24 Dec 2008

Today is Christmas Eve.  Whatever that is.  But it must be something special because my dad came home early.  Dad and mom were working on something, I don't know what.  But they were busy.  Daisy and I got to play in the back yard with Grandma Quiver and Uncle Justin.  Uncle Justin is fun - I like playing with him.  He lets us run at him, then he falls over with his feet in the air like we knocked him down.  Then we jump on him and bite him and he doesn't even mind.  I really like Uncle Justin.  I asked him if he ever went on any great adventures with Uncle Parker.  Uncle Justin said that for a long time they did have many good times together, but later on they didn't get along any more.  I asked why, but Uncle Justin wouldn't say.  All he would say was that they had many good times together but later they didn't get along.  That is so sad.  Grandma Quiver said that Uncle Parker was her brother.  I didn't know that.

A little later mom and dad got me and Daisy and we went inside the house.  Dad got something called a TRAINING BAG out, and he was digging around in it for something.  It smelled like Uncle Parker, so I stood there sniffing it a long time.  There were some toys in there that I tried to snatch.  Dad said I should wait, I will get the training toys soon enough.  Then he pulled out a special collar.  It was a nice green, and it had some gold jingley things called jingle-bells on it.  Dad said Uncle Parker used to wear it every Christmas, but I might as well use it now.  I was proud to wear Uncle Parker's jingle-bell collar.  Except - it didn't fit!  It was way too big.  So dad took it off me and he did something to it so it fit.  When he put it back on it was just right.  So I ran around the house making the bells jingle.  It was fun.  Daisy got one that was blue and white with silver bells.  Mom and dad got a few things together, then we loaded up in the dog show van.  Oh-goodie... another great adventure - my favorite!

We went someplace called DOWNTOWN.  It wasn't a long ride.  When we got there it was dark, mom and dad took me and Daisy and we started walking.  We went to a place where there was lots of pretty lights and a tree like in our house, only lots lots bigger.  There was music playing, and millions and millions of lights.  There were other things called reindeer, and there were so many new humans around.  They were all very friendly, they petted us and took our pictures all the time.  Dad said Uncle Parker used to love visiting downtown on Christmas Eve, and mom agreed.  So I decided that I should like it too, although I still had to check it out some more.  We walked, and had our pictures took, and got petted, and went around and around until us poor little pups were all tired out.  Mom and dad took us home in the dog show van.  I don't remember the ride, I was sleeping.  When I got home I went to sleep right away again.  Downtown is a tiring place.  But I see why Uncle Parker liked it.  I liked it too.  We should do that every week.