Dear Gavin,

All of us dogs are resting. We had a very busy weekend. Gramma said it was a holiday celebration. Celebration? New Year? What is all this? Gramma and Papa and us dogs usually rest a lot when it is cold outside. When it is cold outside the campers stay home.

Emmy said to get ready for this celebration Gramma would be in one of her cleaning moods. She told me to be good and stay out of the way. I tried, I really did.


The sun came out and melted all that snow and it was warm outside!! I was excited to go out and play in the back yard. I asked Oscar to come out with me and chase the ball, but he said he wanted to take a nap. So, I went out all by myself. I ran and I ran. I picked up the ball and I put the ball down. I got bored. Then I saw it. The wind was blowing and Papa had been in the gate when the snow was on the ground. He did not shut the gate all the way. I went over to check it out. My head fit through and I was only going to look, really, I was. But when I looked I saw all the big open fields and I wanted to run. I couldn't help myself! I crawled out the little opening and I was free! The wind was blowing through my hair. I ran through the puddles left by the melted snow. I felt great, my boy, I was having the time of my life!


As I was exploring I noticed that some animals must have pooped when it was snowing and now the poop was all mushy and smelly. I knew better, my boy, I really did. I could not seem to control the urge to smear this all over my body. At first I was only going to smell it. Oh my, it was of the most delectable smell of girl dog!!!!!!!! I wanted to meet this dog! I was hoping that she would be nearby and be able to find me, so I smeared her poop all over me. you know, so she could smell me. But, before another dog found me, I heard my name. It was Gramma. She didn't sound mad. She just called out my name and said it was time to come in. I saw her and I ran as fast as I could to her. It is not a good thing to run away from Gramma. This is a rule at Gramma's house. Gramma explained to all of us dogs that big trucks and motor homes come into our kampground and it is not safe for us. Gramma loves us.


I ran to Gramma and when she saw me she was not happy. She reached down to pick me up. She wrinkled her nose and told me that I was a bad boy. She scrubbed me THREE times with my special shampoo. The whole time she was scrubbing she was using her words and scolding me. She picked me up and dried me off, then mopped all the floors in our house. Too bad I didn't let her know how bad my stomach hurt. I threw up on her floor. Oscar laughed and told me I was in the dog house. I don't get it.

All these people came to our house. They kept hugging each other and saying "Happy New Year".

Gramma wore this thing in her hair. She tried putting it on me. I did not like it.

Even Miss Yvonne wore one! She helped Gramma get everything ready for all the guests.

Gramma thought it would be a good idea for us dogs to stay in the back of the house for the party. She put this gate up and put our favorite blanket and dog bed back in her bedroom. We did not like it.

Emmy said, "Let's howl!" We did.

This is a picture of me helping Gramma show Crazy Tom and My Johnnie how to use the remote for the TV. They had lots of food out and I had a great time cleaning up crumbs! Some people even gave us whole bites of people snacks!

Emmy just likes to be held and there were lots of people to hold her. She got all glassy-eyed!

I think we should celebrate more. It was fun. What did you do? Did you celebrate? I will celebrate next time I see you, my boy!

Love, from your best dog, Wall-E