February just plain stinks....

I'm beginning to H-A-T-E the month of February, because it is turning out to mean sadness...

February 16th, marked the one year anniversary of Lulu's passing, and let me just say it feels like just yesterday I got "the" phone call, and it hurts, just the same.  This has been a rough year for me dealing with Lulu's passing.  It's just hard to accept that she is gone (I refuse to go to the cemetery because in my crazy little mind, seeing the grave marker will just do me in...).  The kids talk about her often, which makes me smile.  In fact, just last month, Mackenzie had to go to school dressed up like she was 100 years old, and what better place to get "supplies" for this project than Lulu's house!  Oh, how Lulu would have loved to see this!  On a happy note, Lulu had a great love for People Magazine...and when I say great love, I mean don't you dare think about touching her copy of the magazine until she read it cover to cover and did the crossword puzzle:)  Well, People magazine did an article about Elizabeth Edwards the other month, and in the article they included a picture of the cemetery where she is buried, which just so happens to be the same cemetery where Lulu is.  In this picture, you can see Lulu's headstone!  LULU IS FAMOUS!!! (I don't tell people this a lot, but I think it was a sign from Lulu to let me know she is ok). 

On February 20th, my brother-n-law lost his Grandmother who had been sick.  Then on February 21st, Greg's grandmother, known to the kids as Faraway Great Grandma passed away.  She had been sick for sometime, but that didn't make it any easier.  Thankfully, we took the kids to Florida last December (2009) so that Zach could meet her.  He had a great time with her and she really enjoyed meeting and playing with him.  The family had a nice little service for her in Florida and Greg and his family were able to attend.  The kids and I stayed home because Boo had school and the trip was really short.  Greg said that it was very nice, and it was nice to see family that they hadn't seen in years.

Here are a few pictures of these special ladies that we have lost.  I chose the one of Lulu because she was SO happy the day that she met Zach for the first time...and that smile on her face is how I remember her.  The pictures with Faraway Grandma are from our trip...you can she how happy she was to see her great great grand babies...

An Update

It has been months since my last post so here is what we have been up to.  You would think with me being a stay at home mom, that I would have all the time in the world to upload photos, organize them, and update a simple blog, but the truth is, most days I hardly have time to breath:)  The kids are busier than ever with school, choir practice, soccer practice, play dates, speech, and field trips!  Every time I turn around we are going in ten different directions (but the real secret is...I wouldn't have it any other way:)!


 Mackenzie:  Booskie is now 6 years old!  She can now offically use two hands to show how old she is (and she is super proud of that)!  She LOVES LOVES LOVES school!  She is learning to read on her own, with just a little help from us, and continues to love any type of art project.  She still loves riding the bus to and from school which is a huge blessing for me!  She is also really into reading chapter books.  Each night we read to her and her favorite books are the Junie B. Jones books...and to be honest they are really cute!  Booskie is still loving choir and has asked for next year to join our Church dance group AND do choir:)

Zach: Well, he is all boy!  My little man is into EVERYTHING!  He is going to speech therapy two times a week and he loves his teacher!  He is doing SO much better with his words...it is amazing how fast he picks up stuff!  He will go pack to his regular preschool in the fall, and let me just say, I CAN NOT WAIT:)  He keeps me busy for sure.  Zach is really into Transformers and is starting to get into Star Wars thanks to his big cousin Thomas.  It's kind of sad he doesn't like the toddler toys any more, he has moved on to big boy toys.

A few weeks ago, Zach learned how to ride his bicycle with no training wheels...he literally did this in about a two week time period!  Mackenize has been riding without training wheels for a while now...I can not believe how fast they are growing up.

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!!!

Christmas Choir Show

Boo with her bell

Warming up (this was pre Mr. Josh so you can see she isn't doing it:)!

Mackenzie is continuing to love going to choir. She loves going, and loves practicing, but is still a bit shy "performing." Well, this is until this past weekend's Christmas show. During practice, she stood beside her friends and was kind of just taking everything in. She wasn't singing, she wasn't ringing her bell, UNTIL Mr. Josh came. Mr. Josh was her choir teacher last year, and she really took to him. Unfortunately he now teaches the older children, so she doesn't get to see him much. Well, tonight, he helped their choir group warm up by playing the piano for them, and in case you can't tell, he is sitting at the piano which is right in front of Mackenzie. Let me just tell you, that as soon as Mackenzie saw Mr. Josh, it was like a light bulb went off...she just starting belting out the songs, playing her bell when she was supposed to, and acted out the songs when she was supposed to! The smile she had on her face when Mr. Josh noticed her doing all this was PRICELESS!!! Luckily, during the actual show, Mr. Josh played the piano again, so Mackenzie performed her stuff. It was the best Christmas present ever to see her do all her songs, but more importantly it was to see that she was proud of herself:) Go Boo!!!

Home Depot Project number????

The first Saturday in December was our monthly Home Depot Project. This time, Daddy was planning on taking Mackenzie and Zach, but at the last minute had to go to work, so the kids and I joined Meme, Dub, and Thomas. This month's project was a tiny wagon.
Mackenzie worked on her wagon with Meme, Dub helped Thomas, and I helped Zach. These projects are so much fun, and really get the kids to excited to build something of their own.

Zach is an old pro at the hammering thing now. He really gets into it, and usually wants to do it without any help.

Of course, Home Depot Project day wouldn't be complete with out going to McDonalds after wards. I don't have any pictures from McDonald's, but trust me when I say it was crazy....Mackenzie, Thomas, Zach, me, Meme, and Dub all sitting together in one booth with Zach making sure that everyone is at an arms length from his food. That boy is VERY protective of his food...especially at McDonalds:)

Mackenzie's Thanksgiving Day Feast at School

Mackenzie's school celebrated their Thanksgiving day feast the Monday before Thanksgiving this year. All the older kids in the school were dressed like pilgrims or Indians. Mackenzie was dressed as and Indian and had an Indian name of Little Sunshine. She was so excited to sit with her friends and celebrate, but was even MORE excited that "Auntie Marie" and Daddy came to school for the feast!!! It was a fun day for everyone!!! Thank you "Auntie Marie" for coming to see the feast!!!

Halloween

Mackenzie and Zach had such a great time this year for Halloween! A couple days before Halloween, we carved our pumpkin. Zach was so into getting all the goop out, while Mackenzie was busy saying things like "ooey, yucky, Don't touch that!!!" The more she screamed these things, the louder Zach laughed:)

Halloween night was busy for us. We hadn't planned on it, but we ended up having quite the party at our house that night. Uncle Kyle, Aunt Cathy, "Uncle" Charlie, "Auntie" Marie (the usual Halloween crew)came over, but then b/c it was a Saturday night, Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Chris, Aunt Jamie, and Mia came over too. It was a lot of fun to have everyone over. As for trick or treating, Zach is the pro in our house. I honestly think that he would have gone all night if we let him. However, we had to stop b/c his candy bag was so full, that he was having trouble carrying it, and he WOULD NOT let anyone else carry his bag:) He was too funny!!! Boo had a great time too, but the novelty soon worn off and she was ready to eat pizza (our usual after TorT dinner).

Corn Maze fun with Auntie Marie and Uncle Charlie

Hay fight on the hay ride!

This is what Zach does when you ask to take his picture...he is such a ham!

In the corn maze....

Corn Maze here we come!

On Sunday after noon, we went to a local farm that has a corn maze. It was the first time we had been, and it was so much fun! We started off going through the corn maze, and the kids loved it! They ran and ran and ran! Greg and Charlie had to stay ahead so the kids wouldn't get lost...it would not have surprised me to loose Zach there...it was crazy! But we did all make it out..even after the snake incident! Halfway through the maze, we came to an opening in the field, and just ahead of Marie and I and the kids, Greg and Charlie took a big step back and made some comment about something they were looking at. Well, this could only mean one thing, and I went literally into panic mode...SNAKE!!!! Greg immediately looks back at me, and I'm already shaking, sweating, crying, you name it. I guess at this point I should let you know that this snake, as big and bad as it was...was FAKE...yep, the farm people had placed it there to spook people! It took me a good 5 minuets to stop shaking and regain my composure!

After the corn maze, we went and played on haystacks and took a long hay ride! It was a lot of fun, and it was so great to have our dearest friends with us. Marie and Charlie really do go out of their way to do extra special things with us and the kids, and we are so glad they do! Not sure what we would do without our Auntie Marie and Uncle Charlie:)