Max! :)

Christmas time always brings sweet memories of our Maxwell! He was always first to get his gift from under the tree, and he derived more joy from his one gift than the rest of us did from all of ours put together! :) He'd proudly carry it around, in his soft, lab mouth, showing it to each of us, doing his "happy walk", wagging his tail so gleefully that his whole body wagged with each step! He'd circle the living room, again and again, amid the happy chatter and laughter! He was so happy to be a part of the festivities! :) He was especailly fond of a soft, cream colored, stuffed toy, we called "Baby"! We called it that because he treated it as if it was his baby and liked to have it with him! That was a gift that needed to be replaced a couple of times! :)
Max was a very special canine! Not only was he the most handsome lab we've ever seen, but he had the most loveable personality to match! His one wish was simply to be with us, and it was very easy to include him, as he was so enjoyable to be with!! :) He liked, and got along with, everyone and adored each of us!! He made us each feel that we were his personal favorite!! :)
He loved to run and leap off of the dock, into the water, after a stick one of us had thrown for him. He would do this untill we tired of the sport and then he was happy to return home again! :)
One of his most favorite things to do was to watch the birds! When they perched in the upper branches he'd bark from below untill they flew! He'd then run to the tree they landed in and proceed to bark at them again untill they'd fly again!! He'd smile so wide that his ears bowed! :) If the birds stayed in the yard, he could do this with them for hours, never seeming to tire of the game! I told him he was a "bird brain" like me, since we both love watching birds! :)
When the kids were little they always included Max in their play! One day Sheana called to us to come see Max! When we arrived at her bedroom door, there was Max lying on her bed, smiling from ear to ear with all of Sheana's stuffed toys encircling him!! Suddenly he jumped off the bed, went to Cal's room, jumped up on his bed, retrieved a stuffed toy, and returned to Sheana's bed! He dropped this toy at his side and beamed at all of us as if to say, "There, just needed that one last toy to make this moment perfect!" :) We all laughed sharing the perfect moment with him! :)
Max was very intelligent! At one point we had given each of his toys a name, and we would ask him where a certain toy was and he'd go to his toy box and bring out the toy we'd requested! :)
He'd learned to "go pottie" on demand, within the first two weeks we had him, as a puppy! He never went in the yard, but always went off to the side of the yard! When we moved to the country, he'd go in the field rather than the lawn! He taught this behavior to our current dog, Buddy, when we brought him home! :) We've never had to worry about watching were we step, and the pooper-scooper has long ago been tossed in the garbage! :)
Once he even embarrassed himself! He and Rud were coming around the side of the house, in the dark, when Max suddenly set his front feet and barked defensively! He was protecting Rud, when he realized the object he was barking at was one of our trees! He looked So Embarrassed!
He liked everyone, but there were two times he felt a need to protect us from someone. Once was when Rud had taken him on a long walk in a treed area, and two men of questionable character were walking there too. Max growled at them and kept watch untill they'd moved on. The other time was when I was home alone, and two men came to my door. As I spoke with them Max stood at my side, growling and eyeing them the entire time they were there! I was so thankful for having Max at my side! :)
It may sound funny but one of my most favorite things was to press my face against Max's forhead and breath in his wonderful doggy aroma!! He never seemed to mind, and knew I adored him! :)
It's been over 3 years now since Max has gone. Somewhere Max is barking at the birdies, watching them fly from tree to tree, passing the time untill we are all together again! :)
While children will be seeing visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, I'll be seeing visions of Max, again this Christmas, enjoying the holiday and the joy of family with us! ... We love you Max! :)