Jamestown pictures...

Here are a few pictures from our visit to Jamestown to see the "pirate" ships! As you can tell from the pictures, the kids had a great time!

Mackenize and "Kung Fu Zachary"

Zach HATES HATES HATES loud noises, and this picture was taken of him walking out to the visitors center from the fort. The musket gun had just been fired and he covered his ears so he didn't have to hear it again...Poor kid!

Zach hanging out in an Indian tee-pee

Trying to get them to pose for a Christmas card photo is like Greg trying to get me to stop shopping at Target...its just never going to happen:)

Yeah, not sure what he is doing here?! My little man sure is crazy:)

Going down the steps into the ship. Zach loved this, and was such an explorer...looking at everything, just taking it all in...

Again, all I wanted was a nice picture of the two of them for a simple little Christmas Card...BOYS!

Williamsburg Trip

Zach sitting in a tree in Williamsburg

Zach reading his map

Just hanging out on the lawn...

Buggy ride...

Buggy ride...

Greg and Charlie right where they should be!

Zach trying on a hat

Mackenzie being silly

Silly #2

Zach taking everything in....

Mackenzie dipping her very on candle shape

This past weekend, we took our annual "Pughman Family" trip (you know, our annual trip with Marie and Charlie...the Sellmans + the Pughs=The Pughman's)...to Williamsburg Virginia. We all had a blast! We could not have asked for better weather sunny and mid 70's the whole time. We were only there for the weekend, so we crammed a lot of things into our vacation. We got into Williamsburg early Friday afternoon and grabbed a quick bit to eat, and then our fun began!!!

First thing we did was visit the Yankee Candle Flagship store, and let me just say WOW! There was a toy room, and candy room, a Christmas room where it honest to goodness snowed inside, and not to mention there were candles galore! I have to be honest, my Mom (who is a die hard Williamsburg fan and who will probably disown me for taking the kids there without her...sorry again Mom) told me that we should visit this store. I wasn't sure what to think, but I took her suggestion and we went. And boy am I glad we did. I really wish that I had taken the camera in to get pictures of the room that snows...the kids were so excited! They couldn't get over the fact that they were in a store (with Santa Claus...I almost forgot him) and it was snowing! To cool for words!!! We probably spent an hour in this store, and even went back the next day:)

Next we checked into our condo, and then hit the outlet mall. No Pughman Family trip is ever complete without a trip to the outlets:) After the outlets, we found the best pizza place ever for dinner. This restaurant just made my heart happy walking into it...there was NY Yankee stuff EVERYWHERE...I'm talking signs, posters, cups, hats...you name it and it was there! Any how, back to the pizza...this local restaurant is run by a man who is straight out of the Bronx, NY...thick accent and all! Now, if you are in a hurry this place (I'll have to look the name up...I know, I know...how is it the best pizza EVER and I can't remember the name...lets just say old age is kicking in early for me) is not for you. It took a good 20 minutes to get our food, but it was worth it...YUM!

Saturday we hit Colonial Williamsburg. We bought passes and tickets to ride a horse and buggy and then hit the town. I had never actually been into the buildings before (well maybe I have, but I have blocked out most of my family trips from my childhood, so maybe I blocked these buildings out too...ok just kidding Mom and Dad), so it was neat to see them. The kids did really well, and it was nice that they could see stuff and then go run around if they wanted too. By the end of the day Zach was "reading" a map and telling us where to go!

We also went to Jamestown to see the "pirate ships" as Zach calls them. Yes, I know they weren't pirates, but I also know that I have to choose my battles and I knew trying to explain to Zach that they WEREN'T pirate ships was just a battle I wasn't up for:) The kids had a great time climbing up, down, and all around the ships. We went into the fort also, and Zach was not a fan of the musket shooter. He covered his ears and kept saying "I go home now Mommy!"

We actually went back to Jamestown on Sunday before we caught the ferry to come home, so that Zach and Mackenzie could climb on the ships again. It was a great trip and I really look forward to taking them more places....like NYC for Christmas? Or NYC for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Or NYC for opening day at Yankee Stadium? Or.......

Does this thing work??? Yes, it's just been 10 months!!!

Zach on his last day of preschool May 2010
Mackenzie on her last day of preschool

Yes. We still have a blog. Yes. I know it's been 10 months since I updated it. Yes. I know there are people out there who really like an updated blog. Yes. After 10 months, I am F-I-N-A-L-L-Y updating the blog!

So. Lets see what everyone is up too!

Mackenzie:
Has "graduated" preschool and is now in Kindergarten! She LOVES LOVES LOVES Kindergarten and has already learned so much, it blows my mind! We were hesitant at first, but after a lot of begging on her part, we are allowing her to ride the bus to and from school. I don't know what I was ever thinking NOT to let her ride the bus, because it makes things so much easier on me! She loves the bus, and her bus driver is the nicest man ever! She loves to do art projects, play on the computer, "read," and play outside!

Zach:
I don't even know where to start with him! He is a typical 3 year old boy, who is always on the go. He loves to eat, play outside, and build with Legos.

Since so much time has past, I'm just going to list a few things that have gone on over the past few months and leave you with 2 pictures!

-December 2009...we took a road trip with Greg's parents (also known as Grandma and Grandpa) to Florida to visit Great Grandma and Great Grandpa. It was a quick trip but it was nice to see them. Oh, and we did make a little side trip to visit another "friend" of ours named Mickey Mouse!!!

-February 16 2010...Lulu passed away (my grandmother). She was 95 years old and the best grandma anyone could ever have. I have so many memories of Lulu and I am so so SO thankful that she was able to meet and get to know my kids. Her passing has been really hard for me and there are days that my heart is just broken and the tears flow long and hard for her. Mackenzie asks about her often and this year, on what would have been Lulu's 96th birthday, we were at the beach with Greg's parents. We were out on the beach and Mackenzie said "Mommy, if I yell happy birthday to Lulu up in heaven, will she hear me?" I said yes, and Boo then walked a little away from me and yelled "Happy Birthday Lulu. I miss you!" Talk about heart breaking.... LOVE YOU LULU!!!

-March 8 2010...Mackenzie turns 5! We had a birthday party at the house with a couple of her friends from school and the neighborhood. It was a total girl party...pink and purple everything. The highlight was each girl was able to make a necklace, color pages of princess', and decorate their own cupcake!

-April 2010...no real big adventures this month!

-May 2010...no adventures for the kids, but for me I was able to take a quick trip up to New York City to see The View! I LOVE LOVE LOVE NYC and am so thankful that Greg was able to take off 2 days of work for me to go!

-June 2010...the kids finished up preschool and summer vacation starts!

-July 16 2010...we have a new memeber of the family. Greg's brother and sister-n-law welcomed a new little girl to the family...Mollie Grey. She is the cutest little thing and her big sister Mia is so happy to be the big sister!

-August 2010...Mackenzie started kindergarten! Woo Hoo! Ok ok ok, yes, on the first day, after we dropped her off, I cried like a baby! I really didn't think I would, but did! The second day I was better, as in "woo hoo...lets go shopping!"

-September 6 2010...Zach turned 3! We just kept things really simple this year and did a family party at home! Oh, we also went to the beach with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple of days.

So. There in a nutshell is what we have been up to lately. I'm sure I have missed some big points like in June when Zach gave up his paci over night, or in July when my brother Chris, Greg, and my brother n law Kyle built a huge, really nice deck over at Chris and Kristy's house, or in January/February when Greg built a patio at our house, etc.

I'll try to keep up with things better. Notice this time I said TRY...no promises. I have 2 kids that keep me super super busy, and we all know that if I have some down time, chances are I'm NOT going to sit and blog...I'm going to target!!!