Dear bear friends:

It was Christmas Eve, and we were home. There was a happy reunion at the house on the hill!

I sat surrounded by my bear family. Everyone was glad to see me. Alexander thumped my back with his paw. Marco clambered onto my lap. Leif Bearickson rumbled, deep-voiced with happiness.

Dear bear friends:

It was our last day in New York City. Once again, we were walking the streets of Manhattan, enjoying the holiday fun. Giant nutcrackers lined the boulevard. Merry musicians played and sang.

Dear bear friends:

It was late at night in the house on the hill. The Ewer bear family gathered. I snuggled down between Franklin and Gus and looked at the dear furry faces of my fellow bears. Time to bring up the question I'd been thinking about all day.

"Alexander", I asked, "What do you know about Santa?"

Dear bear friends:

After I watched the parade, I couldn't stop thinking about Santa! Who was he? When we travel to New York City, could I meet him? The stuffing in my head creaked with so many thoughts.

"Miss Cynthia?" I asked. We were in the kitchen. Miss Cynthia was making a gingerbread house. Frosting was everywhere! I sat nearby, holding the candies that would decorate the gingerbread house. The kitchen had a wonderful smell of ginger and cinnamon and molasses.

Perry's Gingerbread House

Dear bear friends:

It was Thanksgiving morning. The good smell of food cooking came up the stairs early, even before Miss Cynthia!

"Perry! Perry Bear!" called Miss Cynthia. I yawned and stretched and opened my eyes sleepily. Miss Cynthia scooped me off the bookcase. "Hurry up and come downstairs!" she said, "You don't want to miss the parade!"