a spring sort of feeling

Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness.

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

My, it has been a long winter!!  However, not as cold and snowy as usual and I am grateful for that.  Cold does not keep us away from the dog park, although it leaves poor Brutus lonely.  Not too many owners want to brave the cold as we do.  Brutus has energy whether it is warm or cold.  Thank goodness for the dog park!

Brutus was spoiled during the cold with some new toys, one of which was this "big boy" set of chew keys.  He can't really be allowed to chew for too long at a time.  He tends to eat the plastic, not good for his belly or my sleep schedule. 

It was so nice to have a cuddly boy during the cold nights (and mornings) spent under the covers.  He discovered the benefits to sleeping under the covers too, it was easier for him to kick us out of bed and out of his space...

The one thing he did do a LOT of this winter is grow!  He is huge compared to the fall.  Many of our neighbors claim he went into hibernation an awkward puppy and came out a grown up dog.  He may be big, but he still has some growing up and settling down to do.

My wonderful husband did not disappoint this Valentine's Day.  The roses he brought home, a day early, were beautiful.

I am one lucky wife.  I think Aaron takes the saying "Happy Wife, Happy Life" to heart.

I think this idea was proven by the Superbowl menu.  We had WAY too much food.  Thankfully our favorite neighbors came over and helped us eat it.  Aaron was clearly a very happy guy.

The winter has vastly decreased the amount of pictures I am able to take of Brutus so some of the best have been taken from inside, even inside the car.  He is still stinking cute, even in the car.

Can't help but observe EVERYTHING...even if it is speeding by Brutus could spot another dog a mile away.

I had to take this picture.  I have wonderful memories of the dog in Homeward Bound flapping his cheeks out the window, when Brutus followed suit I couldn't resist taking a picture.  He looks pretty ridiculous.

I can't get enough of him.  With all the attention he gets, our kids will sure be spoiled.

I was a very proud wife two Sundays ago when my husband was Initiated into the Catholic Church by Archbishop Carlson.

The ceremony took place at the New Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in the world.  The murals are incredible.

There were many other candidates and sponsors who joined us on the altar with the Archbishop.  It was definitely an experience I will never forget.  I may have shed a tear or two standing up and supporting my husband.

The group from our parish St. Charles Borromeo.  We have grown to love these people! (Seven months of classes together will do that for you.)

Brutus has learned, from somewhere, that getting older means he is allowed to have an attitude.  This couch picture is a great example of pouting after Daddy put him in his place.  His barking fits are LOUD now that he is big so they must be stopped and Aaron does a great job disciplining Brutus.  Me, well, I'm kind of a pushover.  I do try I really do...

That is the definitive face of a "barkster."

Still cute, even when he is being bad.  Can you tell I love being a puppy parent?

Tad came home for spring break and he, Aaron, and I went to Cassie's volleyball tournament.

She played very well, but was upset that I insisted on taking pictures.

My adorable Mother packed the whole team snacks and the girls (a team to the core) ate together during their off time.

Meanwhile, Tad cuddled/annoyed my Dad.  It was cute, until my Dad had to keep stats.  Then it got serious.

They think it's funny to ruin the pictures I try to take.

This is what I often come out of the shower to in the morning.  He pretty much takes over our bed after his morning walk.

I often wake up to this under the covers next to me.  What cuter face is there to peek out of the covers at you?  So happy he hasn't destroyed that raccoon doll.  It was a birthday present and his favorite activity lately is destroying any toy that isn't made out of hard plastic.  Our amazing dog sitter and friend Jacqueline said it could be in a dog magazine.  Do you agree?

My sissy sent me this picture while she was watching Brutus at my parent's house this weekend.  He actually SLEPT!  An amazing feat considering his BDFF (Best Dog Friend Forever) Marley lives there.

I have a seriously talented sister.  Not only is she naturally smart, she is an amazing artist.  This is her latest school art project!

A very special day for the Weir family is coming up next week: Brutus' First Birthday!!!  We have a cake, card, present, and party day all planned.  I can't believe our little baby is going to be One.  We are proud puppy parents.  That's not the only change coming up for us.  My lack-of-blogging is due to a very busy school, work, tutoring, and substitute schedule.  We have not had a weekend day, until today, in the past two months to ourselves.  The car hasn't even pulled out of our spot. It has been a lovely day.  In May we may be moving to a location closer to downtown to make Aaron's commute easier, I will be applying for student-teaching, and we will be figuring out our summer vacation plans.  Happy Spring to everyone and Happy Daylight Savings!

Oh the weather outside is frightful...as long as you love me so, let it snow!

"When a teacher calls a boy by his entire name, it means trouble." - Mark Twain

Winter had arrived!  It was looking like it may pass us by the past few weeks with some days of warm 60 degree weather.  It was not to be, though, and the ice has caused one snow day thus far!  For my poor hubby, it caused his usual 40 minute drive to work to extend to a THREE HOUR DRIVE!  Yuck!

This blurry photo is what happens when Aaron and I go out on date night, or, in this case out to celebrate a birthday with friends.  He is never happy when his Daddy gets all dressed up and can't wrestle with him:(  As you other puppy-mommas and daddys know, it is sometimes tough to leave our adorable furry babies home alone.

Brutus is getting so BIG!  He is now 10 months old and truly entering the teenage phase.  Still the cutest boy in the world.  I joke with Aaron all the time that he is the perfect first "child"because he will never leave his mommy for another woman:) 

If only the outdoors looked this beautiful during this wintery weather, but we only had one day of snow and the rest has been ice or rain.  I love snow, but with Aaron's commute it is tough to justify a big snowstorm.  Brutus does LOVE the snow, though.

Before classes officially started, Brutus and I spent a few play-dates over at my parents with Brutus's best friend Marley.  Even Auntie Cassie wanted in on the Brutus action.  She knows how to get his attention too, he loves ice.

As much as Marley disliked Brutus's puppyhood energy and exuberance, he has really grown to love him.  If you so much as mention Marley's name to Brutus he gets very excited!  

Having a dog has really changed my life.  He brings so much joy to the every day and the shared love Aaron and I give him strengthens our marriage.  

He will be a year old in a few months and I cannot wait to throw him a puppy birthday party:)

So now it's back to school, which means homework and a much busier schedule.  Brutus has proven that it will take some getting used to, on his end and mine.  It is interesting that even grad-school brings so much stress into my life the first few weeks.  It proves to me that I would not have fared well in the "musical theatre life."  I don't like change, I love routine and having as much control over tomorrow and my future as possible.  Those things are virtually non-existent in the acting lifestyle.  Thank goodness God showed me my true path.

Superbowl is next Sunday and Aaron is looking forward to the food!  He could care less about the teams playing, but he has made some meal requests he is quite excited about.

I had an interesting conversation with a classmate of mine that gave me a chance to reflect on the person I have grown into these past three years.  I have graduated from college, chosen a new career path, entered grad school, and become a wife and the mother of a wonderful dog.  I made a statement to this fellow student that if I were younger and unmarried I would be different and they took that statement as a sign that they should never marry someone for whom they would "change" so drastically.  Have I "changed" for my husband?  Am I truly the person I want to be?  The answers were clear.  I am exactly who I want to be.  I never wanted to live a gypsy theatre life, wondering where my next job would be and whether or not I could afford my rent or my health insurance.  I have always wanted to be a devoted wife and to make a stable, "normal" home for my future children.  The path I am on is the one for which I was intended.  Everything that has happened to me has happened for a reason and, good or bad, has shaped me into the person I am today.  I am thankful for these experiences and for everyone who was a part of them.  In terms of "changing" for marriage, that is a question which holds so much meaning to me.  I am myself, an individual woman, who is part of a marriage, a unity, with a wonderful individual man.  Through the God-given grace of love we became one in this partnership.  I have been "changed" BY my marriage.  It was not a choice, I did not give up or sacrifice anything unwillingly.  If LOVE has changed me, I am grateful that it has done so.  The person I am has never been and will never be perfect.  I do not live only for myself, but for LOVE, FAMILY, and FAITH.  The person with whom the conversation transpired is young, not yet twenty, and I know, in five years, they will be able to reflect back in a similar way.  I am so thankful for the conversation and the affirmation I feel because of it.  I look forward to what the future has to bring!

where it's snowing all winter through that's where I long to be...

When snow falls, nature listens.  

~Antoinette van Kleeff

It's the First Snow of the Winter!  More importantly it is Brutus' first snow ever!!  He loves it!

He loves playing with it, eating it, running VERY fast through it, and jumping around in it like a bunny!

He even tries digging it.  My little boy is experiencing St. Louis winter.

I recently sprained my back (not fun for someone like me who is moving at the speed of light from the minute I wake up to the time my head hits the pillow) so I was a little worried about hobbling around in the snow with our strong boy.  He has been remarkably sensitive to his Mommy's injury and listened very well when I let him off the leash to run.  Good snow dog!

His face was COVERED in snow by the time we came inside.

He makes me laugh:)  I am so thankful to have a playful pup to cheer me up when I am not feeling up to par.

Snow in New Town.  So pretty on our back porch.

Brutus can't get enough.  He loves the snow and spent lots of time looking outside longingly after we came inside.

Don't worry Brutus.  There will be lots of puppy playtime in the SNOW:)

Cheers to a Bright New Year!

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.  ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

After the Christmas festivities were over, The Delicath & The Weirs packed everything up and drove to Peoria, IL for some Christmas celebrating with Grandma & Grandpa D.  This is a family-tradition and we were happy to be a part of it.  Brutus stayed home, of course, but had a great time with his puppy-sitters Jacqueline & Elliott.

We had a wonderful time.  Lots of fun, food, and car-playing.  The Men certainly rough-housed quite a lot, to my grandmother's dismay, but thankfully no one was hurt.  This is pretty typical.  My Grandpa used to stir up quite a lot of trouble, so these boys were just following in his footsteps.

New Year's Eve was a roaring success!  Our good friends and neighbors Abby & Jeff, whose wedding we will be attending later this year, hosted the night.  We played a board game, laughed, and had a great time with Abby, Jeff, and our friends Dani and Tim.  I cooked up a storm all day to provide many of the finger foods you see here including the stuffed tomatoes, hot spinach dip, and twice baked potato skins.  We had SO much food.

The champagne was delicious and we counted down to 2012 in style.  I had my first kiss of the year, with my handsome date Mr. Weir, and then it was time to get home and go to bed.

I was EXHAUSTED from the cooking I did and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.  It was a wonderful night and an exciting start to the New Year surrounded by good friends.

Life was back to normal, but Brutus was exhausted from so many days of special events.

He was happy to have Mommy and Daddy home with him for the days we had off work.

I have been wanting to catch a picture of his crossed paws and I finally got it.  Handsome boy.

Aaron and I are excited for the many events of this upcoming year including THREE weddings of some of our closest friends, summer vacation, and Brutus' First Birthday.

I am excited to celebrate another wonderful year of marriage and to finish another semester of graduate school.  Also, I am looking forward finding a backyard somewhere for Brutus to enjoy.

I am excited to see what 2012 will bring to The Weirs.  I have resolved to take more time for ME this year and to spend time making my marriage even stronger this year.  Happy New Year!  Cheers to a wonderful 2012!