Hanukkah & Christmas . . . Dec. 20th - 28th, 2011

It's unsure if this is my first Hanukkah or first Christmas, but it's a pretty safe bet this is my first Hanukkah-Christmas.

And Mommy & Daddy want to make sure I have the whole experience.

So this is the suit of Rabbi Santa.

Also, my Auntie Amy sends us a package of goodies

each year from Rabbi Santa.

Hanukkah follows the Jewish calendar and is different each year. It started at sunset on Dec. 20th this year. We are celebrating Hanukkah for eight nights.

On the first night of Hanukkah (Dec 20th), I was introduced to the concept of "present."  Although the present is the here and now, it is also a "gift".  It seems that a gift is something you give to a person you care about - it may be for a holiday, a special occasion or just because.
The gift is traditionally wrapped in decorative paper.

On the first night of Hanukkah, my parents gave to me . . .
a "Chet" - the symbol for life (Chaim).

Daddy and Mommy wish me a long life of love, comfort and joy.

On the second night of Hanukkah (Dec 21st), my parents gave to me . . .
a FLEA!!!!!  This one I can bite back.
Mommy made it perfectly clear that this
is the ONLY flea ever allowed in the house.

I think I've figured out how to unwrap the present.

On the third night of Hanukkah (Dec 22nd), my parents gave to me . . .
 a bird.  This bird has a really long, stretchy neck.
And when you press on its belly, it makes all sorts of funny bird sounds.

On the fourth night of Hanukkah (Dec 23rd), my parents gave me . . .
a Sock Monkey (it's the latest craze).

It looks just like the one on the car commercials.

On the fifth night of Hanukkah (Dec 24th), my parents gave to me . . .
Mickey Mouse Santa Claus.

Then Daddy told me the story of Disneyland.
"It's a small world afterall . . ."

Each night of Hanukkah, we light a candle on the Menorah.

A Menorah has a holder for 9 candles - one for each night of Hanukkah and a ninth candle, called the shamash ("helper" or "servant"), is a candle used to light all the other candles.

December 25th was Christmas Day.  Daddy, Mommy and I took the sailing kayak
to California to start our festivities.

Daddy, you're my hero!

Nap time with Mommy.

Let's get a move-on folks. I think there's a football game on TV.

Mommy and Daddy went to visit Auntie Diane and Uncle Gene Kalin for dinner. And when they came home, we lit the Hanukkah candles. On the sixth night of Hanukkah and Christmas evening, I discovered a "Christmas Stocking".
And in this was a green hoodie and a raccoon.

On the seventh night of Hanukkah (Dec 26th), my parents gave to me . . .
Minnie Mouse Mrs. Claus.

Now I have a pair of mice.

Again, these are the ONLY mice allowed in the house . . . EVER!!!!

I unwrap all my own presents now!

And on the last night of Hanukkah (Dec 27th), my parents gave to me . . .
a lime green "Ugly Baby."

I think he's cute.

I also helped Mommy light all the candles tonight.

I finally gave Daddy his big Hanukkah present that I especially picked out for him . . . a red bicycle chariot.  Now Daddy and I can go biking together, too. We sat down and assembled it. Then we took a little spin around the house.

Daddy read all the instructions.

This looks like a bouncy castle on wheels.

What's it like on the inside?

Whee-e-e-e-e!  If it's this much fun inside the house, I can't wait to ride around on it outside.

Today (Dec 28th), Daddy connected the chariot to his bicycle and we rode around the neighborhood.  Oh what wonderful fun it is.  This will be perfect for Daddy and me when we go to Dillon.

C'mon Daddy - let's get going.

Aren't we a pair?

Daddy's my best bud.

Even Mommy and I took a spin around the neighborhood.

In addition to the wonderful gifts Daddy, Mommy and Santa gave me,
I also received other wonderful gifts from people who care.

Auntie Sheila gave me a Hedgehog that is squeaky.  Auntie Linda gave me a Christmas collar that jingles. Auntie Carolann gave me homemade cookies. And Auntie Diane gave me a Christmas stocking filled with all sorts of goodies (including a shopping trip to Dorita's).

And Mommy's SilverSneaker Friends gave her a toy puppy named Rudy.

What do you mean I can't play with him?

Wow! What's he doing?

Can Rudy teach me to sing and dance like that?

I can do the tushy wiggle, but how does he get his ears to do that?

Hanukkah and Christmas have been a lot of fun.
And I know it's more than about gifts.
It's about love, family and friends.

As I look back on this year, much has changed.
I now have a forever home and loving parents.
Each day is a new adventure for me.
But there is nothing better than curling up with my family.

My prayer for the new year
is for all fur-babies to have a forever home.





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