Sadie's First Violin Recital

Sadie had her first violin recital this afternoon. We were super proud of her. It's funny how Gabe and I both said we were nervous, but she just walked right up there, played her song, and walked back. She loved it and probably would have gone back up there several more times if she had been given the chance. Before the recital started, I took her to the bathroom. I was telling her to remember to make her C and what string she was going to start on. She said, "I know how to play Mama, you don't need to tell me." I admire her confidence already and pray that it continues to grow. You are going to do great things, sweet girl! Hopefully, this is the first of many recitals. Thanks Les, Jenny, and Sarah for coming to see her.

Princess for the Day!!!!

What a fun day we had today! Sadie went to her first birthday party at Sweet N Sassy. It was a princess party and she had a great time. It was a birthday party for her friend from school, Preston. Sadie has been talking about it all week and it was even better than she could have imagined!

First, all the girls were able to pick out a dress they wanted to wear. Then they went out into the store and had their hair and makeup done. They also had their nails painted. This is a picture of the fun!

Sadie and Preston dancing on the stage.

Sadie getting her nails painted. She chose purple. Her favorite color this week.

Sadie and her friends chose the same dress to wear. Aren't they too cute all dancing together. The girls that worked there would do dances and the girls would try to follow them.

After the dancing, they had a coronation ceremony where each girl was crowned a princess and had princess dust sprinkled over their head. I think Sadie could hardly believe what was happening. She would just look over at me with this face like, "Is this really happening Mama?" It was so sweet.

Here she is with her crown and certificate. They asked the girls a few questions as they came in that they read about them while they walked on stage. Sadie said she wanted to live in the Kingdom of the Princess Store and if she had one rule it would be that everyone had to wear a crown.

Here's Sadie with her friend Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn, Sadie, and Preston dancing as princesses.

Pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns

Last weekend, Sadie asked Gabe if we could, "turn a pumpkin into a Jack-o-lantern?" Of course he couldn't resist and said, "Sure!" After naps, Gabe decided to make it happen. He followed all of the steps that Sadie said we needed to do including cooking the pumpkin seeds so she could eat them. (They were quite tasty too!) Ms. Georgia at her school had carved a pumpkin for them earlier in the week and she loved it. The girls were really cute trying to help Daddy. I just stood in the background and took a few pictures.

Sitting at the table drawing the face on the pumpkin while drinking hot chocolate.

Helping Daddy.

Claire "helped" too by adding in super sound effects.

Gabe and Sadie finishing up the pumpkin and putting the candle inside.

Our finished pumpkin.

Sadie and Claire with the finished pumpkin. (I love that Claire has put on Gabe's shoes to take the pumpkin outside.)

Halloween!!

Minnie Mouse, Repunzel, and Waldo.... sounds like a Gillespie Halloween to me.

We have had a fun Halloween weekend so far with another Halloween party on Monday for the girls. I really hope the costumes last that long! We started out Friday night going to the Fall Festival at Gabe's school. The girls had a great time as Minnie Mouse and Repunzel. Sadie told us last week that she HAD to have long hair and I went out searching for a Repunzel wig for her and couldn't find one anywhere. I had tried to avoid it because I knew it would be a little difficult for her to manage. I ended up calling my parents who found the last one at their Target and priority shipped it so she would have it for her costume. Well, I got her hair nice and slicked back with gel and hairspray (thanks for the tips Rhonda), got the wig on, and right before we left she tells me that she doesn't want the long hair! "Mama, I don't need long hair anymore." Seriously! So off we went with slicked back hair and the wig in the front seat!

Anyway, the girls had a great time and came home with way too much candy. Even for me and I like candy. We are well stocked for a long, long time.

Did I mention that Claire knows how to play the cute card and get just a little attention.

Sadie with her friend, Annabelle.

Sadie in the jumper.

Claire and Gabe. He was "Where's Waldo" with the other guys he works with.

Claire showing off some candy.

Claire saying "Cheese."

Sadie getting her face painted.

Claire getting her first face painting. She did great.

And another cute picture of Repunzel.

A trip to the Corn Maze

Picking up a pumpkin is hard work! The girls had a great time last weekend when we went to the corn maze for Emerson's birthday party. It was a party filled day since we had Sadie's party that morning. The corn maze is such a fun place for the girls to run around and see so many things. They have animals that Claire just loved and a train that Sadie would have stayed on the whole time. We also went on a hayride to the pumpkin patch. We're making some great memories and loving every day!

Sadie and Claire on the hayride.

Hanging out.

The girls are so sweet with each other. They loved riding the train together.

Emerson had a farm theme birthday party with some great hats. Claire has a great, "Quack, Quack."

Here is Claire looking at the cow. We went to see the animals and had all walked away. I turned around to see Claire not wanting to leave the cow. She was just standing there starring with an occasional "Moo." She LOVED seeing the animals.

...And Claire looking at the water. She is really an outdoor girl. She loves being outside.

Party Time!!!!!

Sadie is turning 4 in a few days and the day of her birthday party had finally arrived. She woke up this morning saying, "Today is my dirthday party! Today is my dirthday party!" After I got her dressed, I was just sitting on the couch looking at her because she just is looking so grown up. She surprises us every day with the new things she is learning. Just today on the way to her party, the cupcakes were between the seats in the car and she said, "Daddy, I have 24 cupcakes." She was right. Anyway, we had a lot of fun at Jumpin Jungle with the Lamms and all of the friends that came to celebrate with us. Sadie chose to have an "Olivia" party. (It's a cartoon pig from Nick Jr.) It was kind of funny to me that when I was looking for party supplies (and Olivia is not easy to find) that all of the Olivia stuff had something to do with a diva party! I just thought that was funny. Hopefully Sadie isn't too much of a diva... yet! I posted more pictures than I usually do, but it is her birthday.

Sadie and Kinley.

Claire didn't know quite what to think when her friend Mia showed up. They are in the same class at daycare and haven't seen each other outside of daycare yet. It was pretty cute.

So the pictures loaded out of order, but here is Sadie counting her cupcakes.

Sadie and all her friends, going through the jump houses.

Les is at the top of the slide and he sent Sadie and Claire down together.

Claire and Mia going down together. More like tumbling down together.

Sadie and her friend Braxtyn.

Just a cute picture of Sadie in the midst of craziness.

On to the party room. Sadie with her cupcake.

Here's Sadie, licking the icing off her cupcake. That's about all she eats of cupcakes.

Claire is trying to figure it out. She got one polka dot of red icing on her hand and it turned into red everywhere.

And some presents.

Again, the pictures loaded out of order, but I just thought this one was so cute of the whole group. We thought it was funny that you could tell that most of the left side is in daycare together. When we told them to sit in a line in front of the slide, they all went to each other and sat down. Again, it was pretty cute.

A princess dress is always a hit.

Les and Hannah loving on Claire

Sadie with her present from Lincoln.