On Christmas morning this year, we had a teenager home from college and my 93-year-old mother staying with us. So besides my husband and me, the only creatures who were stirring were our two Aire-kids, Amber & Krissy. Amber knew from the moment we hung the empty stockings over the fireplace weeks before which sock was hers and she knew that soon it would be filled with all kinds of delectable treats.

She let us know frequently that her patience was wearing thin.

Krissy knew that before “Santa” arrived, Mom stashed the stuff in her closet and she paced outside of it, pressing her nose against the mirrored door, whining and complaining.

Once the stockings were filled, my husband I had to barricade the fireplace to keep the kids from tearing into the stockings too soon.  This was met with a fair amount of indignant disbelief!

Just as the clock was inching toward noon, the still-groggy freshman and slow-moving senior finally emerged from their slumber, Amber and Krissy knew the festivities were about to begin.  But then they sat down to have breakfast!

After an interminable amount of time, the moment arrived and the stockings were presented. Amber couldn’t wait to see what was inside…

Krissy wanted to see too!

But she finally settled down to blissfully enjoy her own bounty.

Then it was off to play with some of their new toys!

From watching our dogs, I am reminded that it is the simplest pleasures that often inspire the greatest joys. I wish for all of you in 2011, the simple pleasure of good health, good laughs, and good friends and family. Enjoy each moment and remember to live “Life to the MAX!” Happy New Year!

Our book, Life to the Max: Maxims for a Great Life by a Dog named Max, continues to find new readers through a network of bloggers who are praising our book.  This month alone we have been featured on four different blogs.  On ABCD Diaries, Christin Banda gave “Max an A+” and thinks it would be perfect for kids 6+.  She is also hosting a giveaway of our book, so be sure to visit her blog to enter and also to see some of the other great items she’s reviewed.

Life to the Max was also featured on two blogs written by Cristine Struble.  Be sure to visit More 4 Mom’s Buck and also the Examiner.com Chicago to see her thoughtful review of our book.

Finally, Katherine Bartlett who writes for Our Whiskey Lullaby also is hosting a giveaway of our book which she found “sp sweet and special” that she decided to keep it for herself.

See the individual blogs for giveaway rules and follow our blog for more great connections to more interesting sites.

Hope you are enjoying your holidays!

It’s been fun playing with the dogs during the last eight nights.  If you were celebrating Hanukkah, we hope you had nights of warm gatherings and quiet introspection.  As we close this portion of our online celebration, we want to leave you with this thought:

Love shines like a light in the darkness

and darkness cannot overcome it.

We are called to share our light through acts of love.

As each candle gives its flame to the other,

see how its own light increases.

A candle is a small thing,

but together we can light the world.

Krissy really wants to light the menorah, but she just doesn’t have the opposable thumbs to strike the matches.

Cheer her up with a holiday greeting and you could win a Life to the Max bandana. Share your greetings here or on our Life to the Max Gift Book page on Facebook.

Oh, those delicious little jelly doughnuts–Sufganiyot–are so delicious during Hanukkah! But you can’t just sneak some because the powdered-sugar will give you away every time!

Tell us what your favorite treats are during the holidays and you could win a recipe card and dog bone cookie cutter for Max’s AHH-mmmm Morsels.  Yummy!  Hope you’re living “Life to the MAX” and enjoying the sweetness of the season!  Blessings!

I don’t know who is more off-key–the dogs or my husband?

Tell us about your favorite holiday song, who sings it best in your household and you could win a FREE Max’s AH-mmm Recipe Card & Dog Bone Cookie Cutter!  Howl-ever you celebrate the holidays, sing loud!

Things don’t always go right when an Airedale plays dreidel.

Have your dogs been naughty or nice during the holidays?  Share your stories and you could win a FREE Life to the Max bandana!