Christmas Cards 2019

The last three years I haven't gotten my act together soon enough to schedule a real photographer to take our family picture so we have used a tripod, a 10 second delay timer and a lot of finger crossing.  This years photo turned out pretty darn good...for someone who knows next to nothing about photography anyway!  Every time we get family pictures I tell my kids that this is ALL I want for Christmas and birthday combined!

We are addressing and mailing the cards this weekend and may or may not include these
"Pugh Family Highlights of 2019" in the envelopes.

Pugh Family Highlights 2019

Chad (30 something) - due to his newfound love of mountain biking and skiing, declares his love for the State of Utah on a nearly daily basis.  He was a ride leader for Jack’s mountain bike team, wrote a lot of legal jargon, won a bunch of cases, and probably scared a few opposing counsels.  He also grew a beard, got braces, and survived another mediocre BYU football season.

Mary (30 something) - actually trained for and ran a half marathon without crying.  She had more fun than you would think possible conducting the elementary school choir for the 2^nd year in a row and now that the twins are in school all day, she sits at home eating chocolate and staring out the window waiting for everyone to come home and make messes. Ha Ha Ha.

Jack (14) - while not a fan of the required biker shorts, had a blast competing on the “Chain Gang” mountain biking team.  Although there was some blood and a lot of sweat...there were no tears and no broken bones!  He is rocking his last year of middle school and if all goes according to plan, he will be an Eagle Scout by the end of the month.  He gave a solo cello recital, learned several songs from “La La Land” on the piano, which everyone loves to hear…but prefers to play “The Entertainer” instead and does so Every. Single. Day.

Marian (12 going on 16) - after another successful summer selling her famous chocolate chip cookies to eager neighbors, made the transition from elementary school to middle school without blinking an eye...but has asked for a cell phone and mascara every day since.  Her soccer team, the “traffic cones” went undefeated and the one game Mary missed, Marian scored 3 goals in the first 5 minutes of the game. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She sings, plays the ukulele and rides her skateboard…just not all at the same time.

Lucy (9) - got her braces off and her groove on! (She auditioned for and made it onto a dance company.) She also got to fly to NYC to play favorite cousin to three adoring fans. When she’s not at dance rehearsal, Lucy can be found riding her bike, playing with friends, making slime (sigh) or making people laugh with her funny antics and magic tricks.  Lucy also sings and plays the ukulele.  She claims to know several songs but so far we’ve only heard “Can’t Help falling in love” and that one song the kids keep playing on YouTube by Grace Vanderwhatever.

Grant (7+1 minute) - loves Star Wars, Legos, Kit-Kats, and pretty much anything that requires batteries.  This year he mastered the art of bike riding, word reading, and bed making.  He joined the chess club at school, played rec soccer, where he was the first to admit he was just there for the juice boxes and rice Krispy treats.  His favorite activity is playing “imagination”...an activity that requires a lot of impressive sound effects, jumping off the bed, and usually a lightsaber or two.  7-year olds are the best!

Grace (7) – loves reading, riding her bike, drawing, and putting on puppet shows.  She plays basketball at recess, runs on the school cross country team, and dominated as the only girl in the otherwise all boy soccer league.  (We weren’t trying to make a point, just trying to simplify and keep Grant and Grace on the same team). She plays house and restaurant with friends, writes notes for everyone in the family, and you might mistake her for a mountain goat if you see her at the indoor rock-climbing gym.  She still wears her Boston Red Sox hat. Every. Single. Day.

Rosie (35 in dog years) - loves peanut butter, chicken nuggets, and tennis balls.  She prefers Chad over the rest of us ( a feeling we suspect is mutual) but she is still generous with cuddles and tail wagging to all members of the family…and pretty much anyone else... except for repair men.  She is excellent at chasing birds, jumping up on visitors, and eating Grace’s stuffed animals…yet still manages to consistently rank #1 in “favorite family member”.

Pranksgiving

"Pranksgiving" was a thing my sisters and I did growing up but I'm pretty sure I haven't pulled a prank since then.

Until last week that is.  My friend asked me to let her dogs out a couple of times a day while she was out of town.  While I was there, I noticed that her gallery wall still had a few empty frames.       

I knew exactly what photos should go there!!!

I had an unreasonable amount of fun doing this and was DYING that it took 3 whole days for my friend and her husband (who happen to be DIE HARD UTE fans) to notice a cheesy engagement photo of Chad and I and LaVell Edwards on her wall!

That. Was. Fun.

Lights

For years I have wanted to go to the tree lighting ceremony at Draper Park.  This year the stars aligned, I threw dinner in the oven, filled the kid’s coat pockets with hand warmers and we headed out!  

It was short and sweet and so fun!

There was hot chocolate, cookies, and free pony rides. 

What could be better?

We ran into a couple young women from our neighborhood who were there volunteering for the Draper Youth council. Such awesome girls!

At first glance, I didn’t think much of these pictures since the lighting was tricky. But after closer inspection, I am in love with these pictures. I love all the colors of the lights surrounding my kids' faces that are in turn exuding their own beautiful lights!  It was such a fun, simple night.  We weren’t there more than 30 minutes but it was full of Christmas magic and joy and you can’t beat that!

We are at such a fun stage in our family.  While I miss and will always miss the baby phase... it’s pretty amazing to quick hop in the car and go to an event like this without a diaper bag, stroller, or potty breaks!  We missed Jack who was running the scoreboard at the middle school basketball game.  But I’m glad to know we have a solid four years before he leaves the nest. 

Bernard

Meet Bernard...

Bernard is our Elf on the Shelf.  He is cute, he is festive, and he and I have a complicated relationship.  You see, he didn't show up at our house for many years (which was just fine by me).  Year after year my kids would ask why all their friends had an Elf on the Shelf and we didn't. I explained that for some reason, one had never shown up at our house.  Weird.  But two years ago, Bernard showed up.  I guess he felt sorry for my kids.  He only came for the second half of December so that wasn't so bad.  Same thing last year.  December 13th or 14th was when he showed up.  

But this year, this year, he showed up EARLY.  December 2nd to be exact.  Maybe he knew how excited Grace was for him to come.  Probably that.  In fact, Grace is so excited about Bernard that she has been writing questions for him to answer.  Complicated, almost philosophical questions like: "How are Elves's born?"  "Why are you a RED Elf and not a GREEN Elf?"  She did throw in a softball question at the end: "Do you get to ride in Santa's sleigh?"  It's December, and I'm sure Bernard is very busy this time of year.  I think he wasn't expecting to have to write notes every night.  In years past, there were several times when he didn't even move for days.  Weird.  Bernard is probably getting tired.  Grace and Grant must be tired.  This morning they woke up at 4:30 A.M (also known as the middle of the night) looking for Bernard and answers about who he is and where he came from...  That made me tired. 

Luckily he had managed to respond, thanks to the teeny tiny Elf-sized pencil Grace had patiently whittled down in the electric pencil sharpener and left out for him the night before. Adorable.

Bernard has pretty cute child-like handwriting don't you think?  

Maybe Bernard won't come back tonight.  Maybe.  But then again, Grace is so wrapped up in the Magic of Christmas that he will probably come back just to make her happy.  Probably that.

Scripture Power

After General Conference last October I was feeling like we needed to step up our game in the Scripture Study department.  We have definitely tried hard to be consistent with discussing the New Testament scriptures in Come Follow me.  We are far far FAR from perfect but we keep at it!  I'd been feeling like we also needed to have the Book of Mormon part of our scripture study as well...but couldn't figure out how to make that happen in addition to Come Follow Me.  Enter divine inspiration.  Seriously- I had that thought that each of us should pick a favorite Book of Mormon scripture, write it out and work on memorizing it during the month.  I told the kids I'd take them out on a lunch date once they memorized their scripture!  They all did it and it was so fun to celebrate with a little one on one time!

 Shake Shack with Grace!

In 'n Out with Lucy ( I've got some burger loving girls!)

Jamba Juice (and McDonalds!) with Marian

Corner Bakery with Grant.  This picture is actually from somewhere else but I couldn't find our Corner Bakery picture.  Grant LOVES Corner Bakery. He orders the same thing every time.  Chocolate chip pancakes, no whip cream, no syrup, a side of bacon and a chocolate milk!

p.s. I look uh-mazing in this picture lol

 Corner Bakery with Jack too!  This is obviously NOT Corner Bakery...where did those pictures go?  This was from when Jack joined Chad and I on our date night to go see Jim Gaffigan perform downtown.

I recorded video of each kid saying their scripture...but until I can figure out how to upload videos to the blog...here they are written out.  They hung on our pantry door all October and I LOVED seeing these wonderful words each day.

Grace's

 Grant's

Lucy's

Marian's

Jack's

This is something we definitely need to do again!  I LOVE the Book of Mormon and I know it is true. It has been a constant source of strength, peace, wisdom, and comfort in my life.  I hope it will be for my children as well!