23:41:00.003-05:00

Midnight is a good time to blog. What a long week!

-We attended the Moundville Indian festival today. I gave the girls plain waffles in the car because we were running late. When they complained about no syrup, I said, “Well, now you know how the Indians felt.” They liked that and were good Indians and ate all their breakfast.

-The festival was so humid and miserable we gave up after 1 hour and drove to Target instead.

-Dash loves riding in a shopping cart. This is a first for him.

-While we were out to lunch the girls asked me to pretend I was Grandma Anne.

-Kate keeps putting a blanket over her head and calling herself the “Kate Ghost.”

-I haven’t had TV for over two years now. The other day I grabbed the remote, sat on the couch and tried to turn it on to watch it. All I got was fuzz. I guess great habits die hard.

-Kyle was such a sweetie and bought me a digital SLR for mother’s day (May). It was a busy summer, so I told him to rewrap it and give it to me for our Anniversary (August). It is now out of the box but no pictures yet. Alas, he may have to wrap it for Christmas, too.

-Kate told me today I was “the best mom ever.” That felt good.

-I need to live near an awesome gymnastics program. Not my first sport of choice but Kate has skills.

pocahontas, eat your heart out

2009-10-01T07:31:00.003-05:00

Today was a great day

2009-09-30T22:13:00.004-05:00

A friend watched my kids ALL day. I think that automatically makes us BFFs or blood sisters or something. Shannon, I OWE YOU.

I won't tell you how many miles I used on my day of freedom, but here is a list of some of my activities:

2-hour drive to BMH
Temple session
Benjamin Moore Paint Store
Sushi with friends (miss you gals!)
Nadau furniture (Amazing)
Pottery Barn and PBKids
Gap and Gapkids
Old Navy
Restoration Hardware (my favorite store. sooooooo out of my price range.)
Banana R. (a few hot new outfits, compliments of kyle)
Belk (Kate decided to war paint with my makeup. Needed a few refills)
Vicki's Secret (Biofit rules, ladies)
Janie and Jack
Pier 1
Bed Bath and Beyond (Sat in demo massage chair for awhile.)
Macaroni Grill to go (in celebration of old times with gina)
Pulled over by cop for tag question (let me go with a smile)
2-hour drive home

The best part is Kyle had the kids all tucked in when I came home. I don't think I need another day like this for awhile but needless to say i will fall asleep with a smile on my face tonight!!!

Lunch for daddy

2009-09-28T20:34:00.013-05:00

Ella: "Mom, I need to make a list. Here is a pen and paper. Okay, now write. 1) Learn to work a gun. 2) Go on a date with daddy 3) I will tell you when I think of it."

"Mom, let's pretend that we are cooks in the army getting food ready for the soldiers."

Kate: Everything is disgusting. If we see a bug, "That is disgusting!" If she spills on her shirt, "Disgusting!" If I am changing a diaper, "Disgusting!"

Also, after we started cooking the girls ran up to the playroom to find some aprons. When they found them they yelled, "Yay for becky!" (She made the princess apron.)

Dash: Says "Dadda", "Momma," and is working on "Ball."

kids are funny. kate can't help but dance.

2009-09-14T17:17:00.007-05:00

These quotes say it perfectly

2009-09-13T01:13:00.003-05:00

How I love and miss President Hinckley!

"Be Grateful. How thankful we ought to be. How comfortably we live. How very easy is life compared to what it once was . . . We have the miracles of medicine, the miracles of science, the miracles of communication, transportation, education--what a wonderful time in which to live! . . .I hope you walk with gratitude in your hearts, really. Grateful people are respectful people. Grateful people are courteous people. Grateful people are kindly people. Be grateful."

"Gratitude is the very essence of worship--thanksgiving to the God in Heaven, who has given us all that we have that is good."

Keep your eye on the prize

2009-09-13T00:12:00.005-05:00

So, lest my last post sounded a little too "my life is perfect," this one is dedicated to some things I've been thinking about this month. maybe you can relate.

-I love my kids. They bring me so much happiness. Each time there's a new addition to the G household, I am surprised at how much I completely love them and how perfectly, absolutely, they belong.

-With that said, it is a daily struggle to keep my house clean and in order. I can imagine that one awesome thing about daycare/school is that no one is home during the day to mess the house up. We are home all the time and no matter how much I pick up, there is a new mess waiting for me. It's hard to get motivated when everything is undone so quickly.

-Laundry is the mother of all swear words at my house. There is always a pile of laundry to be folded. And clean laundry is almost more daunting then dirty laundry! why can't it just make its way back to its home? ARE YOU TOO GOOD FOR YOUR HOME?

-Do people have dogs to eat all the food their kids throw off the table? seriously annoying. I swept at least three times today.

-Selling a house really suuuuckkkkkkks. Especially when you have mixed feelings on the matter and are going to lose big money. Alas, its just money, right?

-Why can't Alabama and Utah border each other? There are so many amazing, wonderful people in this little town in Alabama. But it's soooooo far away from family and my mom. Especially my mom.

-There are certain realities to having young kids. For example, there are times when my friends need help with something and I want to be there, but . . . I have 3 kids.

-Going along with that, church can be crazy. For example, now that Kyle doesn't sit with us the kids and I have been working on being more reverent in sacrament meeting. "It's how we support Daddy in his calling." Fine and dandy. Until i have to play the piano and farm my kids out to willing members of the congregation. And until they start MEOWING the hymn "there is sunshine in my soul" like loud, happy kitties! Trying to shut your kids up, while playing the piano, while maintaining the spirit of the meeting in such a small building is comedy at its best.

-When Kyle gets home my first instinct is to say "TAKE THEM." But he works hard too, so usually we have dinner, he gets an hour or so of bike or golf in, and THEN i say take them. But somedays that moment just doesn't come fast enough and I feel like if i don't get out of the house this second I am going to explode.

Anyway, these aren't real problems; people with cancer have real problems. So I am not sharing this to whine or whatever. I'm just saying that sometimes it's okay to be real about things and if you ever need to talk to someone who understands, I am your girl.

I am also recommitting to a better attitude. It seems like I routinely start the month with a good attitude and then all the little things hack at it until I have to shake off and start anew. Anyway, here's to keeping our eyes on the prize and all that. Cause even with all the craziness there are those moments of pure joy that make it all worth it.

Where every day is a five turtle day

2009-09-08T21:41:00.010-05:00

Who knew? Homeschooling rules! Here’s a sample of our week.

Tuesdays: Group lesson
Thursdays: Library and/or playdate
Monthly: Fieldtrip

On a daily basis I teach to Ella’s level and Kate gets what she gets out of it. I only spend about an hour of dedicated time. The rest is more natural. We try to cover the basics every day--reading, sightwords, coloring/cutting, biking—and sometimes we get more creative.

Thursday’s Lesson Plan
• Scavenger hunt using hieroglyphics and sight words
• Early reader book about Native Americans
• YouTube clip from SLC Olympics, Native American opening
• Overview of symbols, using pictures and colors to communicate
• Practiced handwriting by writing “War Pony” 6 times
• Turned “my little pony” picture into Indian War Pony
• Learned Indian song while coloring
• Made Indian jewelry with pipe cleaners, beads and feathers.
• Started reward program: When you are honorable (help mom), you earn a feather

Continuation throughout the week. . .
• Make arrowheads with clay; bow and arrows
• Make teepees with dowels and brown paper bags
• Hopefully go squirrel hunting!  (No squirrels will actually be harmed)
• More vocab words and books

Field Trip: Moundville, AL, Native American Festival Oct. 7.

Don't worry about my kids being weird cause they're not in school.

Instead, you should worry about them being weird because their parents are weird. I'm just saying . . . that seems like a more accurate predictor.

L.E.T.S.G.O. Let's Go, Let's Go!

2009-09-05T13:33:00.006-05:00

Kate's a little young for this QB but both my girls love him anyway!

go tigers!

2009-08-30T17:47:00.002-05:00

1, 2, 3, 4 what do you think those cleats are for? To stomp 'em. To stomp 'em.

I'll post some pix of their cheering soon. It is so cute, and Lil is an awesome coach!

Our friends the palmers just happen to be superstars when it comes to football. I think we will be attending all of the games this season. The kids had a blast.

Bonita Lake

2009-08-29T21:23:00.005-05:00

Fridays are my new favorite days because they mean a date with Kyle and our bikes. Bonita Lakes has miles and miles and miles of amazing singletrack and it is only 50 minutes from our home. Come visit and we'll take you to see for yourself.

Kyle and Dash crusing the town.
I'm finally getting into shape after a long and pregnant winter, metaphorically speaking :). Only 4 pounds to go!

Kyle is a sweetie and keeps my bike tuned and ready. He also bought me new shoes and pedals. Egg beaters are awesome. I guess that tells you how long I've been out of the game if my last pair of pedals were speedplays.

We have officially started saving for the his and her cannondale scalpel fund. It may take us a couple of years but half the fun is anticipation, right?

Dash Climbs Stairs

2009-08-19T20:45:00.003-05:00

Today he climbed all the way to the playroom. For the grandma's reading enjoyment:

One day we'll look back at the craziness . . .

2009-08-15T17:32:00.003-05:00

Here are some happenings from the Gillespie home recently:

Kyle and Brit
-Celebrating 8 years of marriage tomorrow!
-Went canoeing on the little Cahaba and had a blast
-Kyle is the official rope swing KING
-Had our first overnight date in a long time. Thanks, Palmers!
-World-class singletrack and beach at Lake Lurleen
-Showered outdoors like hippies and loved every minute
-Kyle is suffering from a severe outbreak of poison oak
-Raced my first 5K in a while. Took second and forgot how much racing hurts.

Ella (5 ½)
-Started kindergarten and loves learning to read
-Mouse and the motorcycle rules
-Rallies her bike, as our neighbor said, “Like freakin’ Lance Armstrong.”
-Loves her friends and her family

“Mom, Satan has been telling me to make a wrong choice. He told me I won’t get in trouble, but I know he’s lying! Ooh, he’s talking to me again. Ooh, I just told him to BE QUIET.”

“Mom, we put the cheerios in our mouths and shot them everywhere, just like a machine gun in Iraq! Oh, you’re angry? I mean, Katie put the cheerios in her mouth . . .”

“Mom, have you ever heard of anything so lovely?”

“Oh, Mom! Look at the little centipede! Isn’t he so cute!”

Kate (2 ½)
-Sweet as can be--if she likes you--that is
-Still climbing in bed with us every night at 3:00 a.m
-As gritty and tenacious as ever
-Seriously athletic. Can easily run a mile at the local park.
-Loves milk and a MOO-vie
-Got caught "house-breaking" Ella the puppy on one of my towels. I came in just as Ella was peeing and Katie was saying, "Good job, puppy. Good job, puppy." They got in trouble for this one. Sometimes they take pretend a little too far . . .

“Daddy, what happened? (Poison Oak) Did you get hit by a car?”

“I go potty in the potty! Dad be so proud!”

While climbing something treacherous: “Mom, no worries! I got this!”

“Mom, I went potty yesterday! I no need go! I promise you!”

“Mom, you the best mom ever!”

Favorite expressions while riding her bike: “Mom, I beat you!” or while going up hills, “I push through! I push through!”

Dash (barely 8 months)
Dash can climb up stairs.
Dash loves waffles. L.O.V.E. loves them
Dash smiles at anything that moves
Dash is my happy place and loves his sisters
Dash is going to start sleeping through the night soon. I feel it. :)

These are the moments . . .

2009-08-15T16:34:00.007-05:00

bridezilla meets high school musical

2009-08-09T22:51:00.003-05:00

Say no to government takeover of health care

2009-08-07T22:14:00.005-05:00

20 minutes but my personal favorite. this video is worth watching:

another one by john stossel:

Health Care: Does Canada Do It Better?

Shared via AddThis

glenn beck actually has good things to say if you can get past his ADHD and crying. this interview was excellent.

Fungi is FUN

2009-08-04T20:14:00.016-05:00

One of these days I'll post about why I'm homeschooling Ella. Until then, check out our science class today. Lucky us, bama just happens to be home of all things moist and damp. The perfect enviornment for fungi. And as a bonus, I think I lost a few pounds tromping around in bizillion degree heat.

Anyway, our classroom motto is "Where every day is a five turtle day!"

There's a pond/log by our house and every time we pass it we count the turtles. There is always one turtle there but usually 3 or 4 and sometimes if we're lucky the whole family is out sunbathing.

Ella, Kate and friends have explorer notebooks where they can draw pix, take notes, and glue pictures. Ella and kate took these pictures themselves.

After our little nature walk everyone was so worn out we all took a nap in my bed. Does that ever happen?!! I think it made my top 10 days for being a mom.

Anyway, I better go do some dishes and watch the news. And if you have a chance, remember Anne in your prayers. Hopefully surgery tomorrow will get her back in the game.

two little birdies

2009-07-31T23:31:00.004-05:00

The girls took a break from playing puppy/kitty so they could be little birds. I put all my pillows and down comforter in Dash's crib and made them a nest. They would tweet and i would feed them "worms" (noodles.)

Oh, katie kate you are so funny.

Our little racer

2009-07-27T09:55:00.006-05:00

Dash. There aren't words for this kid. He adds so much happiness to our lives. He is crawling around our house like a little adventurer. I even caught him going up the stairs. No kidding. My favorite part of being his mom is when he laughs and snuggles into my shoulder. Any time I get overwhelmed or sad, I just have to pick him up and the blues are gone. If you're having a tough day, come on over and hold Dash. I don't mind sharing all the love this guy has to offer.