a season of thanks

So once in every year we throng

Upon a day apart,

To praise the Lord with feast and song

In thankfulness of heart.

~Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving

Well folks, it's been a busy week (as usual) full of food, fun, and well, more food.  However, I guess that's kind of the point of Turkey Day now isn't it!  I know I certainly enjoyed all of the yummy Thanksgiving food X2 because now that I'm Mrs. Weir I get to share Thanksgiving with two families instead of one!

I will return to the Thanksgiving topic a little later on, but I want to catch up what happened in the days before.

As I said before my Mom and I went on a little road trip to Cincinnati so that we could bring my brother home for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Not only that, but I FINALLY got to see Xavier University(including this blue guy up here who happens to be the school mascot), in all its Christmas finery I might add, and meet his adorable girlfriend Veronica.

The drive was a blast.  Not only did we stock up on junk food at pit stops, we had 6 hours to talk about anything and everything we wished with no interruptions.  I love my momma and I felt spoiled spending so much special time with her.  We stayed at a wonderful hotel too and had an extremely yummy breakfast at the hotel breakfast restaurant.  

We spent a night and a day in Cincinnati with Tad and I must say I had a wonderful time.  Not only did we visit one of my favorite restaurants for dinner, Buca Di Beppo, I got to see Tad's dorm room and spend not one, but two meals with him and his girlfriend Veronica.

They are a cute couple, he happens to be 13 inches taller than she is, but there's no surprise there considering he is a towering 6'5''.

Notice my brother is stubborn and refuses to smile despite persuading by both myself and Veronica.  Still, a very sweet picture.

I think my husband was slightly jealous when I, after days of complaining about how uncomfortable our bed was, drifted off to sleep while on the phone with him at the hotel.

However, he remedied that problem as soon as I returned home and fixed our bed frame, with a little help from my persistent complaining.  Oops, I guess I can't help myself when it comes to being comfortable at bedtime.  Thanks sweetheart;)

I was very excited to get back home just in time to get prepared for Thanksgiving, which included the contribution of my very first dish to The Weir family Thanksgiving.  Aaron  and his family are all about the traditional Thanksgiving dishes so I made green bean casserole.

That was a mean casserole.  I added a little more fried onions than the recipe calls for, but they are the best part so how could I resist.

The morning started off, as it always does, with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  Cassie and I set our alarms and bundle up on the couch to watch the parade.  I was even lucky enough to see one of my favorite artists perform her new Christmas single in the parade!

We spent Thanksgiving morning at Aaron sister Becky's house and shared a lovely, and delicious, Thanksgiving lunch together.  It was so nice to catch up with Aaron's sisters and share some special time with our nieces.  Baby Charlotte spent some quality time with my hubby, which was very cute to see.

This beautiful bird was brined and basted to perfection at our next destination.

After a relaxed morning at Becky's house, we said our thanks and traveled to our second Thanksgiving with my family.  My Aunt and Uncle hosted the meal, along with some help from Aunt Tracy and Uncle Stuart.  The atmosphere was cozy, the meal was stunning, and the company was perfection.  We had a wonderful time sharing our first Thanksgiving together and both enjoyed some of our favorite things; socializing and football, wonder if you can guess which belongs to whom.

I was thankful on Thanksgiving, as I am every day, for my wonderful family, especially my husband.  God truly blessed me when he chose Aaron to be my soulmate and led me on a path to find him.  I am so thankful to have a husband who supports me, cares for me, loves me unconditionally, and showers me with affection every day.  God blessed me with a perfect husband and a beautiful life.  I am so thankful for all the gifts I God blessed me with.

After all the thanks was given and the food was eaten it was back to keeping up the Christmas cheer.  Cassie and I organized a party with the the girls in her class to box up lots of cookies everyone made for a friend of our cousin Kimmy who is serving in Afghanistan.  We went caroling around our neighborhood with all the girls and boxed up two huge boxes full of special treats for the troops.  We were truly celebrating God's gift of our brave servicemen and servicewomen.

Penny couldn't help but get involved, especially when there was hot chocolate and popcorn around.  She was a big help when Cassie and I made the cookies too.

By lying there and begging for crumbs when we took the cookies out of the oven.

I was so proud of Cassie and the girls in her class for their Christmas cheer and spirit of giving.  They worked hard making and packaging the cookies and their caroling was sensational. They got lots of compliments from the neighbors too!

I got all my Christmas shopping and wrapping finished, which was a relief, and my hubby got his St. Nicholas Day present early; his official family stocking, complete with his name.

So now that the stockings are hung by the chimney with care we are all ready for the 25 days of Christmas!  Goodbye November, Hello December!  It truly is a magical month...

tinsel & mistletoe

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  ~Dr. Seuss

Well, my Dad is a notorious Grinch come the Christmas season.  He grumbles when the decoration boxes come up from the basement, when the wrapping of the gifts begins, making of the Christmas oyster crackers and cheeseballs starts, and never ever likes shopping for gifts.  BUT...this year he has found out that his heart has grown.  He loves everything about Christmas this year and even sneakily played Santa Clause making our house the most popular UPS stop on the route.  Not only that, he didn't get stuck lugging the decoration boxes up and down the steps because Aaron was on call.  Thanks hubby for carrying the boxes up and taking them back down for me:)

I FINALLY finished the decorating, one of my favorite holiday activities, and I must say the house looks very festive.  The candles smell wonderful!  Mulled Cider is definitely my new favorite Christmas scent.  There are a thousand and one ornaments on the tree and even the pups are getting in the spirit.  They like to lick the ornaments, despite our fears that Marley might decide to try one as a snack, and got very excited when their stockings went up.  Penny remembers the treats that usually find their way into them come Christmas morning.

My wonderful husband even helped me put up our tree this year, multi-colored lights and all.  

I will admit that despite my affinity towards all white Christmas lights I love our multi-colored tree.  It even has quite a few ornaments on it already thanks to Christmas gifts from the past two years.  Now we just need that perfect newlywed ornament.  My parents have a really special ornament from their first Christmas as Mr & Mrs and I have always wanted one that is similar.  Our first trip to the mall was unsuccessful, but I get a little overzealous in my Christmas shopping pre-Thanksgiving so that's understandable.

The special ornament, once it is found won't even grace our tree until after Christmas Eve so there isn't a rush.

Poor Penny-pup has a sore right shoulder and has had some trouble getting up and down the basement steps.  Not that that keeps her from scaling them EVERY time I go up and down (she loves to follow me around the house) or from gladly going on trips to Grandmama's house.  She must not be too hurt.

Penny has a new office-buddy joining her as Aaron is now working with Kevin's company Better Life to help in the advertising and marketing.  I am so proud that my husband chooses to work for a company based in making our homes safer and healthier for ourselves and our children.  Also because he didn't settle for a cookie-cutter job and is doing something he is truly passionate about.  

I love the names of the products, especially the glass-cleaner "I Can See Clearly, WOW!"

In other Weir family news, we are now members of St. Charles Borromeo parish.

Not only is it the parish I grew up attending, but it is also where Aaron and I tied the knot almost 6 months ago.

We actually attended Mass yesterday and it was a new and exciting experience to go as a couple, sit in a new spot, and spend the whole Mass holding hands.  It is truly wonderful to be part of a parish community that holds a special place in both of our hearts.

I couldn't help, but put one of my favorite wedding photos in, this taken outside the church between one of the many rain showers that happened on our wedding day.

Mom and I are driving up to Xavier tomorrow to pick Tad up from school for Thanksgiving break and I could not be more excited.  Not only do I get to see Xavier University for the first time, including my brother's dorm room (SCARY!), we are going out to dinner with his girlfriend Veronica, whom I have never met.  I am very excited, especially as she may be coming to Hilton Head this summer on the Delicath-Weir family vacation.

As long as all reservations go smoothly this is the beautiful house we will be living in for a week! I am excited for some fun in the sun and my hubby's first experience with the South Carolina sunshine.

Here's to a fantastic road trip with my momma!

I am so excited to spend so much alone time with her.  Now that I am a Mrs. I don't get the chance very often so I will be soaking up every minute, even if I do have to work during the drive.

So y'all (just practicing for our summer vacation) enjoy your food-filled Turkey Days and lots of family time.  Splitting the day between our two families will mean double the food for both of us, which means double the cranberry sauce, my personal favorite.

what's in a name?

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take

-Anonymous

I was thinking today about how much I have been enjoying blogging and realized I never got around to explaining why I chose to name my blog "anybody special tonight."

Above I quote a common prayer used at bedtime, the prayer I prayed as a child every night after my story and before my mom tucked me in.  I still pray that prayer today, but my family extended it so that we could pray for everyone in a special way each night.  After a list of all our loved ones which is said in a sing-songy pattern impossible to describe to anyone except those who have been praying it we say "aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and everybody...A-goobafied-men tonight.  Anybody Special Tonight."

The "goobafied" part is just a nickname I acquired in my childhood due to my Dad's inability to learn song lyrics, but the last thing we said was anbody special tonight.  Then we would list off anyone we wanted to pray for who wasn't included on our list, or who needed extra attention due to illness, hardship, etc.

Well, I still pray that same prayer every night before I fall asleep and the list of anbody special gets longer and longer.  During this Christmas season I pray that everyone has someone praying for them when they are asked if there is anbody special tonight.

fall is in the air!

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; 

It makes no noise at all, 

But softly gives itself away;

While quite unselfish, it grows small.

- Eva K. Logue

It has been a blustery week, not to mention fickle, with so many warm days and the recent cool ones.  I have to say the pups certainly love the newly cool weather and enjoy sunning, prancing, and romping around in the leaves.

Aaron helped rake some leaves last weekend and learned how much Golden's love literally lying down in the pile of leaves you are raking up.  I personally would love to leap into a large pile of leaves...

BUT there are far too many spiders in that pile that I think about just before truly considering jumping.  I'm sure my husband would shake his head at this comment, knowing it is in fact true.

This week brought thoughts of the upcoming holiday celebrations, including mine and Aarons' upcoming 6-month-a'versary.  Someone recently asked me what the best part of being married was and so many things came to mind I was speechless.  I am sure I went into a ten minute description of our life together thus far and how special each day is with the man God chose for me.  Our day-to-day marriage calendar (yes, we saved it from our Pre-Cana class) had the answer a few days later:

The best part of being married is having someone in bed so it is never cold.

-Frank, married 50 years

This quote is, taken literally, true, but the underlying meaning describes perfectly the first thing I would answer the next person who asks me this question.

My husband really does keep the cold out of my life.  He is there when I need someone to tell that really random observation I just made that no one else would care about.  He is the person I love to be "just the two of us" with for the rest of my life.  I am never lonely when he is around. I always have someone who listens to me when I am angry, frustrated, sad, happy, hyper (that takes a special person in itself), and bubbling over with love.  I can only hope I do the same for him each day of our marriage.

This Christmas season my goal is to do my best to be grateful for what I have been given and to show those around me how lucky I feel to love and be loved by them.  

Yes, the picture above is our Christmas tree, lit up with a few extra light strands to make it extra twinkly this year.  I got excited when 102.5 KEZK started playing Christmas music and just HAD to put up the decorations.  There is just one special stocking missing from the fireplace, but it may soon appear due to a little Christmas magic.

The Christmas season also means family gatherings and traditions.  My beautiful family may seem like a zoo at times, especially when Aaron and I are sharing our lives with them in the same state for the first time, but every day we never fail to laugh at ourselves and find joy in the moments we share together.  

Especially if it involves margaritas with mom:)

That's something else I learned this week, that just because I no longer call my mom every day because I see her every day I can't forget about spending time being a wife.  Not that I do, but when you have the family you missed so close to you after time apart one you get a little overzealous.  So, this week I think I will make Tiffany's famous meatballs and get back to being the "housewife" I was in Chicago.

So here's to a holly-filled week and lots of Christmas shopping.  This year I have resolved to buy all the gifts before Thanksgiving so I have a few weeks to theme out a few special gifts.  Enjoy the chilly, "Christmasy" weather!

all this and heaven too? wow!

People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life like 

loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?

A four-year-old answered: Well, dogs already know how to do that, 

so they don't have to stay as long.

-Author Unknown

Dogs certainly have the life, don't they?  Once they find the right family, they get all the love and attention they need (plus more) and are happy and contented with life.  They always wag their tails, large or small, when you walk through the door and somehow always know when you need to be comforted.  They truly are unique members of their families.

These pups certainly know the good life.  Penny, Marley, and Buffy are special members of our family and bring our lives much love and joy.  They teach us the simplicities of a happy, love-filled life.

I have to say Penny has been energy-filled lately due to her new exercise and diet regimen.  She got a little rambunctious while helping me bust the Furminator criminals a few days ago.  Here's the aftermath:

Well, Aaron did have a part in it too...I love my little Penny girl and love having such an adorable office buddy.

In "sister news,"  Cassie has finally decided where she will be going to high school.  I am proud to say that she will be continuing the legacy and will be attending Villa Duchesne High School.

I had the pleasure of picking her up from her day of shadowing and was overwhelmed with a sense of warmth when I walked through the familiar school doors.  I feel very lucky to have a second home in Villa, even after 6 years (geez I feel old).  It will be so much fun to watch my little sister enjoy the same traditions and experiences I found so much joy in years ago.  Not only am I a proud alum of Villa, my beautiful cousin Sydney will become one as well upon her upcoming graduation.

This weekend was packed...literally.  I helped my hubby's sister move her family, with the help of Aaron and many other helpers, into their beautiful new rental home.

It sure brought back memories of our recent move.  I remember when we moved into our Chicago apartment I said I would never move myself again and then relived the experience recently.  Moving houses, though, is much different than moving a small apartment.  I was happy to help Becky get her little girls' rooms and bathroom ready so that amidst the madness of moving, bedtime would be taken care of.  Not to mention how fun it was to put Barbie sheets on their beds and dress up their bathroom in it's pink and green finery.

I attended Sunday Mass single this week, due to stomach aches and sore throats and was able to really focus on the homily.  Father Hampy, the delightful chaplain, gave a homily themed with a simple statement: all this and heaven too? wow!  Sitting by myself I spent the rest of the Mass reflecting on the good things I have in my life.

I have a wonderful, supportive husband.  A loving family.  Wonderful happy pups, friends, and acquaintances who help me to be the person I have grown up to be.  Heaven must be a wonderful place because I feel so blessed with what God has given me here on earth.  


Sometimes life throws a curveball at you.  You don't get the dream job you felt was perfect for you.  A friend turns their back on you.  You have a really bad day.  You have a bad hair day.  Someone makes you really fuming mad.

That's when you remember there is someone with you always.  Who always loves you.  Who always forgives you.  Who gave up his life so that you could have all this and heaven too.  Wow!


Father Hampy shared a story at the end of his homily about a boy who made the Columbia University football team.  He wasn't a star player, but he loved the game and put all he had into every practice.  In the middle of the season, his father passed away.  A few days later there was an important game coming up.  He asked the coach if, just this once, he could go in as a starter.  His coach, thinking because of his father's death it would be a nice gesture to allow the boy this opportunity, said yes.  Game day came and the boy played like a pro; he even received the game ball.  In the locker room after the game the coach asked the boy what had motivated him to play such an outstanding game.  The boy told the coach that his father was blind.  This was the first football game his father had seen him play.


The story was a shocking example of how grateful each one of us should feel for what we have.

The homily was appropriately themed for tis the season of thanks!  My husband's favorite holiday just happens to be Thanksgiving and in a few weeks we will be enjoying lots of food and football (x2)!  This will be our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife, not to mention the jingly, tinsely holiday that is also approaching.  This time of year truly is the most wonderful!