It’s my first Christmas. I had to ask what’s a Christmas and Mom says it’s the most wonderful time of the ear. I didn’t know ears had a wonderful time but there’s always new things to learn when you’re a baby. I asked Glinda about wonderful ear times but she just called me a twit. So I asked Keebler and he said he didn’t know but if it was wonderful, it must have something to do with girls or food. So I asked Baylor about ear times with girls and food and he didn’t know but said to count him in. I s'pect I will have much more to report ‘bout the whole thing in a few weeks .
Anyway Mom says one thing we gotta do at Christmas is give you all the news. I guess I’ll start with the stuff that made everyone here very sad. We said goodbye to Truly and Rory. They aren’t here anymore and I miss them. Truly left us in October. She taught me how to catch ice cubes when they come out the feridgertor door and where the squirrels hide in the apple tree and that good dogs don’t beg at the table or chew on the cat’s head. Those are important things and I won’t ever forget them.
Rory left us 3 weeks ago. He taught me a very important thing – that anything that gets thrown into the pond needs to be gotten back! I could swim almost as fast as him to get the bumpers and the balls. We can’t do that now on account of the ice but Baylor says it will go away when the geese come back. I wish Rory and Truly would come back but Mom says they can’t.
Now for the
other stuff I’m sposed to share. Here’s some very cool news.
Gwen came to visit us from
Other stuff that happened this year:
I got born
in 
I went to my first shows and won a BUNCH of ribbons. One was purple and gold and called "Best of Breed". That means that I was the best Golden Retriever there and it also meant that Mom jumped up and down and screamed WHOO HOO, at least that’s what Baylor said. Here’s my pitcher:
Let’s see - what else…
Hunter, Stonecroft Scents of Adventure (Goodling/Minnier) got a CD - that means 3 green ribbons for doing everything he was supposed to for the judge.
Cider got
to go and live with our friends Bob and Bonnie. She has a new brother
named
Remi (White
Birch Boom Boom Madu) came to visit us too – actually to visit Keebler – but
she’ll have her babies at her own house. Mom says maybe one of them can come
here though, so that will be way cool. 
And our very special news is that Dad is going to get a ‘tirement this year. Glinda says that means he gets to stay home with us all the time. WhooHoo! That sounds even better than wonderful ear time with girls and food!
Well, that’s all the stuff I can think of. Write to Mom, she loves that stuff. I think letters are not as good as shoes, but write anyway…
Love,
Lyra