Mail call

 Hello! This is Uncle Tibbs filling in for Ajdin today. The little guy asked me if I could do today's mail call post, so here I am!

We have a couple pieces of mail to review. It looks like they were a bit delayed, but that's ok.

The first one is a Valentine's Day card from Sprinkles the bear. Aw, how nice.

And the second card is a recycled handmade art piece from Beanie Mouse.

Beanie writes, "Hope you have (had) a wonderful Christmas!" There's also a little button pin. I'll make sure Ajdin gets it.

Let's take another look at the envelope this card came in. It's a pizza menu! Mmm... pizza. I think I'll order a pizza for dinner... make it extra extra extra large... with pepperoni and sausage and anchovies...

Thanks for the cards, everyone!

UNCLE TIBBS

Holiday mail

I received some awesome holiday cards recently! Let's review them. Oh yeah, I have a new mailing address, so if you want to write, be sure to email me first and I will send you my new address.

The first card is from Little Fox. It's a picture of him at Joshua Tree National Park. We were also there earlier this year, around the same time too. Perhaps we passed each other while in the park. It's a small world!

The next card is from Fritzel Ranßweiler of Germany. Guten tag! Fritzel has so many outfits (more than me) and is definitely a fashion icon for all stuffies!

Next is a card from Sprinkles the Traveling Bear. He also included a couple of Christmas stickers! Thank you beary much!

And finally is a cute card from Sandy Bear. I love the cute bear on the front of this card. He kind of looks like me, don't you think?

Thanks for all the cards, everybody! Hope you had a beary Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

HUGE MAIL HAUL

*something unintelligible*

"WOOF?"

"Hey Parker, have you seen Ajdin?"

*GASPING*

"PHEW!! I thought I would never get out from under all that mail!" I said. "We haven't checked the mailbox for many months."

Alright, let's open them up and see what we got:

- a holiday card from Little Fox with a fox on the front, of course

- a hand drawn card from the very talented Miss Jessica - she is a terrific artist!

- a handmade Valentine card from Jerry and Ben - handmade is always wonderful!

- a holiday photo card from Sandy looking good in his holiday outfit

- a postcard from Fritzel in Germany, guten tag!

- a Starbucks gift card and Halloween card for my prize from the Halloween costume contest hosted by Jerry and Ben - thank you!

- another holiday card from Jerry and Ben... wow they sent me so many things

- a Valentine card from Sprinkles with a cute alligator on it

- a holiday card from Sprinkles with a glittery bear on it

Also, did you know that I save every single one of the letters and cards that I get from my pen pals? I put them in this shoebox right here. I think I need a bigger box.

That's a LOT of mail from pen pals over the years. They mean a lot to me! Thank you for being my pen pal!

Cruise and Chichen Itza

Over the holiday, my mom and I went on a cruise. I have never been on a cruise before, have you? I saw some large ships in the dock where we were leaving from.

But soon, we left the safety of the harbor and went out into the great, big sea! I wonder how many salmon are swimming around right now.

For some reason, I was left in the stateroom a lot (*AHEM*) so I didn't get many pictures of the cruise ship itself. But I did tag along for one of the shore excursions. We stopped in Progreso in the Yucatan in Mexico and went to Chichen Itza.

Wow! This structure is called El Castillo. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. There is a lot of symbolism going on here. You know how there are 365 days in a year? Well, here there are 91 steps on each side of this structure.

91 x 4 sides + one step for the temple at the top = 365

How interesting!

Hey... I think I see a familiar face over there. Could it be?

Yes, it's Droopy!

"Droopy! What are the chances of meeting you here at Chichen Itza?" I said.

"I heard there is a lot of Chicken Pizza here. That's why I came," he replied.

It really is a small world, isn't it?

They used to allow visitors to climb the stairs, but not anymore.

I'm standing in the ball court. Do you see those rings in the wall behind me? Ball players had to get a 10 pound rubber ball through it using only their elbows, knees, and hips. The team captain of the winning team would be sacrificed to the Gods! It was considered an honor to be sacrificed.

And with that, I think it's time to leave...

I enjoyed the cruise and the trip to Chichen Itza!

Holiday wishes

I hope everyone had a Beary Merry Christmas! I was traveling and didn't have time to post some of the cool holiday cards that I got.

This first card I received has a fox on it... and it's from... Little Fox (that makes sense, doesn't it?) Thanks Little Fox!

I also got a card from Sprinkles the Traveling Bear. Also included was a cool sheet of stickers! Thanks Sprinkles!

Next, I got a card from Droopy. This card has a polar bear on it and also glitter! Thanks Droopy!

This other card is from Jerry & Ben. I like the sweater that this bear is wearing, very stylish. Thanks Jerry & Ben!

Our little Christmas tree is still up - we'll probably keep it up for a little while longer because it's so pretty! Thanks everyone, for the cards!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! SEE YOU IN 2019!

Black Friday

Oh, hey there! I'm standing here on line at a local Best Buy before they open for Black Friday.

The day after Thanksgiving (sometimes even right after Thanksgiving dinner), a lot of humans and stuffies hit the stores for good deals. The holiday shopping season has begun! This is how we get into the Christmas spirit, right?

I have heard lots of stories about chaotic Black Friday shopping scenes, but this seems to be a good group of polite, respectable stuffies. There is no pushing or shoving, but the line is long and goes around the corner of the block!

They are getting ready to open their doors!

Maybe I'll get a new big-screen TV, or an XBox, or --- HEY WATCH IT! OWWWW!

The thought of deep discounts instantly turned the calm crowd into a group of wild bandits.

MMMMPH... LET ME OUT...

I was trampled by a fierce group of credit card-wielding customers.

I sensed an opening and crawled my way out of the dog pile.

Phew!

This is madness! Is it really worth it? Is this what Christmas is all about?

Uncle Tibbs warned me about this - I'm going home!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

"Are you ready to open Christmas gifts, Miss Feathers?" asked Uncle Tibbs.

"We can't open the presents until Ajdin is here," she said. "By the way, where is he?"

"I doooooon't knoooowwww," said Ooogie.

"Woof!"

"Look, this oddly-shaped present is moving!"

I jumped out!

***MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!***

Holiday prep

"Hey! We have work to do!" I called out to my friends.

"Huh?"

"Uncle Tibbs, you can set up the Christmas tree! Miss Feathers, you can help Parker with the decorations! Ooogie, you can open the Christmas cards we received!"

"And what will you do?" they asked.

"I will supervise!" I said.

"Great job! It looks great!"

Thanks for all the holiday cards everyone! We received cards from Little Fox, Jerry & Ben, Fritzel, Beanie, and Droopy!

Our Christmas tree

I was almost home with our Christmas tree.  I honked the horn.  *BEEP BEEP!!*

"Ajdin's back!"

"Yayyyyyyyyyy..."

"He got a tree!"

"Woof!  Woof!  Woof!"

I took the tree out of the car.

"Isn't it the most beautiful tree you have ever seen?" I asked.

"Errr..."

"Hmmmmmmm..."

"Woof?"

"Well, it just needs a little TLC, that's all," said Uncle Tibbs.

So we fluffed out its branches.

"There, it looks more tree-like already," said Miss Feathers.

"Woof!"

"Parker, you found some decorations!" I exclaimed.  "Good dog!"

So we decorated our little tree.

"Niiiiiice," said Ooogie.  It was looking pretty good.

"It looks terrific," said Uncle Tibbs, "but it feels like something is missing."

"We need to put the star at the top of tree," I said.  "But I can't reach it."

"I'll put it up there," said Miss Feathers.

She flew above the tree and put the star at the tippy top.

Then we all stepped back to admire our work.

"Oooooo..."

"Aaah!"

"We love our Christmas tree!"

Christmas is about more than a tree or gifts, but it is nice to have some decorations up, isn't it?

How are you decorating for the holidays?