More than anything

In the car this morning Jack asked me what the word "anything"means.

I told him,

" If I said I love Jack more than anything, it means I love Jack more than my new boots, chocolate, and our mini-van. And Jack I love you more than anything."

Jack's response

"oh, well, I love our mini-van more than anything...pause...I'd choose it over you."

Thanks bud.

I'm not offended. He really really LOVES our mini-van. He still occasionally opens our front door and yells to total strangers walking their dog, "Hey did you see our mini-van? It has magic doors" And I will forever be impressed with the patience his pre-school teachers exhibit when they obey his daily command to wait to take him into class until they have watched the door magically slide shut all the way.

Either way Jack, I still love YOU (and Marian, and Chad, and "she-who-has-not-been-named" more than anything. Even the mini-van.

I promise I know!

For those of you who read my previous post before I went back and fixed my typos (it was past my 8:30 bedtime when I published it) I swear I know how to spell our Presidents name! Oops!

Popular

So, if you ever needed a boost of your sense of popularity, you should become a registered voter in Massachusetts. The past few days my home phone has been ringing off the hook! Senator wanna-be's Martha Coakley and Scott Brown have called me at least a dozen times each. The late Ted Kennedy's wife has called a few times, Scott Brown's daughter is becoming my new BFF, Mrs Menino (the Boston Mayors wife) has been trying to reach me for days, and even Barack Obama called. Jack was tackling Marian for the blue crayon she had shoved in her mouth just as you called so, if you are reading this, sorry for hanging up on you Barack. Needless to say I've felt SO POPULAR. I say that a little tongue in cheek because to be honest, a few more phone calls tonight could push me over the edge and I might just say a pox on both their houses and stay away from the polls tomorrow...but that's highly unlikely. Few things make me feel more empowered than casting a ballot for the candidate of my choice in a political election. The best was when I wrote Chad's name in for Govenor because I didn't like either candidate on the ballot. But tomorrow I plan to pick someone actually on the ballot. To all you Massachusetts readers, I suggest you do the same. Huzzah for democracy! Robo calls and all!

Just one of the many things I love about my church

Click on the link to read the story
Church Sending Team of Doctors to Assist in Haiti - LDS Newsroom

Hypothetically speaking

If, after a really long day and a failed attempt to hold family council and calmly discuss with the kids why mom is so tired and why they need to behave (and not jump from couch to couch and cause terror during violin lessons) ...I were to put my kids in their room, unsupervised for half an hour (with perhaps the door locked) and sit and do nothing but watch Family Feud re-runs...
would that be bad?

I'm just asking.

Shhh...

Marian is napping. In the fire-truck (toddler bed). There was no crying, no threats of locking the door, and no long drawn out battle. It's a miracle.

I promised myself that I would officially move Marian out of the crib for naps in January. I was 10 days late in doing it...because I knew it would be a battle. I was right. But there is now a light at the end of the tunnel. Looks like baby #3 won't have to sleep in a laundry basket after all.

Take 2

Ok- this is probably just for the Grandparents and such...but here is Marian's complete performance from our Christmas Eve talent show.

Twas the night before Christmas- Ward Party edition try #2

Yeah So I finally got this to work. I would like to point out that the person filming this didn't know how to get the camera into video mode, even though said person has owned this camera for a year. Even though said person only missed a few moments of Marian's performance..her first moments are her best. But the end is still worth watching. Enjoy!

Christmas Eve Highlights

The First Annual Pugh Family Christmas Eve Talent show was awesome. Chad's talents were a hit!

The very impresive "jiggle-ing" as Jack calls it!

Making quarters disappear through his head...

Which made Marian very nervous

Until she realized that it had been in her ear the entire time.

My number with the kids and kazoos was also awesome (if I may say so myself) but there are no pictures of that...I think Chad was just too impressed to take pictures.

Jack's singing and impromptu magic show was also very impressive. He was very sneaky with that disappearing quarter.

Marian re-told her "twas the night before Christmas" and I think I've almost figured out how to upload these longer videos so hold your breath for that.

All in all we had a wonderful Christmas! We definitely missed our family in Utah but had a special time for our 1st Boston Christmas. Check out our "self-timer" family picture with matching Boston shirts. Out of the 30 or so I made everyone sit for, this one was the best

False Alarm

Last night, as happens every night, I fell asleep on the couch next to Chad. Most nights he stays up late working while he watches a Celtics game or some other sport in the background. Around midnight I experienced a very startling sensation and jumped off the couch yelling "oh my gosh, oh my gosh" Chad asked what was wrong and I told him my pants were soaked! As we looked at my soaked pants, soaked couch, and soaked blanket we both panicked thinking my water had broken (I still have about 12 weeks of pregnancy to go at this point).

But then two thoughts occurred to us.

1- I realized that if it was in fact amniotic fluid pouring down my legs...it should feel warm, not shockingly cold ...as it did.

2- Chad remembered that I had been holding a full glass of water in my lap as I was drifting off to sleep.

The empty glass was then found in the blanket.

No Doctors were called, no friends were summoned to stay with our sleeping children, and I vowed to never again hold a glass of water while drowsy.

I'd like to say that I laughed after that. I didn't. In fact, I had to call my friend Jamie this morning to verify that in fact amniotic fluid is warm and not ice cold. Let's be honest, I'm a worrier.

But now, almost 24 hours later I can finally say that our 1st "false alarm" was pretty funny. Having never gone into labor on my own I still have NO IDEA what to expect. Except to say that based on my 1st two experiences I expect to be induced about 3-4 weeks early due to some last minute complication. But let's hope not. Who knows, maybe in 12 weeks I'll be jumping off the couch at midnight repeating the same scenario? Minus the ice water.

Marian Rose: Star of the Ward Christmas Party

Actually, she was the Angel.
One of them anyway

Every year our church has the nursery aged kids (18 months-3 yrs old) re-enact the Christmas nativity at the ward Christmas party. There are about 30 kids involved each year and this year Marian was an angel. I didn't have a costume for her so someone lent me this hot little item.


Marian LOVED it. Notice the little white dog tucked under all that tinsel ( I told you mom. Penny comes with us EVERYWHERE)

At the designated time, the curtains open and a dozen little angels appear.

Marian gets herself front and center. That's my girl!

Last year, Jack was the sweetest Joseph you ever saw
How cute is it that they are holding hands?

Back to this year...After the nativity there is a ward talent show. Marian had learned the rhyming words to "Twas the night before Christmas" so I thought we'd give it a try....the abbreviated version of course. (I couldn't fix the red eye on her in the picture...but it was too darn cute not to post)

There is a video but I can't get it to upload...so if you are super intrigued leave a message and I'll send it to you in email!

Not the REAL Santa?

A few days before Christmas I realized that Marian probably had no idea what was going to happen Christmas morning. Jack was BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS desperate for Santa to come and asking "Santa questions" about every five minutes but Marian seemed pretty clueless. So after I had dropped Jack off for preschool I decided I should fill Marian in on Christmas morning. I looked in the rear-view mirror and told her that in a few days Santa was going to bring presents. "Not the REAL Santa?" she asked desperately. I should mention that a "Santa" showed up at our Church Christmas party and Marian was basically terrified. I guess the idea of that man showing up at our house was pretty frightening.

So I decided I would try honesty. "Don't worry," I said. "Mommy and Daddy are the real Santa anyway."

"Oh Good. So mommy and daddy give me presents?"

"Yep"

"Thanks mom" Marian says with pure relief.

Assuming she doesn't remember this conversation next year. I'd say honesty really is the best policy.

Goodbye Christmas

Our Christmas decor is coming down today...but before it does, I wanted to pay tribute to the great decorations (and the people who gave them to us)



Thank you Stangers for wanting to dump this cute green shelf when you moved. Thank you mom for the advent calendar and the fabulous Santa! And Thank you TJ Maxx for successfully tempting me to buy the cute "Merry and Bright" blocks.

The Nativity Collection

Brought to you by the Perrin family (great wedding gift thank you) Krakow, Poland and Bratislava Slovakia. Thanks mom and dad for sending me to Europe!

The Jim Shore collection: Thank you Evan and Linda for the fabulous train set. Thank you Grandma Jean for my favorite nativity ever! Jack likes this the best too because he thinks the baby Jesus is happier with a quilt (something that seems to be lacking in all other nativity sets)

Thank you Dollar Tree for suprinsingly decent stockings. Thank you Megan for the adorable wood block nativity set! And Thanks mom for the fun Santas!

Thank you Grandma Jean for the Christmas tree and just about every ornament on it! We have used this tree every Christmas since Chad and I were married and we LOVE it!

It was a great Christmas. As excited as I am to get things packed up and cleaned out, I am excited to pull it all out again next December!