Halloween Time

Between school, homework, football practice, play practice, and occasional sleep, Dagny and Dane have had zero time for Halloween preparations.  We couldn't find enough free hours in a row to drive out to our favorite pumpkin patch, so we made a very quick stop at a nearby fake pumpkin patch in a parking lot.  Not nearly as fun as an actual farm, but it got the job done.  Pumpkins were picked, fun was had, and the kids got to uphold a long standing Halloween tradition, even if it was by the side of the freeway.  

Just because they had no free time to get ready for Halloween doesn't mean they didn't participate in many holiday festivities while wearing fabulous costumes.  That would be thanks to me.  I put everything together for them, and if I do say so myself, I did an awesome job.  Pictures coming soon.  

Dane's perfect pumpkin

Dagny and Austin discussing the merits of each pumpkin

The search through the fake pumpkin patch

A Very Brady Birthday

I'm not sure how our California boy became a New England Patriots fan but they are his favorite team. It has a lot to do with how awesome Tom Brady is, which is totally understandable. The Patriots came to the Bay Area to play the Raiders (which they only do every 6 years) at the beginning of October and Dane got an early birthday present of tickets to the game.  He and Steve went and had amazing seats and a great time.  The Patriots won so it turned out to be a pretty great birthday present. 

Dane's actual birthday was a little bit strange this year.  It was on a Wednesday and for the first time in his life he had to go to school on his birthday.  Usually we would spend the whole day celebrating but this year we had to settle for before and after school.  There was much celebrating and lots of cake and presents and a very happy 14 year-old.

Happy Birthday Dane!

Homecoming '11

I had as much fun getting Dagny ready for the Homecoming Dance as she did at the dance, and that is a lot.  I am in love with all the pictures.  She looks so beautiful and happy, and that, I think, is a perfect combination.

Already?

Today I am getting ready for this guy's 14th birthday.

I have yet to accomplish any party planning because all I've done so far is look at pictures of him when he was little and wonder how he could possibly be turning 14. Wasn't it just yesterday that he was 4?

Just A Dog

We like to joke that when Steve got cancer he got the kind of cancer that came with a puppy. Steve had always wanted a French Bulldog and cancer makes you realize that life is short and if you want something you should go for it. During the weeks Steve was in the hospital I did my research and found him a dog.  We brought Gavin into our lives at a time when our family needed something positive to focus on together. Falling in love with Gavin was a very easy thing to do and I think he helped all of us heal.  Gavin is adored by the whole family but he is so obviously Steve's dog.  It's quite a love affair between the two of them.  There's no way that Gavin (or anyone else's beloved family pet) can be classified as "just a dog", he's a whole lot more than that.  

This week Gavin almost died.  Basically what happened was that in the middle of the night he threw up and something got stuck in his throat that he couldn't dislodge.  When I found him in the morning he was barely breathing.  He was making a very faint rasping noise but his chest was hardly moving.  His tongue was completely purple and lolling out and his eyes were glassy. It was one of the scariest things I have ever seen.  Within moments of finding him Steve had him in the car on the way to the vet.  I had to get the kids off to school so I couldn't go with them, and I really felt like I was never going to see Gavin again.  He looked so bad that I was convinced he wouldn't even make it to the vet. Somehow he hung on and when Steve rushed through the door with him the vets went right to work and they saved his life. His temperature was 108 (normal dog temp. is 101) and they didn't know how long it had been that high so even though they stabilized him they didn't know if he would make it through the day and even if he did it was too early to say what the long term complications could be.  This story has the happiest of endings, every hour Gavin improved and by the time he had been there for 24 hours the vet was certain that he was going to be just fine.  When we went to pick him up the techs told us that they had formed "Team Gavin" and that he had charmed them all.  Leave it to Gavin to make everyone love him.  

Gavin is home and back to being himself, you'd never know that anything had ever happened.  We feel like the luckiest people in the world. 

after 6 hours in the hospital

safe and sound back at home

It's Fall!

I love fall, everything about it.


I know that fall has arrived when the tree in our front yard is covered in bright-orange balls that look like tiny pumpkins. Dane calls it the pumpkin tree and it is a glorious sight. The tree makes me think of all my favorite things about the season; pumpkin patches, corn mazes, costumes, holidays... Happy Fall everyone!