A Beach Vacation

I can't believe it has been a month since I have blogged.  Summer sure does fly by.  We just got back a couple of days ago from our San Antonio, Sea World, Port Aransas adventure.  It was great to travel with the girls and we made some great memories.  We were definitely more exhausted when we got back than when we left, but I guess that is how "vacation" works with a 2 year old and a 4 year old.  We started out in San Antonio.  (More pictures from Sea World later)  From there we drove to Port Aransas to spend a few days at the beach.  Gabe found a great beach house for us and the girls loved just playing in the sand and collecting sea shells. 

The girls loved the hotel.  Here are a few pictures of them helping us pack up to head for the beach. 

 A few pictures of the girls playing at the beach.  It was so fun to watch them.  When we were driving to our beach house they were chanting from the back seat, "Where are the duckies!  Where is the beach!"  They were so excited when we finally got there.  

 Here they are sorting through some of their sea shell treasures.  

 Daddy and the girls enjoying a snack at the beach.  

We were at the beach over the 4th and we found a great cruise that we could go on and see the fire works.  We didn't have to fight the traffic, find a place, or entertain the girls until the fireworks started.  They loved being on the boat and were both actually awake for the fireworks.  It worked out great.

 Here's Sadie on the boat enjoying her Skittles while we went out to our spot.  

 A picture of the fireworks that Gabe took.  I kept missing them and was getting a lot of pictures of all black.  I'm still working on my photography skills.  

...And sweet Claire on the boat getting a little wiggly before the fire works started.  Luckily there was some room for her to wiggle.  

First week of Summer Fun!

Just a few pictures from our first week.  Lots of swimming and lots of fun.  Yesterday we went to the pool and then grilled out and Gabe took the girls to Sonic for dessert.  Today after church Sadie said, "Yesterday sure was a fun day!"  I agree.  

 The pool we go to has a lazy river and the girls love it.  We all just float around.  It's so great!  Check out Claire's hair.  I have no idea how that happened, but I bet Daddy had something to do with it. 

It's Summertime...Finally!

Welcome to Summer!!!!!!!!  We are so excited at the Gillespie house!  We've already been to the pool three times and I am actually blogging on a Sunday because I don't have to get up for school tomorrow!  We have some fun stuff planned and are looking forward to all being together.  Here's some pictures from our trips to the pool.  They are all from snack time.  I haven't gotten the camera out while we're swimming.  Hopefully,  I'll remember to do that soon.  

 Sadie enjoying a snack...One of their favorite parts of swimming. 

 Here's Claire, livin the life!  Les is sitting with her on the chair and is feeding her Cheetos and a Capri Sun.  I told hm all we needed was a fan to fan her as he fed her and she would be all set.  She LOVES Les so much! (And I think she's pretty special to him too!)

 On the way to the pool!  So excited. 

Ready to swim!

Summer!!!

Wow has summer gone fast. Two weeks from today we are due back at school. I thought this picture was a pretty accurate portrayal of how we feel at the end of most days. We have done lots of fun stuff and lots of crazy stuff to keep two little girls entertained. It has been a great couple of months. Now it's back to school! We do have a few changes for next year. I have just finished my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from LCU and will be teaching 4th grade next year. (I've taught special ed the last 5 years.) I'm looking forward to the change and hopefully a step in the right direction to get some experience for administration one day. Since I am done with the grad school thing (for a little while anyway) Gabe is now starting. He was a great support for me and now we are switching roles a little. Who knew this was the direction we were going? We're looking forward to seeing what God has in store in the next few years. Our other big change for this year is that both girls will be going to the same daycare! We are super excited about that. I think Sadie has picked up on how excited we are too. Today in the car she said, "Mama, when we go to school, you are going to take Claire and Daddy is going to take me?" I said, "Do you remember that you and Claire go to the same school now?" She said, "Hallelujah!" I said, "I know, say it with me, Hallelujah!"

Here are just a few picures from our last couple of months. I probably say this at the end of every summer, but we are so grateful for the time we have all together during this time of year. I'm sure we spend way too much money and spoil the kids a little, but as we have been saying at our house... "It is summer!"

Claire playing princess. We have played a lot of "princess dancing", "school", and "cooking" in the last couple months.


Sadie helping us cook some brownies.

Watering the flowers.

Pushing the buggy is hard work.

Enjoying a drink at the best little picnic table ever. I highly recommend it!

Enjoying the pool with Les and Jenny.

Dressing up for Church.

Daddy and Sadie at the pool. (Les and Jenny are in background with Claire.)

Hooray for Summer!!!

Circus Time!

The day had finally arrived. We had been talking to Sadie about going to the circus for a couple weeks and she was so excited that today was the day. All day she was saying, "It's circus time? It's circus time?" After a short nap (she couldn't sleep) we were off. Sadie just sat and watched basically the whole time except for a few questions like, "Can I have a toy?" At intermission, Gabe bought her a toy and she was so excited. Claire had a great time too. She would watch for a couple minutes, clap and point, and then want down. Luckily there was no one else on our row. We had two tired little girls when it was over. We were blessed to have tickets given to us by some friends. Thanks Freddy and Elizabeth, we had a great time!

A couple pictures from the show.

Sadie waiting for the show to start.

Claire checking out the cotton candy.

Sadie and Gabe enjoying some cotton candy.

And Sadie with her toy. It spins, lights up, and is pink. What else could you ask for?

Summer project #2

I'm not sure if everyone would consider this a project, but I decided to for the sake of a blog title. Last week we got a package from Nana and inside was this great inflatable swimming pool with two slides. The girls didn't know what it was since it was all folded up in the box, but were very excited just the same. Gabe decided to gather up all the extra air he had today and blow it up. We tried to use an air pump, but didn't have the nozzle. Once we had gotten it out of the box, there was no turning back. Two little girls wanted a swimming pool. They watched him blow and blow and blow. The girls had a great time playing. Claire is still not quite sure of the water so she stood on the side and played, but Sadie quickly figured out the slide.

Taking a break for a quick drink. Thinking about what the next project for Daddy will be.

Our Weekend Project!

Summer has begun and we are excited! We even completed our first summer project today! Actually, Gabe put it together and I "documented" for the blog. The girls love to be outside and we saw this cute picnic table at World Market that we could not pass up. It was completed right about lunch time today so lunch and dinner were both eaten outside. Sadie even woke up from her nap saying she needed some food to eat at the picnic table. We'll see what other projects we get done... we're off to a good start.

Here's Sadie, posing with the completed table.

When we first started, they were very excited to watch.

As you can see Sadie quickly became bored and Claire found a water bottle to play with.

Inspecting the work.

"Helping" Daddy. Really she was just asking if he was done yet.

Yea! Finally! (It really only took about an hour to put together :)

Enjoying some lunch.

Ok really, Isn't that just too cute?

Summer Fun!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted some pictures. It has been so nice to be relaxing with the family and enjoying being together. We've loved being able to go see family and really enjoyed being at home and getting some projects crossed off our lists. I just picked a few pictures to show some of the fun we've been having. We are so blessed to be off as a family during the summer and be together. We are also blessed by our jobs and our schedule the rest of the year too. I love to think about how God has worked his plan for us and I can't describe the peace I have knowing we are doing what he wants us to be doing. I pray that we will continue to follow Him.

Hanging out!

Sadie is "swimming."

Claire's first plane ride

Swimming at Nana and Big Daddy's house