Believe It or Not

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season.  We had a lot of people (and puppies) visiting this year.  On Christmas Eve we had 3 puppies in our house, 4 to the left and 2 on the right!  A festive puppy party would be an under-statement!

The weather has been CRAZY, but I'm not complaining.  Today it was 52 degrees.  That may not sound high, but I live in Minnesota and the normal temperature is 26.

We are putting the finishing touches on our next book, "Rudy O'Tooty" and then it is off to the printers.  It should be ready by March!

Mommy and Daddy are going to San Francisco in a few weeks.  Boomer! and I will probably visit the puppy hotel.  Maybe I will get my haircut, too.  I need it, although the extra length does keep me warm when we're outside:  I haven't used my jacket yet.

I seem to be a bit behind on my blogs, so just in case, "Happy New Year!"  May your 2012 be even better than 2011.

Love,
Cozy Rudy the Puppy Party Poodle

Rudy's Little World is International!

We had our first international order this week!  It was only two books, but it is a start.  We also learned a lot about international shipping.  Daddy said it probably would have been faster just to drive it there, but you can't put a price on the educational opportunity, right?

The books went to a place called Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada.  That is close to Minnesota.  One friend said we will have to have a Canadian version of the Rudy books, he suggested, "I'm Rudy the cute poodle, eh." :)

Mommy had a bad tummy ache Saturday all day, so Boomer! and I were very careful.  She is better now and can eat again.

Christmas is coming up very fast and there is so much to do.

Progress on the new book is steady.  We hope to make our end of the year deadline.  Daddy is doing a great job on the lay out.  He is very creative!

All of the snow in our backyard melted.  I like the warmer temperatures.  This will be Boomer's first brown Christmas, but I don't think he has noticed!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Happy Holidays no matter what you celebrate!

Love,
Jolly Rudy, eh! (I guess that does sound different!)

Wee Ones

Our neighbor Hobie hasn't been outside lately.  We found out he had surgery and needs to take it easy.  We are glad he will feel better soon and we will play in the snow.

Mommy and Daddy had a story time at the Hastings Library last week.  It was an audience they didn't have before and weren't sure if they would be able to keep their attention.  The group - 18 months to 4 years old!  Twelve wee ones came to the program.  It was adorable!  Did Mommy and Daddy keep their attention?  Definitely!  It was great.  Rudy's Incredible Kidney Machine was a hit!  Perhaps the children didn't understand all the words and message, but the parents/care givers did!

During Daddy's reading of the story, Owen (a toddler just learning to walk) wobbled over to Mommy's chair.  He put his hand on Mommy's lap, went around her chair and then under it.  It was so cute!  When handing out the gift bags to the other kids, Owen "helped."

At the end of the program, a 3 or 4 year old boy emphatically shouted, "I like it!"  Mommy responded, "I'm glad you like it, that makes me happy!"  Lots of laughs and giggles, conversation and a song about cutting down a Christmas tree performed by a small day care group.  What more could you ask for?  Does the word precious come to mind?  I think so!

Love,
Wee Rudy the Precious Poodle

Too Cute!

On Tuesday, Mommy and Daddy attended a Daisy Troop meeting.  Daisies are 6 or 7 year old Girl Scouts.  They want to use some of their cookie money to buy books for children in hospitals.  We think that is very generous and thoughtful.

Mommy shared a little about the books and why she/we write them.  The girls took time to read the books and ask questions.  Mommy and Daddy were impressed with their reading skills and interesting questions.

It was adorable hearing the girls read to each other.  We have heard individual children read one of our books before, but never a room full!  It was great!  They were intrigued by the stories and asked each other questions.  Here is a slide show of the adorable girls.  I hope you enjoy it.

Love,
Rudy the proud poodle.
(Maybe I can be an honorary Daisy?)

Giving Thanks

I hope your holiday was fun.  Thanksgiving reminds me of all the things for which I am thankful.  I have a wonderful family.  We all have health that is good and stable.  Even though I have to take medicine and follow a low-protein diet, I am grateful for my Gentle Snackers.  They taste good!  I am also grateful for having a backyard where we can run, explore, play Frisbee and follow the leader.  We have wonderful neighbor puppy friends and can often catch up on our latest news.  I feel blessed to have wonderful vets and doctors that take care of me, my brother and Mommy and Daddy.

I am a busy boy.  I am so grateful for the people that have entered our lives.  I can't say enough about our friends.  It is nice to have support and encouragement that surrounds us daily.  It makes us smile and dance!

I could go on about all the things I am thankful for, but then it would be December!  I will end with one more blessing.  I am thankful to everyone who reads my books and comes to our programs.  We have met some awesome people and enjoy every moment.  We are glad that people enjoy our stories and like to learn about our little world.  We look forward to a fabulous year ahead.

Love,
Rudy, the thankful poodle.

What's New?

I had my check up this week and everything looks good!  The waiting room was full of people and their furry friends.  I entertained them by dancing, taking myself for a walk and playing tag.  It was fun!

The weather has been cold and windy.  It is dark almost every time we go outside.  I miss the sun!  Boomer! still plays Frisbee, but sometimes losses it in mid air.  Daddy and I chase each other so we can get our exercise.  Once in a while Mommy joins us outside and we take a walk around the yard.  At least we don't have snow yet!

Our new book production is right on schedule.  We saw some of the illustrations and they are very cute.  I can hardly wait!  I will start practicing my song and dance.

Love always,
LLD Rudy (that's Love, Laugh, Dance!)

Our Little World

We will never sell a million books or be rich and famous in the big world.  In our little world we walk for kidneys, fund raise for animals, share the importance of living donors and transplants and warm a few hearts.  Helping others, meeting new people, making new friends and encouraging others doesn't have a monetary value.  Hearing a challenged reader enthusiastically sound out words to find out what's on my nose all by herself - that's priceless.

Mommy and Daddy participated in a fund raiser to help Amazing Animal Advocates.  We sold 25 books and donated all proceeds to them.  Daisy and Loki (Now called Buddy) were the guests of honor.  A good time was had by all!  Here's a link to the event's slide show.

Love,
Rudy the philosophical poodle