11 Dec 2008
 
My dad was very sad today.  Mom and dad went for a ride somewhere in the little car.  Dad was driving when they left.  But mom was driving when they came back.  Dad was carrying a wooden box.  The box had a sticker on it.   It said "PARKER.  1 June 2000 - 4 November 2008."  Mom put the box above the fire-window.  Dad stood there a long time looking at it, then he put a little black kitty toy on the box.  Uncle Parker always wanted a black kitty.  I don't understand it, but that wooden box seems really important to my dad.

15 Dec 2008

Something strange is happening.  Mom and Dad brought a TREE in the house.  Why would they do that?  I know there is something magical about trees.  I do not understand it all yet, but I can smell that trees are special when we go for walks.  Do humans like trees as much as dogs do?  Anyway - so I started sniffing this tree too.  Mom and dad both scolded me and said I better not.  I better not what?  I guess I don't totally get trees yet.  Anyway - mom and dad spent hours hanging all kinds of junk on a perfectly good tree.  At first it bothered me.  I just wanted to play with the tree like a big stick.  But then I noticed that the stuff they were hanging on the tree were TOYS!  Lots of neat things for puppies to play with and chew on.  Every time I tried to snatch a toy, my dad scolded me and gave me one of my old toys.  But old toys are so old and boring!  I wanted the new ones!  Every time I tried to sneak in and grab one I got scolded.  The few times I did get in and grab one they chased me down and took it back.  This was a fun game too, even if I did get scolded.  But after doing this a few times, dad put me in my bed.  SIGH... they don't let puppies play with the fun-stuff at all.

Dad let me out again after dark.  Dad made one of those fire-things in the window again.  I could see that the tree was just covered with all kinds of sparkley lights and toys.  Dad made me lay down with him in front of the fire-thing.  It was nice and warm, and I liked being there with dad.  The house was quiet and it was just us.  I got sleepy while dad was rubbing my belly.  Then mom came along with that picture machine.  She calls it a camera.  She made me get up and made some pictures.   Then she got daisy out and we had to sit by the tree while she made pictures.  There were some packages under the tree and I wanted to sniff them.  Then Daisy and I thought of a game.  Mom would make us sit.  Then when she was ready to make one of those picture things either me or Daisy would jump up and run toward mom.  We were having a really fun time with this game, but mom was getting upset.  Dad was just laughing.  I have not seen dad this happy since before Uncle Parker went away, so I was happy to make him laugh.

Finally, mom either got her pictures, or gave up.  But they put us dogs to bed, then they went to bed too.  It was a fun day.