Hi guys, it's me, Petey again ! I have spent this past year helping Mom with our website, spending time with Dad looking after the fish pond and gardens, and of course, enjoying my family and even increasing it again. Pixie and I missed Punkin and Poncho, our very first babies, when they moved to their new home but we knew they were grown and it was time for them to go out into the world on their own. We  made very sure they knew how much they were loved and how proud we were of them so when it was time for them to go they were both singing as loudly as they could when they said good bye.

Of course we also made very sure that we found a really wonderful family who wanted to have both of them join their family. No way did we want to see our Poncho and Punkin separated because they were so used to being together and they were already probably going to be a tiny bit homesick at first. They even have their own live-in doctor at their new home because their new Dad is a veterinary and their new Mom's Daddy raised canaries when she was a little girl. That's one good thing about our family, even Mom and Dad were definitely making sure that Poncho and Punkin would be well looked after when they left home.  And now, we only just found out that Poncho & Punkin would be visiting over Christmas ! Isn't that just about the best news  any Mommy and Daddy could ever hear ?

It is going to be really neat introducing them to their new brothers and sister. Benjie, Buffy, and Kacey are soooo excited. As if they weren't already excited enough at the very mention of meeting Santa! Of course I have told them all about how Santa and me are such good friends and about how Santa's grandson Chris  and I even made the Christmas Eve journey for Santa last year after he broke his leg when he fell on some ice at the North Pole. Benjie even asked me the other day if I was a teeny bit sorry I wasn't going to be on that journey again this year ! I have told the kids so many times how great it had been knowing we were bringing happiness to so many children all over the world last year and if I am really, really, gonna be honest I  have to admit that I do wish I could do it again.

But, of course, I would never wish bad luck on anyone, not even so I could do something I loved as much as I loved that adventure last year. I sure do hope Chris will be with Santa this year when he visits because I really liked Chris and would love to see him again. I know Santa is training Chris to take over one day so maybe he will bring Chris along on the trip this year. Of course Rudolph really was the one who  was in charge last year, even if Chris and I did think we were big shots taking Santa's place. That super smart reindeer with the big red nose sure did know all the tricks which definitely made that trip a whole heck of a lot easier!!

Being a Daddy has taught me some very important lessons the past couple of years. And meeting Pixie was probably the very best thing which has ever happened to me ... the only thing which comes as close is our kids and of course, Mom and Dad finding me all those years ago when I was in that dumb pet store and so unhappy thinking I would never have a family of my own to love me and that I could love back.

I think that is why both Pixie and I really believe that the kids need to learn how important it is that they  treat everyone they know or might meet just exactly as they would want to be treated by others. We have told them all stories about how alike everyone is in so many ways. Even those who might seem to be scary or angry  all have been children just like them  at one time and they hurt or get frightened just as easily as Benjie, Buffy and Kacey do. I know the kids find that hard to believe at times, for example, just a few days ago we had friends drop by at the house and they brought their dog Scruffy with them. Scruffy is still a pup and was very noisy and he even kept snarling at the kid's cages. They were all sooo scared,  but then  Mom's friend swatted Scruffy and that big ... (to a wee canary he was REALLY BIG) ... angry dog became as gentle as can be. That poor puppy was so upset that his Mom had hit him and he was really sorry  he had  scared the kids. He didn't mean to be so scary. He had not ever seen canaries before and wasn't sure what we were. I tried to explain to the kids that so many times trouble was caused more by not understanding someone who was different from you than by anything else. 

Of course around this house nobody would ever hit any of us ... not ever ... and Mom and Dad would never let anything else hurt us if they could help it ! I knew that lady was wrong to hit the puppy, it would have been so much better if she had taken the time to explain to that pup that canaries are friends. People are just like animals I guess. They don't always take time to find out first before they decide someone new is an enemy.

I have always tried to make the kids understand that so much of the trouble in the world is caused just because we don't take the time to know one another. If we all only waited before deciding that someone wasn't a friend we could sure avoid a lot of trouble. Of course, it is also important that the kids understand that you should never be careless and trust too soon but there is no need to just decide without knowing that someone new is going to be bad. We just have to be careful and wait to make up our minds before we jump to conclusions.

One thing I have found by following that rule is that I sure don't miss out on too many friends. It seems as if my friends are always dropping by to visit. Even Racqui Racoon, Smokey the Squirrel, and Robby Robin  dropped by several times this summer to see us. Smokey is going to be around all winter and has built a nest in the oak tree outside and now Rusty Cardinal and Billy Blue Jay are always around too. Maybe that is because Mom and Dad always make sure there is food around for Smokey, Rusty, and Billy but they sure did seem to like meeting all of our kids when we introduced Benjie, Buffy and Kacey to them. Even though the guys are all outdoor birds they really enjoy being with us as often as we can manage it. Mom's a good lady and she really likes all of them but she won't go so far as to allow them in the house. She explained to me that they would not be comfortable indoors anyway. Dad's much easier about stuff like that.. he wouldn't mind a bit ! Mom's the one who nags about the house being clean all the time. 

When you think about it ... we canaries have a much easier life than any of those guys do. We never have to worry about how cold it is or whether its going to rain or snow or where we are going to find food once the snow is here.  I'm really happy our  Mom and Dad try to make things easier for them. Just think how different things would be if I hadn't let Mom and Dad adopt me all those years ago !

If he can, I just know Racqui Raccoon will surprise us all with a Christmas visit too. That would really be neat !  Racqui is a very special friend. I am hoping  to see him during the holidays as much as I am hoping that Chris is with Santa this year. Knowing how Racqui loves Christmas and how important he considers friends I  will just bet we do see him  sometime in the next couple of weeks. Who knows ? He might even bring his kids with him this year. That would really be something special. I'd love it if our kids could finally get to know Racqui's family.

All our kids are really looking forward to Christmas Eve mostly because  they will get to meet Santa and Rudolph and if they are lucky ... maybe even Chris too ! I showed them a picture of Rudolph and Chris that I had from last year and it will really be neat if they finally meet Chris after hearing so much about him. The picture shows Chris and a little girl who was so happy to get such a beautiful kitty that she ran out into the snow to thank Chris and Rudolph. I was busy feeding the other reindeer so only Rudolph and Comet were there to see her. I got back just in time to take the picture. She was one of the sweetest little girls I had ever seen. Her name was Katie and I have remembered that little girl so clearly even though we saw many thousands and thousands of little girls and boys on that super fantastic trip. She really was special. She said her brother Liam would have come out to say hello too but he had fallen asleep. She said Liam was  a big sleepy head ... but she smiled when she said it.

One thing for sure .. I know for certain that no matter what happens in the years to come my kids will remember how important it is to be  nice to others because Pixie and I have taught them that friends are just about the neatest thing that can happen to a guy. It sure beats not trusting others unless you have a very good reason to know they are not nice people. That is THE RULE .. always take the time to know people before you decide if they are ones you want as friends or not. You will be surprised how often it turns out that they are every bit as nice as you could ever hope them to be.

In my opinion if the kids follow that rule  they will have a much happier and safer life then they will if they spend their lives being afraid of  everyone  who is different than they are.

Maybe that just might be the very best and most valuable present Pixie and I will ever give any of our children.

 I better go now, I need to get busy and figure out what else to give to my kids for Christmas and I sure better not forget to find something very special for their Mommy as well. I really hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and  that Santa  is really, really good to all of you this year.

Merry Christmas !!! And remember to give your Mommies and Daddies an extra big hug for Christmas.  Giving  lots of hugs to those we love is another really important rule we all need to remember always.