I hate terrorists.

What has happened to our world? I'm a WASP female, of middle age, in Phoenix, AZ. Am I going to hijack a plane? Certainly not. But because some fanatical extremists rocked our world nearly 7 years ago, I cannot go home to Canada without a stupid passport. Stupid airlines. Tourism Canada says I only need a driver's license and birth certificate. If I drove to the border they would let me in. But I couldn't board my Air Canada flight this morning without my passport. This is at 4:00 am this morning. So I drove back home and went to work. I miss Jan and Catherine. I've been looking forward to this for a year and a half. I've had my ticket since April. Now I have a $150 cancellation fee and a credit until April on an airline I don't want to fly on anymore. But at least Amy will be happy I'm home. I haven't slept since Wednesday night. I'm tired and I don't feel well. I need some colostrum.

I did get to enjoy the "hurricane" we had in Phoenix last night. I was right in the middle of the worst of it. 1.5 inches of rain in 20 mins, 75 mph winds, 10,000+ lightning strikes/minute, power outages, hail, the door of the lobby of the motel was ripped off its hinges. Exciting!

Mom said maybe I just wasn't supposed to go on this trip. Maybe not, but maybe it's because we have so many crazies in the world that are trying to bring down America. And I don't think Barrack Obama will have a clue how to deal with this, let alone our domestic problems. I had greater faith in John McCain until this morning. What was he thinking? A female 2 year governor from Alaska? Please. We're going to heck in a handbasket. Hold on tight. Regardless of who wins it's going to be a bumpy four years. I wanted to move to Canada for 4 years but they don't want me anymore. Geez, I lived there for 16 years. Whenever I say where I'm from, I always say I'm from Canada. I still say "eh". Isn't that devotion?

Okay, I'm going home now. Have a great long weekend.

Two Days in a Row!

I should be doing laundry right now, but the siren call of the computer captivated me and lured me into its clutches. So here I am and I'll write between loads!

This picture tells it all. . .whatever Amy will be doing in the future will always involve having a phone sticking to the side of her head. She's really into books, lately, and I don't think it will take her long to learn to read. I have a reading program that Cameron used in kindergarten to teach him to read, so I'm going to start it with Amy. She already likes me to read the books to her, but they're not my favorites (see, see me, see me Sam, Sam sees me. . .you get the drift!).

Amy's best friend is her cat, Trinity. Although I don't think the feeling is mutual. Trinity is quite tolerant of Amy and everything she does to her for being a grown cat we found on the side of the road (or in the middle of the road, as the case may be).

Guess who?

Missy and Amy were both in the play again this spring. They really have a good time and I'm so glad that the college offers this opportunity. Missy is hoping this fall that she can get a lead part. So am I! This will be her last year in this age group (4-10 yr olds) and she has this semester and next to try. She loves acting and is really quite a ham in her everyday life! Here she's a squirrel (they did The Adventures of Mr. Toad adapted from The Wind in the Willows and she was a spring-cleaning animal. Not a big part, just part of the ensemble which really bummed her out. She felt it was a step down from past plays). Amy has really gotten into the plays, as well. In fact, she's the standout in her group each time. Here's she's a duck.

Which one is Amy? Yep, she's the shortest, there in the middle!

Bottom center is my beautiful Missy!

Closing night!

The finale! Amy didn't want to stop. We're not supposed to take pictures (copyright and all that stuff, but she was just too cute not to!)

At the Academy Awards night, Amy got an award for the best littlest actress. Missy was a little sad that she hasn't won any awards, yet. There's still time!


There's supposed to be a picture of me, here, but it didn't load. Maybe tomorrow. Have a great day. Back to the laundry!

Only 10 more days . . .

I hate that the pictures come up at the beginning after I've already typed in other things! I really need some lessons on blogging! Anyway. . . yep, that's right, the Gillespie's go back to school in 10 days. Where did the summer go? I know where mine went. . .work, work, work! But I have a minute to put some things on.

Cameron went to scout camp for the first time this summer. Here's pictures of him leaving. I didn't get pictures of him coming home, because I was at work when he got home. But he probably wouldn't let me post any, even if I had some. Apparently, one night they had green chile burros for dinner and the next morning the lines for the portapotties were several boys deep! Cameron, unfortunately, had his share (0f dinner and standing in line the next morning)! It's a memory, though!



We've had a really wet and cool (for our area) summer. We had the worst storm of the year (and probably the worst one since we've lived here) coming home from church today. Here's some video:

In this one, watch as I pan over between the bush and the van...watch for the lightning in the road! That was scary and close!

Since I have to load the pictures first, I'll do more tomorrow about the girls. Have a great day!

Happy Birthday To Amy!

Again, no pictures. This time I forgot my camera, but Nana brought hers, so when she gets them developed, (provided she didn't cut heads off again ;) )I'll scan them and post them. Anyway, our tiny is finally 5 years old! All of her little girlfriends have already had birthdays (all in Feb and Mar) so Amy's is glad to finally be 5. It's so hard to believe. She does, in fact, go to kindergarten this fall. Her big brother and sister will not be in the same school, but she will get to ride the bus with Missy. Cameron, of course, is off to middle school. Too hard to comprehend! Time has FLOWN by. Papa and Nana are going to be very lonely this fall.

Amy had a birthday party at the neighborhood pool. Lots of fun with everyone's big brothers and sisters there, too. Got even more stuff to mess up the house with. Oh well. She's the Tiny, I guess it's her perogative. Make it a good day!

We're Still Alive!

No pictures today, but Cameron wanted me to post and say that he survived his first scout camp! At least he didn't have to leave at 3:00 AM. He had a great time. Earned 5 merit badges and I hope he's almost finished with his First Class. The only bad thing about it was Thursday night. . .green chili burros. They tasted good, but by 5:00 AM Friday morning, the lines at the portapotties were so long some boys didn't think they were going to make it. Food poisoning had struck! Cameron was not lucky enough to avoid it, either. He felt pretty bad until one of the leaders gave him some Imodium AD, but he didn't really feel good until he got home on Saturday. But it didn't seem to dampen his enthusiasm for future campouts. This last weekend our youth went on a retreat up on the mountain again, and Cameron got to go rappelling. Lots of fun! Time for family home evening! Enjoy!

Snow in Arizona???

Well, if you go high enough, you can often find snow. So we did. Up to 75oo ft. We got some more snow at the beginning of the week with the tail end of the storm that walloped California, but it's been melting rather fast. We thought we'd better get up and play in it. I'll post photos and stuff later. Enjoy!

Chicken Rob

Daredevil Amy

12 years ago . . .

I know I should have blogged yesterday and I don't even have a picture, but I now have a Young Man living in my house. Cameron turned 12 yesterday and I was thinking at different times what I was doing twelve years ago. Like getting ready to go to the hospital to be induced, then not having that work and having to have a c-section, stuff like that. He's been so sweet yesterday and today. I'm wondering if something has finally kicked in. But I'll just take it while I can and then wait for his old self to return! I really have enjoyed him lately. We often find ourselves trying to beat each other up (or at least take each other down) since I've been going to my kickboxing classes. Sad will be the day when his mommy can't take him down anymore. I know that by his next birthday he will be taller than me. He's already taller than Grandma Cleda.

We just got back day before yesterday from Utah. It was fun to spend a bunch of time with our old friends the McKnights. They live across the street from where we used to live in Middleton. It's so nice that whenever we get together we just pick up from where we left off -- no having to get reacquainted. They have a daughter, Natalie, that is 4 months younger than Cameron and has loved him since she was born. They also have a son, Michael who is 8 months older than Missy. He has autism, but truly seems to enjoy our visits. We were sad to leave them.

The kids and I go back to school on Monday. Not enough vacation to do anything I wanted to do, just what needed to be done. Well, I better get back to what needs to be done, namely put the Christmas decorations away.