Phantom was a blast!

Rob and I went to Phantom of the Opera last night. We have been anticipating this for a long time. We bought our tickets clear back in May (when we had a job) and have been anxiously awaiting this night. We have seen it, together, once before (Rob has now seen it 3 times) and, I must admit, it was FAR better here than in Salt Lake. We had AMAZING seats (first balcony, first row, almost center..........did I mention we bought tickets the day they went on sale?), the acting/singing far surpassed that in Salt Lake, and the Spokane Opera house did a $1,000,000 remodel, a few years ago, just so it could host Phantom properly. IT WAS AWESOME!

The Phantom (Richard Todd Adams) was spectacular. He did a PHENOMENAL job. Talented actor/singer, avid sports fan (he watches ESPN in his dressing room when he is not on stage), family man (has a wife and newborn baby who are joining him on tour next week.....that should make sleeping interesting), and..... he's quite a looker, don't you think (although not so much in the grotesque make-up)?

We were lucky enough to get to share the night with our good friends, J & J. Grandma and Grandpa G watched the kids (thank you), and we went out for some FABULOUS Mexican food before the show. What a flippen' good time we had.

Funny story.......I wanted to get a picture of the four of us.......of course, and figured we could do it once we got there. We knew we would not be able to take pictures inside the actual theater so we stopped to take one just outside the doors to our seats. An usher came up to us and said, "You cant have that in here. There are no cameras inside the opera house." At this point I'm thinking two things......1. "How gay is that!" and 2. "We have seen other people taking pictures.....how come no one stopped them?"

So I say......."Ummmm......not inside the entire building."

"Nope"

So I look at my comrades and say....."Well, I guess we will have to take one later.....outside.....after the show"

She says (rolling her eyes), "I guess you could take one really quickly but you have to hurry."

So I say, "Thanks..........ummmmm.........Will you take it for us?"

The usher, "HUMPH.....I guess so.....but we have to hurry."

So....she took the picture...(didn't follow my instructions for focusing the camera......which is why the picture is blurry) but at least we got the picture.

I guess persistence pays off ( and a few nasty looks.....just kidding, I didn't give her any nasty looks....at least I dont think so).

As we walked away she says......."You better put that away before someone takes it away from you."

And I'm thinking, "Yeah, I'd like to see them try."

Needless to say, we had a really good time.

When Rob and I got home and were walking inside, I said, "Man.....I wish we had that kind of passion in our relationship." and he say to me, "What do you mean, we do," and I'm thinking to myself, "Ummmmm..........OKAY......whatever you say dear." (Okay....maybe a little too much information but, come on girls, you get it, don't you?)

Someday, when Gabe's a little older, we will take him to go see it too. He loves it and can hit those high notes right along side his mama (now, I did say I could hit them. I didn't say it sounded good.....but I have fun doing it anyway.....my kids look at me like I'm crazy.......they're probably right!)

Until the next time, I guess we will just have to be satisfied with our cd's, movie, and fond memories of the theater.

I want to see Les Miserables too.

7 RANDOM/WEIRD THINGS ABOUT ME!

1. Growing up my nickname was Tigger (as in....the most wonderful things about tiggers are tiggers are wonderful things........etc). I don't know if it had to do more with the fact that both he (as in Winnie the Pooh's Tigger) and I both have flourescent orange hair or because I bounced off the walls constantly. Probably both.

2. Until I was well into my high school years, I rarely EVER walked down the hallway in my parents house, I summersaulted instead (I think I was rightly nicknamed....Don't you?).

3. I have a broken (bent and crooked) tailbone. In first grade I was spinning around on the jungle gym (again.....Tigger) before school one day and came crashing down (mid spin) onto my tailbone. It REALLY HURT. I remember sitting sideways on my chair for days.
It makes for uncomfortable lap sitting ( for Rob mind you....not me) and makes it very difficult to perform any sort of pilates moved that requires balancing on the sitz bones. I also worried that it might get in the way during child birth but have, somehow, come out of two V-births without any re-breakage.

4. Out of 7 children in my family, I am the only that did not work at Storehouse Market. I am very proud of that fact.

5. In a bizarre twist of events, when the above mentioned Storehouse Market closed, it became a Gold's Gym. I worked out at that gym for YEARS and am now working for Gold's Gym here in Spokane. Coincidence......I think NOT. Maybe it is fate's way of getting me in the end.

6. I have been sent to the principal's office three times. Once, in grade school, when my friend S***** and I were chasing after two sisters, growling at them (They were African-American and the principal thought we may, in some bizarre way, be acting out racistly........nope, not kidding.......In our defence, they were doing it to each other and we just thought it would be fun to join in. No racism involved). The second time was in 11th grade. I had a teacher who had it out for me because I, and another girl, laughed at some very disrespectful remarks a boy in my class made to/about her (she did have every right to be mad). She tried to kick the three of us out of her class (for the rest of the year). After a meeting with the principal, the teacher, and my mother, I was given the choice whether or not to stay (the other two bailed) and my mother thought it would be a good idea to show that teacher up (my mother thought the teacher handled the situation horribly and wanted me to show her that I could act maturly even if she couldn't). So....I stayed. The third time was, again, in 11th grade (man, I had a rough year). It was actually in Seminary. I was quite the disruptive child. I was going through a rough period and didn't really want to be there so I made my teachers life miserable. Unfortunately, my teacher was a personal friend of my fathers and in turn, my dad was mortified when I was asked to leave his class. I, then, tried to drop out of seminary all together but after talking with the principal, decided to continue in a different class. Really, I just stopped going to seminary, for the most part, anyway. I was a complete piece of poo poo back then.

7. I LOVE BANANA PEPPERS! I eat them on ANYTHING I can possibly think to put them on. Oh, and I love green peppers and yellow pepper, and orange peppers, and red pepper. I guess I love all peppers, excluding the ones that make my mouth burn.


Now....for my victims.......so many to choose from......I think, in the spirit of randomness, I will close my eyes and choose.......you guessed it, AT RANDOM. Here goes.......
JULIE G., CELESTE, JAYNE, NATALIE, AMANDA, CARRIE, AUDRA

My baby's not a baby anymore!

What happened to my baby?

I cut Isaac's hair on Saturday and he looks like such a big boy. I don't have a baby anymore and the amazing thing is, I have no immediate desire to fill that "place" in the family.

(Although Cael would GLADLY revert if we let him.)

I know that Rob and I will have more children and they will be a welcome addition to our home.

Who knows, things could change for us in the next few months, and we hope they do (yeah, a job would be nice), but as for now, we are just trying to keep our heads afloat.........I mean...........for now, we are just trying to ENJOY our little family and life as it is.

Family and Fall.....two things that I love!

This is our "Halloween/Aunt Christy is coming" countdown calendar.
Rob asked Gabe, today, whether he was more excited for Halloween or Aunt Christy. He totally picked Aunt Christy (of course). She will be here November 14th. We can't wait.



Gabe and Cael. Not really fall related (except they have their collapse able trick-or-treat bags upside down on their heads. Just cute).

We had a really good time this weekend with family. Rob's sister Amanda, her husband David, and their precious little girl, Isabel came to visit (from Nebraska). We haven't seen them forever and were really glad we had the opportunity.

We also got to see Thad (Rob's brother), Julie (his wife), and their three adorable children (Kaipo, Sarah, and Ben).

We all went to a pumpkin patch to enjoy a bit of fall festivities. It was freezing cold and way over priced but worth it. The boys had a good time and we got to get out of the house.

On our train ride

Here Gabe is pictured with Uncle Kyle on the train. Kyle ended up moving over by us and Gabe stayed with his cousins....of course.

Cael, Isaac, and a few pumpkins. Very exciting. Does Cael's face look like one of those plastic trolls with the crazy hair, or is it just me?

Gabe....with same pumpkins. I swear! I had to force that kid to spend any time with me. He gets so caught up with COUSINS, he forgets he's part of us, too.

Afterward we all bombarded Carrie and Brett's house (Rob's sister), ate dinner and hung out. Good food, good conversation, and good memories. What more could you ask for?

A GIRL!

Here is a picture of the girls (Gillespie and In-Laws) with their daughters. Notice....I am the only one without a daughter....so, I hugged my leg instead.
(L to R: Corissa, Carrie, Amanda, Isabel, Me (I thought about patting my tummy in the picture but didn't want to start any rumors....NO WE ARE NOT PREGNANT!), Julie, and Sarah)

Aunt Amanda turned Isaac into a mad scientist. The look kinda suits him.


The old and the young!
The next generation of Gillespie's (exept for baby "XX or XY," which still has up to 9 weeks to grace us with it's presence. Hang in there Amanda!)

Look how sweet Gabe is. He put his arm around his little cousin Sarah. I'll tell you what, sometimes that kid surprises me. Why can't he be that nice to his brothers?

My new DO!

No....I am not ticked off. That's my seductive look, can't you tell? (no wonder Rob is always accusing me of sending mixed signals.....I'm kinda scary!)

From el side-o!

You like-e?

In an attempt to find JOY......

Don't we all feel a bit upside-down and stuck in a rut sometimes?

Life is really busy and REALLY stressful right now and I find myself upset/yelling much more than I care to admit. So....in an attempt to find a bit of Joy in my life I decided to take a few pics of my kids last night.

Gabe----ever silly Gabe. Why don't I appreciate his sillyness more. Was I not the queen of sillyness in my younger days?

Cael-----Cheeseball of the century........So aggravating yet so endearing. Most of the time, I don't know whether to laugh or yell. Often times, I do both.

Isaac-----piggy, piggy, piggy. And always smiling (unless being assaulted by one of his brothers...which happens a lot).

I really do love my kids. I just take life a little too seriously and forget to enjoy them.

The other day I read a blog entry of a friend. She had taken a picture of her child doing something obviously naughty but very funny. Then she went on to describe how they laughed together about it.

It never would have dawned on me to do that. I would have just gotten upset instead.

No......I am not a bad mom. I just act like it most of the time.

I am ready to turn over a new leaf and make it a goal to actually sit down and spend time with them at least once a day.

Today we sat down, all together, and made these.....Spider Snacks and Ants on a log.

Don't we look like were having fun? (I know you can't see me, because I am taking the picture, but pretend you can. I have a big smile on my face).

We also made a countdown calendar to Halloween and extended it from there to November 14th when Aunt Christy comes to visit. We are SOOOOO excited!

FUNNY! A Message for Caleb (but published for all to see)......love, Grandpa!

Since you don't know them.....

Rob's brother Caleb (in Mexico)

Rob's Grandpa Thiessen (no he is not flipping off the person behind him....he just lost some fingers in a band saw accident).

Rob's Grandpa Thiessen called me a few weeks ago and asked me to do him a favor. I agreed! He wanted me to post a message for Caleb, Rob's brother who is on a mission in Mexico, and figured that because I am so popular, even with the missionaries, this was the best way to get the message to whom it needed to be getting to. So here goes:

The message is this, "BUCK UP AND DEAL WITH IT."

I'm sure you will want an explanation....who wouldn't (Caleb, I am sure you, too, are wondering what the heck this is in context to). Well, I'll tell ya.

We have, in the not so distant past, received many words from Caleb about the turmoil his body is going through down there, in that "not-so-sanitary-place" (my words, not Caleb's), and along with these, words of the less than satisfactory condition of the bathroom accommodations he is so often forced to enjoy.

Grandpa and I agreed that here, in the US of A, we are completely spoiled with our "running-water-flush-it-and-it-goes-down-the-hole-forever (not so much in our house) system." Grandpa says things are different in every other region of the world (what do I know, I have never been anywhere but the Western United States) and Caleb had better just, as said above, "BUCK UP AND DEAL WITH IT."

Then he related a funny story which I will share with you now.

(Grandpa you will have to forgive me if I lost some of the details in translation. It has been a while since we spoke. And Dad.....yes, you did raise me to be more lady like.....this story holds no reflection on the type of upbringing I had....please forgive me."

When Grandpa was fighting in the war the "walls" to their "bathroom facilities" consisted of an open tent/tarpy thing (he tried to describe it to me over the phone). A trench would be dug and a board, with four holes (usually) would be placed over the trench. There is where you were to do all your "duties." In the open, for everyone to see.....and into a trench (disgusting.....can you imagine the smell?)

One night, a man in his barracks woke up, in the early hours of the morning, to use the "facilities." He did his business, came back to the tent and climbed into his sleeping bag. His tent mates were flabbergasted by the smell he brought with him and asked if he had just passed gas. After repeated claims to the contrary, he rolled over in his sleeping bag and discovered the source of the appalling smell.

Turns out that when he had taken down his long johns (it was winter there) to use the restroom, they had fallen into the trench. He hadn't noticed, even when placing them back on his body, and now he, AND his sleeping bag were covered in........well, you can figure that out.

So Caleb...........again, "BUCK UP AND DEAL WITH IT" (from Grandpa).

I suggest you keep your suit up and out of the camode and before you crawl into bed at night, do a through smelling of yourself and your companion. At least, then, you will be far better off than that poor soldier (and those who had to sleep in the tent with him that night).

(Note to self: If you ever feel like complaining about having to clean two toilets, shut your mouth and just do it. Second, be grateful for the ready use of a washer and dryer, just in case any dip-age should happen........come on, we have all worn overalls at one point in time.)

So Grandpa.....I hope this message was suitable enough to portray your message to you poor sick grandson in a country far far away (actually not so far away, in proximity, but far away in modern conveniences).

Caleb, we love you and hope you start feeling better. At least for a day or two before you catch the next nasty bug.