Dennis Doan Family

2009-11-07T15:05:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2009-11-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Mother and Son Day at the Beach

2009-10-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Logan turns 7!

2009-10-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Logan turned 7 on Aug. 30th, thank you everyone for his cards and gifts! Every year Logan chooses a theme for his parties. This year was an archeology party. I always have so much fun coming up with ideas to match his theme. He's already planning for next year, Rock and Roll! I'll have to post some pictures of past birthdays. So far we have had a circus, knight, pirate and fireman party. We always have so much fun.

2009-08-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

OK, Dennis, OK!!!!

2009-08-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

Dennis is pestering me to get back to blogging. He said to post anything, even just a hello. So here it is...

Hello!!!

I will try to post more soon, love to all of you out there! XXXXXOOOOOO too!

P.S. Please check my friends blog, from the very beginning, she is hilarious, I know you will all appreciate her stories! I have her under "My blog list", it's called My Poor Husband.

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure

2009-02-27T19:21:00.000-08:00

January and February have passed me by in a blur, I really truly had lost track of most of it. My fathers long illness and suffering finally came to an end on Feb. 8th. I was fortunate to be able to go be with him, for a week, just days before his death. I had flown home from that visit, to return just 4 days later for his funeral. I am grateful for my time with him and my family in Tennessee. Even with every last shred of hope that he could possibly pull through, I knew deep down this was coming and even though I did and with the time for goodbyes, it was still so hard to accept and work through. My biggest source of peace was that he was no longer suffering and that he was reunited with so many amazing loved ones that had passed on previously, waiting with open arms to greet him and guide him. Before he passed I was able to thank him for the man he was. I thanked him for always being so accepting of others, he never judged anyone, it didn't matter where you came from or what you looked like, he always gave you a chance. This showed in the 300+ people that came to pay their respect at his service. I thanked him for his awesome sense of humor, which I think, all of us girls inherited. A sense of humor that found lightness in some of the darkest things, and I thanked him for his unconditional love.

I am finally, just in the last few days, feeling myself again. I am coming out of my fog. I think I have been running on auto pilot for too long and hiding in my shell for too long also. I had been avoiding people to a certain degree, I felt to fragile to speak to many, in person, as soon as I heard a loved ones voice I would cry and sometimes felt I wouldn't be able to stop. A few weekends ago, I spent one whole day in bed, crying and sleeping. I think it was what I needed though, to get most of it out of my system. Although I cried and mourned at my Dad's, it still felt all too surreal. When I came back home, the first few weeks, I kept thinking did this really all happen. So, I am moving on with the motions of grief, I pray my family can too. I need to thank and acknowledge my amazing husband for allowing me the time and space to work through all of this, no matter how hard it was/is on him too.

This sunset picture was from the day after my Dad's burial, at his grave site. I felt like it was a smile coming down from him, saying that he was ok, and that we would be also.

I found these poems on the Internet, I don't remember where, but I liked what they said

At the rising sun and at its going down we remember them.

At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter we remember them.

At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring we remember them.

At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer we remember them.

At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn we remember them.

At the beginning of the year and when it ends we remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength we remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart we remember them.

When we have decisions that are difficult to make we remember them.

When we have joy we crave to share we remember them.

When we have achievements that are based on theirs we remember them.

For as long as we live, they too will live, For they are now a part of us, as we remember them.

Dad,

I thought of you with love today but that is nothing new.

I thought about you yesterday and days before that too.

I think of you in silence, I often speak your name.

All I have are memories and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I’ll never part.

God has you in His keeping, I have you in my heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Obituary:

Russell Gregory "Russ" Gebhardt
GEBHARDT, RUSSELL GREGORY (RUSS) - age 59 of Farragut, passed away early Sunday Morning, February 8, 2009 at his home. Born April 11, 1949, Russ was originally from Petaluma, CA, but lived in Los Angeles the majority of his life. He moved to Knoxville, TN in July of 1993 with his wife Aloysia and 2 of his 4 daughters. Russ was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. In his younger years, he was a professional rock singer and recorded several songs in the 60's. Working in the drapery, and later in the construction business; he was seriously injured on the job in 1987. Russ was always smiling and contributed to the family by taking care of the children and helping with the household. He was a wonderful cook, enjoyed singing on the karaoke, boating, hiking, and loved to entertain friends and family in their home. Russ is the son of his late parents, Henry Albert Gebhardt, Jacqueline Fayne Faranda and step-son of Salvatore Faranda. His brother, Jon Faranda and nephew, Samuel Faranda also preceded Russ in death. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Aloysia (Ali) Sinovec Gebhardt; daughters, Leia Corinne Gebhardt, Gina Lauren Gebhardt, Mara Lee Gebhardt of Albequerque, NM, Alicia Gebhardt Doan of Salinas, CA; grandchildren, Alanna, Amadeo, Andreas, Logan; step-mother, Evelyn Murphy of San Bruno, CA; brother, Mark Allen Gebhardt of San Mateo, CA; sister, Tina Capwell of Cupertino, CA; several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel with a Christian Wake Service and Rosary to follow at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Neumann Catholic Church with Father John Dowling celebrant. Graveside services and interment will follow in the Lakeview Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be in the form of donations to St. John Neumann Catholic Church (New Building Fund), 645 St. John Court, Farragut, TN 37934. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Gebhardt family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An amazing, beautiful thing happened after my father's service. My sister, Gina, and one of my father's oldest and dearest friends, Mike, came up with an idea to paint a portrait of my father. Gina is a talented artist and Mike is very much so, making a successful career with his art. Mike started the painting, which became an amazing, emotional, and inspiring tribute to my father. The love shown in each stroke and I think helped us all in easing the pain of our loss. It reminded us of his life and how much he loved us and life, and I knew he was watching and cheering us on. It started with Gina wanting more color and Mike telling her to get in there and do what she wanted, and then it grew to each of us applying our own strokes, with Mike's encouragement. We were all so afraid to ruin it. All four of us girls, my stepmother and my niece and two nephews painted, and it turned out beautifully. The following is a slid show of it.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!

2008-12-24T19:37:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone,we miss you all, and love you all, and wish you all the best!

The end of the year is always a little crazy for me and I have sent the Christmas cards out, just late, as usual. So here is a preview if you didn't get it in time for Christmas:

What time of year is it????

2008-11-16T21:29:00.000-08:00

Sorry, to all our east coast friends and family that are experiencing cooler weather, but we just had temps in the very high 80's to low 90's for 3 days

Sat. we went to a park with lots of shade so Logan and his friend could play and try to eat popsicles before they melted, and today, we went to the beach and Logan played in the water for hours.

Some "Fall" fun
Dynomite, Logan's classroom pet, came to spend the weekend with us.

Happy Fall Ya'll !!!

2008-11-06T22:52:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, we are hoping you are all having a wonderful fall and had a great Halloween. We have enjoyed ours so far, but, the time is just flying by too fast. There are too many things I wanted to do but just didn't get around to. I realized that I never posted pictures of last Halloween or fall, so here are a few along with this years. Last year, we started the rounds of flu early and Logan really did not enjoy Halloween as much as he normally does, he was very sick on Halloween and only lasted barely a half hour before wanting to just come home. This year? He was feeling great and so hyped up on sugar he literally was running circles around Dennis in the front yard, high speed, non-stop, for about 20min. At one point I turned around to find three suckers crammed in his mouth at one time, hence the running amok!! Hey, It's Halloween, it's once a year. Secretly, I was hoping he would make himself so sick He would be repulsed by candy for the rest of his life. I don't think it worked. Luckily we were low on candy and most of what he collected was recycled back out to all the little ghouls and goblins.

Fall/Halloween 2007

Every year Logan comes up with a great idea for a costume, but it can not be any basic costume. Last year he really wanted to be a mummy, but not any mummy it had to be a pharaohs mummy and of course I can't help but to indulge.

Fall/Halloween 2008

This year Logan picked his favorite hero, Robin Hood.

2008-10-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

4th picture of the 4th folder

2008-10-30T19:16:00.001-07:00

I want to learn to do that!

2008-09-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was the Dental convention in San Francisco. Every year, the office I work for attends. It's always a fun trip with all the girls from the office and a great opportunity to meet up with old friends I don't get to see very much. This trip, I found out that Chihuly was exhibiting his glass art at the De Young Museum, and I made a point to go. I love Chihuly! If you have never seen any of his work (here are a few pictures), you really should try to go. Chihuly and his crew are amazing craftsmen and make some of the most beautiful glass art I have ever seen. Watching the movie at the exhibit was like watching a carefully choreographed dance. They have to work so quickly with the glass and they create such gorgeous, delicate pieces. It's amazing and inspiring.

2008-09-07T14:25:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I Love Smilebox, it's so much fun. Try it out if you haven't already.

New Look!

2008-08-06T00:58:00.001-07:00

Yeah! A new look. I keep seeing all the cute new backgrounds everyone has been updating to and I needed a change too. I know, I know you haven't heard from me in a while, I promise to add something soon. Love and best wishes to all of you out there!

I'm a Snake Wrangler!

2008-07-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

Here is "Weggie's" Story

About a month ago, Logan and Dennis went out to a friends ranch house. Along the way, on the road, they found Reggie and stopped to catch him, and of course he HAD to be brought home! With Dennis and Logan there is no way around that. Luckily snakes don't bother me. Reggie is really very sweet, he's a Gopher snake and is about two feet long. So we bought him a nice little terrarium, some sand and artificial rocks and plants, and made a comfy little snake home for him. Logan even got to watch him shed, to great excitement. Feeding him however was not well received by Logan, what do you mean feed that cute fuzzy baby mouse to him! So it is agreed, by Logan, that if Reggie is to be kept, and alive for that matter, Reggie will eat in private and without Logan's knowledge.

Last Thursday, we discovered Reggie was missing! Logan insisted on me posting lost pet posters, hence the sign below. I really was trying to delay posting them, truly thinking the neighbors would not be real happy with this news.

Yipeeeee! Reggie was spotted in the living room today and I wrangled him out, put him in his cage, adding a very large rock to the top. Hopefully that will keep the little Houdini in. He did help with some dusting! He was covered in little dust bunnies. See, I told you he was rather sweet!!!

Hmmm, what would the neighbors think?

2008-07-07T19:55:00.001-07:00

I already can imagine what you have to say Sarah! ;)

Snips, Snails, Puppy Dog Tails and MUDD!!!!

2008-07-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is what I came home to Monday night after work. Logan was having such great fun and loved that we were all hiding in the kitchen, watching him, for fear of being attacked by the mud monster!

Summertime!

2008-06-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and we have been busy.

It started on Fathers day weekend. Logan, my Mom and I went to San Francisco on Saturday, for the day. We took Logan to the Exploratorium and to an international dance festival that was there, at the Palace of Fine Arts. I have not been there since I was a kid and forgot how beautiful the park is and how fun the museum is. The dance festival was wonderful, they had performers from several different countries in beautiful traditional costumes. We saw Scottish, Indian, Afro-Peruvian, Flamenco, Hip Hop, Korean, Japanese, and Mexican folkloric performers. At the end of the show, they all did a Conga line out to the lobby for a big international dance party. It was so much fun. After we left the park Logan really wanted to go up and down the "big hills", which we did, along with Lombard "the crookedest" street and then a visit to Coit Tower, to the top, which didn't last too long because I am very, make that extremely afraid of heights. Logan held my hand and took good care of me though.

For Fathers day Dennis wanted to relax at a pool and have a BBQ, so we headed to my Aunt's in Felton, and went to the community pool nearby. We BBQ'd on her back porch under the redwoods. It was a really nice relaxing day. Dennis was very content.

This last weekend it started with the Relay for Life on Friday, the office I work for participates every year. This year Logan stayed with me until late and walked many laps with me until Dennis came to pick him up at 10pm, I stayed until 2:30 and finally headed home. On Saturday we went to our friends BBQ, we have not seen them for 2 years. They have three boys, one of which is only one day older than Logan. The BBQ was at the Uncle's house in Prunedale, he has horses to ride and a doon buggy to drive, a mountain of hay bales to climb, and snakes to catch. A boy's dream! Then on Sunday we went out to the quarter midget race track in Morgan Hill. It was promotional day and for ten dollars Logan could race a car around the track about 8 times and get a trophy for participating. Logan did so well and loved it so much he went for a second round. I have a feeling this is something he might get into, Dennis and I both had fun too and really loved watching Logan.

So Proud!

2008-06-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

Logan has graduated from Kindergarten and we are so proud. He is an excellent student and has scored very well on the Stanford SAT's. Out of 28 area's of testing he scored above average on 19 and average in 9 with 5 of those on the high end of the average bar. I have to also post his poem he made up in his head a few weeks ago. He really truly did this off the top of his head and I personally was blown away and just have to share!

"The bruised hand.

The moon shines brightly,

and the grave cracks that's

not so delightly, and it's

followed by the tune of the angels.

While the daisy's sing, the flowers swing.

God sets down Jesus' ring and he rises on

his wings."

I asked him what his poem was about and he said it was about Jesus' resurrection, I also asked him what he meant about the ring and he said it was Jesus' ring of thorns and the bruised hand was where the nails had been. This was a mouth dropping to the floor moment for me and filled my heart with overwhelming love and pride.

My First Quilt!

2008-06-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

I just completed my first quilt and gave it as a gift to Logan's kinder teacher. She is so wonderful. I wanted to help the kids in his class, give her something from all of them at the end of the school year. I decided to do an art quilt and asked all the kids to draw a picture for Mrs. Lazzeroni. She loved it and I'm proud of pulling it off with out the surprise being told, especially with eleven five year olds!

Tennessee

2008-06-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

What is it about Tennessee? Whenever I am there I feel as if I have come home, I always have such a feeling of peace and contentment. Each time I ask myself if it's just because I'm on vacation, but it always seems much more than that. I especially feel this way in Eastern Tennessee with the Smokies nearby. I Just got back from there last week, I finally got a chance to visit my Dad, stepmother and sisters. I had such a nice trip. Even though my father was still at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville, I had a very nice time visiting with him for 5 days. Most of the days I would spend the morning site seeing and then head over to the hospital in the afternoon to have lunch then stay till late visiting. I didn't get to see my stepmother and sisters much, I wish I could have more, but this trip was about my Dad and just being with him after all he has been through. His strength, determination and sense of humor just amazes me. He only has about one more week to stay infection free and he can be on the transplant list. Here are some pictures I took during my wanderings.

April Showers DO bring May flowers!

2008-06-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

May is starting out better. My Sister is recovering well physically but is still struggling with the mind and spirit. My father's surgery has been successful and he is recovering well. My Uncle has come home to recover and build up his strength and my family is still dealing with the sadness of the loss, pain and suffering of loved ones but have hope and faith of it easing each day.

I will be going to visit my Father soon and can hardly wait. Being so far away has been driving me crazy. I will be relieved to see him, my stepmother and two youngest sisters.

April--could have skipped it!

2008-05-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

Nothing personal against April but I really could have skipped it this year. It was a month of crazy stress for me, of major ups and downs, and feeling like I barely breathed. The saying when it rains it pours, definitely sounds right in describing it. So, in that case, I hope the saying April showers bring May flowers will be true.

My father for the last 4 years has been battling an injury he had with his leg. He has now had so many surgeries I have lost count, it is somewhere at at least 6. He has had an infection in that same leg that comes and goes as it pleases, playing hide and seek within his bones. During this time he has also had problems with his liver and with every surgery it has depleted its capacity to function. He has needed a transplant for the last 2 years but because of the infection, he has not been eligible for one. He finally had to make a hard decision to either continue with several more surgeries to remove the infection, causing more damage to his liver, or amputate the leg for a better chance of getting rid of the infection all at once and a better chance to be placed on the transplant list. He decided to remove the leg.

In early April my youngest Sister, Gina was in a head on collision caused by a drunk driver going the wrong way on the freeway. By a miracle of God Gina survived but sadly her friend, the passenger had died. Gina is now recovering from several broken bones and a saddened spirit. Just when you think nothing more could happen, my uncle is in the hospital for three weeks and almost dies of pneumonia and another uncle does die after returning home from hernia surgery.

Needless to say, I have had a heightened sense of paranoia and worry of anything else happening and hope the dark cloud over my family disappears quickly and quietly and pray it won't affect anyone else.

Eureka!

2008-04-07T13:26:00.000-07:00

Eureka here we come!

We have a friend that produces concerts here in town and he asked if we would like to run an errand for him. He needed someone to drive up to Eureka and pick up a Harley for Destiney on the Rock of Love reality show. Recently he brought the group Poison to town and Bret Michaels the lead singer will be returning solo next week. Bret Michaels has a reality show called Rock of Love on VH1, Destiny, one of the girls on the show, needed to have a bike she just inherited transported to LA. Our friend Dave has a produce transporting business and offered to help her out but needed it brought down from Eureka to Salinas. He asked Dennis if we would like to get out of town for the weekend, and we did. It's so beautiful up there, it was such a quick trip but we stopped at a few places along the way. Here are some pictures. Logan is the best traveler ever by the way!

My sweet and romantic Logan gave her a flower because she was sad about her Daddy.

Notice the moose "ears"

Easter at Roaring Camp

2008-04-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

Every year we go to Roaring Camp, in the Santa Cruz mountains, for Easter, with family and friends. We have an egg hunt, eat and play and enjoy the day and each other.

Spring is here!

2008-03-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

Spring is here!

Aaaachoo, sniffle, sniffle, cough.

For all the allergies that come with it we do love it and have been busy. Last week, I had so much fun. I spent Tues. morning with the kids in Logan's kinder class making easter bonnets. Then on Thurs. morning they had their Easter party. They went on a parade through the school with their beautiful bonnets on and had an Easter egg hunt. Afterwards they played games and won prizes. I'm so glad I could be there. Today we are just getting ready for our annual family picnic at Roaring Camp with my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins, a few friends will be coming with their kids also. Logan and I are making carrot cake cupcakes to take and of course coloring some eggs. We'll have an egg hunt there too and play some games. We wish you all a happy and wonderful Easter too!

Happy New Year!

2008-02-03T15:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, a very belated happy new year. My apologies for going MIA. We have been busy, busy, busy with just plain old life. We had a very quiet but nice Christmas and New Years. Here are a few new pictures of some things we have done lately. Hope all is well with everyone and we send our love to all.

We took Logan bowling for the first time. I forgot how much fun it can be.

Logan set up this pose, always my little clown.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Martin Luther King Day, Logan and I had a Mommy and Son Day. I took him to Denny's for his favorite breakfast, Alien pancakes and headed to the Aquarium. I love our aquarium, it's the best! I guess it helps being right on the edge of a marine sactuary. The day started to be rainy but by the time we got to Monterey it was sooooo beautiful.

Look what I caught!

The wave room is always a favorite.

Being a barnicle is such fun, especially when you can reach out a grab your "food". (what a joy to scare people half to death)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logan just finished spirit week at school and had to dress up each day for a different theme.

This is the cutest nerd I have ever seen.

Crazy Day!Pick a decade: Mini Fonzie

It's Christmas Time!

2007-12-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

Every year I think I'm going to slow down for this Christmas but it seems to just snowball ( no pun intended) with more and more activities, starting off on the first weekend of Dec. I finally got my tree up this weekend but haven't found the tub of ornaments yet, maybe this very last weekend before Christmas I finally will. Someday I will get organized, I say that every new year, as my resolution but I never stick with it. Logan is going haywire, I'll have to sign off for now.

Love to all,
Alicia

Fall Leaves

2007-11-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

Logan and I spent yesterday morning raking up the leaves, in the front yard, and playing in them. It was one of those classic childhood moments, and one of those beautiful fall days that are sunny and crisp. We buried him in the pile just before Dennis came home from work and as he walked by, Logan jumped out and scared the beejeezies out of him, he had no idea Logan was in there, and Logan was thrilled. I of course had the camera out and took some pictures. I had a little fun adding some effects to them and really love how they turned out (I love little feet!). I had some spare time today to do a little digital scrapbooking and am very proud of how this one turned out. I am also very pleased that I figured out how to post it too.

Happy fall to all of you!

Fall is here, Halloween is near, this is my favorite time of year!!!!!

2007-10-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love fall! I love the feel of the weather and the colors, and Halloween is just too much fun, and of course we can't forget Thanksgiving and all the thankfulness for everything and everyone, and pumpkin, pumpkin and more pumpkin whatever, OOOOOh, I just love it all! Anyways, I think I am finished gushing over fall but thought I would post some pictures of Fall in the past, mainly my cute little pumpkin that is growing, growing, growing!

At a year old

At 2 years old

At 3 years old

At 4 years old

Ren Faire Pictures

2007-09-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

Words so sweet

2007-09-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today I picked up Logan from school and as we walked across the parking lot he said, "Mommy lets play I spy, I'll start. I see something red." I replied "the car". Logan said it was my turn and I said " I spy something yellow" and he guessed right. Then he said "my turn! I spy a beautiful lady, who I love." and it was me.

Another year older!!!

2007-09-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

Aaaahhh!! I'm another year older and can't understand where the years have gone. I have turned 38, how did that happen???? I don't feel it, well maybe, my body seems to be doing some new wierd things, but mentally no. Actually I should say at heart because mentally there have been more episodes of forgetfulness, sometimers or momtimers. I had a great birthday, it was the little things that meant the most. Logan painted a beautiful picture of hummingbirds, my favorite, and Dennis gave me a card that meant a lot. It was a card that I knew he read and felt the words and it made me cry. I love my boys!!!!

We didn't do anything on Friday, my actual birthday, because the office I work for takes a picture every year for our holiday card. The Drs. always buy us dinner after. This year it just happened to be scheduled on my birthday and it was a lot of fun. We took our picture on a boat off the wharf in Monterey and even went on a mini ride for about 30 min. There is one male Dr.(poor guy!), three female Drs. and 12 crazy, silly women who actually all get along and have a great time. Saturday Logan and I went to his little swingers golf class and out to breakfast, just the two of us (Dennis works every other Sat. till 12) and I spent the afternoon cleaning the inside of the van. I recently sat in the back seat after not doing so for a very long time and was horrified at how dirty it was. Especially the sliding door, I never see the inside of when I put Logan in his seat. I think his juice box exploded a few times, or most likely he used it as a squirt gun, without me knowing it. So I scrubbed the whole inside of the van, vacuumed and fabreezed it.

Today was my birthday fun day. The Renaissance faire is at Casa de Fruta and we went for the whole day. We love the faire, its so much fun. Logan really loves it. Unfortunately I didn't have any time to make any costumes but will have to maybe start planing now for next year. Logan was very upset with me. He wanted to be a Knight or at least a squire, especially since he just had his Knight birthday party. I haven't gathered all the pictures of his birthday yet but as soon as I do I will post some along with our renaissance pictures.

Thank you for all the happy birthday cards and comments. I love and miss you all too.

Alicia

Spoke too soon

2007-09-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

It's 12:30 Mon. morning (Labor Day) and Logan wakes up screaming and crying because of a terrible earache I drive all over town looking for a store open to buy eardrops and finally find a Longs drugs, on the other side of town, open. I get home and give him the drops, Dennis rubs his back and we play soft music, he falls asleep and we think he'll be ok. Again he wakes up crying and screaming and says his ear is worse, it is now 3am. After a half hour, I can't take it any more and don't think he can either, we decide to take him to emergency, thank goodness it's a slow night and they see him right away. Yes, it's a really bad ear infection and they give him pain med and antibiotics. We go home, it's 4am, and we sleep until 2pm.

What a crazy couple of weeks! I can't believe what Logan has been through. Today he is fine he went back to school last Tues. I think we are staying home this weekend and vegetating.

I have survived!!!!

2007-09-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and it ends this weekend, thank goodness, because I am about ready to collapse!! It's all been for fun though so it has been worth it. Two weeks ago we started with Logan's first week of school and and ended the weekend with: Friday night at the Circus, Saturday night at the Heart concert and Sunday all day at a family picnic and swimming. Logan spent 4 1/2 hours of swimming, non-stop, really and truly! How anyone can doggy paddle that long, I have no idea. I keep telling Dennis that Logan is part energizer bunny or I guess, fish in this case. I think now he believes me.

Monday Logan was back at school and Dennis and I back at work, then Logan came down with a Nasty virus on Tues., I have never seen him so sick and miserable. Three days of coughing, high fever and stomach ache. I thought he was on his way to recovery Thurs. morning (his actual birthday), he seemed a lot better and requested pizza and Ice cream cake for his birthday dinner. When I got home however, he had just woken up and his fever had, soared again and he was vomiting non-stop. He had really bad stomach pain and I couldn't even touch his tummy. I freaked out thinking it might be appendix and we took him to urgent care, we sat there for 2 hours and in the meantime Logan had purged that "evil" virus from his system and was bouncing around the exam room like he hadn't been so ill, just a few hours before. I told the Dr. it was like taking your car to the mechanic with that weird noise, that suddenly disappears when he looks at it. The Dr. said it was the tail end of the virus, his tummy was fine and he wouldn't be surprised if that was the peak of it, sure enough he was better the next day. He still has an occasional bad cough, but as per the Dr. he's ok for his birthday party (really an event!) on Saturday.

So here we are the day after the event and I have survived, Dennis and I pretty much did nothing except try to un-package Logan's new toys, which is really a job in itself. Can you believe all the twisty ties, tape and little clear rubber bands they use anymore? It took us two hours to figure out how to turn his new Optimus Prime transformer into a big rig, only to have him want it turned into a robot again right after! You gotta just laugh and love it though. He had a really great birthday party, as soon as I get the pictures I'll post them and tell you all why I have declared myself certifiably insane. Also, I have to thank God for his little miracle this morning, Logan slept till eleven and so did Dennis and I!!! Yeah!!!!!!!
Energizer Fish

Not so happy Birthday Boy :(

We've got videos!

2007-08-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!! I never noticed the video tab before on the new posting box. Now you can see Logan and his moves.

The Circus is in Town!

2007-08-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Logan went to his first big circus last night. We took him to the Barnum and Bailey show in San Jose at the HP Pavilion. We kept it a surprise as an early birthday present. He was so excited, he didn't know what we were doing until we got into the arena. His pre-school had spent a week learning about the circus last month, they even put on a little show for the summer camp kids. He loved seeing a real circus, I think he may run away and join even!! They had an open floor pre-show where you could see mini-acts up close and meet the clowns, acrobats and animals. It was so much fun.

Logan's first day of Kindergarten

2007-08-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Logan started kindergarten today and luckily, because of the happy first day chaos, I didn't have time to think about it and start to cry. Not until I got in the car and started to think about it on the way home! I can't believe he is that big already, the time really does just fly by. Here our a few pictures of our big boy on his first day.

Rock and Roll

2007-08-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

Like father like son. Logan loves rock and roll music just like his Daddy (the heavier the better). Both of them have been in rock and roll heaven lately. A good friend of ours has been producing concerts here, at the rodeo grounds, and has made Dennis his official photographer with backstage privileges. Where Dennis goes so does Logan. Logan joins daddy on many trips to the grounds to document all the activity. This last concert he got to stay and see the concert and meet the band after. So far the concerts have been the Scorpions, Mary J. Blige and this last one was Poison. In a few more weeks we'll be seeing Heart (yes we are flashing back to the 80's, it sure is fun though). Here are a few pictures Dennis took and a few of Logan meeting the band. I have to say C.C. DeVille is the greatest, he spent so much time talking and visiting with everyone and gave many tips to Logan on being a musician, including insuring him that the more you play and the louder you play, especially early in the morning, makes your parents extra proud!

Big Week at the Rodeo

2007-07-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Serious Cowboy Moooooo!!!!
It's big week here, at the California Rodeo and everyone becomes a cowboy or girl for at least the week. Logan, I think, may truly be one at heart. He loves to dress up as a cowboy, he even has aliases, Jedadiah Johnathan or Ron Jon, which he uses frequently. Both names made up by him. Jedadiah, I think, is in honor of the character in the movie, Night at the Museum, which he loves and Ron is Daddy's brother, who he loves too. Sadly, we missed the stick horse race this year, it's been on a Thursday night for years. I rushed around like a mad woman to get us there on time, to sign him up, but found out it was moved to the next night. Logan and I made the best of it and had a great mother and son evening at the rodeo. My little cowboy got a lot of attention, especially when he got his groove on, and danced for everyone sitting up in the bleachers. Certain songs just hit him a certain way and he can't contain it, he's gotta dance! If I can figure out how to post a video of it, I will.

Trip to Missouri

2007-07-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

What a great vacation!

It was so good to see everyone, but it sure is hard to leave. We had such a good time, it made us realize, even more, how much we miss and love everyone. Logan had the time of his life, all the cousins to play with, swimming, fireworks and bugs! What boy could ask for anything more? Thank you, to everyone for all that you did and shared. The reception party was so beautiful, but not as gorgeous as the couple of course. Hillary did such a beautiful job on the girls dresses, they all looked like little princeses. What fantastic, beautiful children we all have even with the tears and whining. We love you and thank you for a great time and more wonderful memories.

New to Blogging

2007-06-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

Hello Blogging world!

Never thought I would do this! I was never good at keeping a journal or diary, but hope I'll be a little better at this. Warning to friends and family out there, the postings may be far and few between, but I will do my best. I hope this will help keep our family and friends far away up to date on photos and activities we are up to. Dennis and I love and miss you all. Although he and I feel our lives are pretty mundane, the love of our lives, Logan, brings us joy, spontaneity and adventure to each day and will probably be the main topic of this blog. Thank you to Jenny, aka MammaDoan, for bringing this to my attention.