3 years ago you changed our life and made my anxiety levels rise through the roof, bit my sleeves as I walked around, whined at the door, barked at everything and ran circles around our home and our life.

Our life was forever more wild, complicated and simply beautiful all at the same time.
Your sad eyes have forced me away from the computer on more than one occasion and I’m grateful for every moment watching you fearlessly bound through the trails trying to get every dog in your path to chase you. You are more entertainment than I ever knew possible. You’ve been scared by vacuums, lawn mowers and swiffers. You’ve chased rescue eagles (in crates) and continue to bark when the slightest noise is made around home. You can run faster than most dogs we meet, and can fetch a chuck-it like it’s going out of style. You’ve eaten Bryce’s favorite slippers, chewed our molding, and eat popcorn like it’s raw meat. You have the worst gas I’ve ever smelled and give the best hugs. The crazier you are, the harder Maisie laughs. Every day of my pregnancy you walked closer to me and snuggled up as if you knew our time with just “us” was drawing to an end. You’ve been my most cherished silent friend.

Since Maisie entered our life, it has undoubtedly been more challenging to get you out into the world regularly. We are so thankful for Uncle Scotty and his incredible services at DOGS BEST FRIEND. We honestly couldn’t have done it without you Scott!!

The bottom line is, we’ve made it three years pup, and as crazy as it makes us when you bark uncontrollably at us and at our poor sweet neighbors (SORRY ANGELA AND MELVIN) we can’t imagine our lives without you.

HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY OLD BOY. We love you.
oxoxo

I had bought her a pendant a few days prior. A”Party Girl” pendant. It was supposed to be for Christmas.

I looked in my wallet, while Thelma was behind the wheel… “I got you a present!!!!” and gave it to her. We had a good laugh and got to talking about how we can’t ever wait for Christmas, and how I am the queen of ruining surprises. I can’t keep secrets either. If I have a present for you…you can be pretty sure, it will be tucked away somewhere clever, hiding. Then, the moment I see you, I have to root around and dig it out and give it to you rather enthusiastically. Just because.

In my mind, just because is right now. Just because means you are standing in front of me, and I love you. I thought of you, I got you something. I need to give it to you right now. Because these Thelma and Louise adventures happen, and have been happening for a while now… we are at the point that we rationalize instant gift giving, early Christmas spoiling etc, by knowing, that life is short. Life is fragile, and there are absolutely no guarantees of a tomorrow. Bryce hates that I talk like this, but I do it anyways. I believe it. Because of this, the party girl necklace brought a laugh and a smile to my friend Thelma. It is not sitting in a bag in my closet, waiting for Christmas.

I like Christmas, I just like it better, when its every day. When its giving, just for the joy of giving, and when you spread love… just because you can.

(Thought these images suiting, as no one knows how to live in the moment, and be totally wild, like Sako and Frank)

Sako fights back!

Great Dane puppies are sweet. They are adorable. They are ridiculously cute and incredibly deceiving.
You see them and melt. But puppies grow up, don’t they… And grow Athena has! Athena is already, in her few months in the world… has grown to around 50 pounds!
Now thats crazy! (That is more than our Vizsla Frank weighs NOW at a year old)
However, they are known to be big, beautiful, gentle and loving, and that they are. Somewhere along the way, I’ve become a hopeless dog lover. It hasn’t happened overnight, but its happened! This little one is no exception.

Here are a few images of Athena when she came to visit us in October! Are you kidding me with this face????

You may recall images from a long time ago here of Athenas big sister Vala. (see below image)
Vala is now weighing in at a whopping 135 pounds, and they suspect Athena will be bigger than her big sis!
Wild!

****Remember until December 10th 2009, your comments= cans of food being donated to our local food bank… so be sure to leave a comment! Its an awesome way to give a little blog love and in return, I’ll give a little food bank love. A wonderful thing!****

I think back on an entire summer. Every weekend occupied with at least one, if not two weddings. Looking back and realizing that all of my weekends and most of my week days are consumed with stuff. Not in a negative way, in just a full way. Full. Full days. Lists. For both Bryce and I. Every spare second spent on the construction of our new studio and 2 bedroom suite. Every single moment, occupied. Delighting in the small moments of together-ness. The spaces between meetings and emails and Bryce cleaning the kitchen, and calling contractors and setting up appointments and learning to do things we’ve never done. Both of us have been gypsies before. Bryce traveling all over the States and Germany for hockey, myself globe trotting on cruise ships. Both of us, having little ‘real’ responsibilities. Truly. So, for us.. these last two years settling into a ‘normal’ life has had its fair share of ups and downs.

So when we are able to get away. Able to step back from the every day life… I am overwhelmed with how incredibly blessed I am. I can say that now, without fear that it will all come crumbling apart. I know it can. I’ve seen it happen, felt it happening. I know that life is impermanent, and fragile. But isn’t that why, its okay for me, for us… to celebrate when things are really good. I believe so.

This weekend Bryce, Frank and I spent the weekend in Ucluelet, BC. Staying at the beautiful Black Rock Resort. I photographed a wedding (more on that later) there on Sunday. So we decided to take and extra night and make it just about us. It was perfect. I am so lucky, so blessed and so indescribably grateful to have the luxury to walk along the beach hand in hand with my fella. Laugh at our puppy ripping around the magical sands of Long Beach, British Columbia. I could have stayed forever. We’ll be going back soon and staying for longer. What a fabulous way to enjoy each other, and life.

Grateful. So grateful. To step back. To be drawn to what has been drawing me to Bryce for fifteen years. Without dishes, and chores, and fence building and lists. It was also a celebration of Franks first year in the world. (what a wild year it has been for him too) It was really only one day and night for a vacation. But what a necessary and wonderful step back.

P.S… the best part of the Black Rock Resort, it is 100% dog friendly. Who doesn’t want to take their little furry friends to Tofino and Ucluelet? Excellent!

It was almost flawless, until Franko knocked over the light stand breaking a soft box (code word for big giant light toy). Small details. In any case.
Here we are.

Yesterday Erin and and Oliver drove down from Victoria with their little ADORABLE pup. They confessed that while they were waiting for Barley to be delivered to them, they displayed a photo of my little Franko from my blog, as their screen saver… awwww. Everyone loves Frank! (well, maybe not the 8 year old boy in the trail last night that he wouldn’t stop barking at… FRANK!!!) Erin and Oliver have only had him for 6 days! Barley is just 10 weeks old. I can NOT handle the cuteness.. oh and of course, I had to let Frank meet little Barley as that was him not very long ago!

There is something amazing about these images to me, as I not only see their happiness with their little guy, but also a reflection of the love that I feel for Franko, and that Bryce and I share with him as well.

Enjoy these images folks, and I am not responsible if these photos make you rush out and get yourself a puppy….

Vizslas have the BEST and softest ears

Frank still chews his feet, looks like Barley does too

Absolutely loved it when Barley played himself to sleep

Ok one last one of Frank and Barley meeting over a tire…

It is Christmas Eve, and Campbell River is beautifully covered with snow.

I can’t help but think how fortunate I am, to have a warm house, a wonderful fella, a healthy little puppy..a beautiful family and friends that melt my heart. I am so grateful to be blessed with such amazing good fortune. Not a day goes by when I don’t feel gratitude, but even more so at Christmas, when there are people still struggling.

May you appreciate the beauty of your world, your life, and if you are reading this now… I’d be tempted to say that you are one of the fortunate ones as well. Soak in all of the magic moments this holiday season, and although I’m sure you already do… give whatever you can, as often as you can. May you be warm, cozy and full of all things marvelous over the holidays. Above all, may you be showered with magic.

Here are a few images of our winter wonderland and little Frank in the snow.