Christmas Cinema Challenge!

I just love Christmas, and I love Christmas movies. I only watch them during the Christmas season, and our dear Aunt just told us that is is one of the shortest christmas seasons ever. My goal is to watch 25 different Christmas movies. I had a good start at Rhi's where we watched 3 together. They have to be movies of a proper length, but can be made for TV as well. Here is my tally so far:

1.   Nightmare before Christmas, (of course)

2. Elf - I wonder why they didn't make a sequel

3. White Christmas. This was the first time I had seen it. I watched it with Rhi and Eddy very late at night. I thought it was great, and encouraged me to dig out Bing's record for listening at the store.

4. Christmas Crush- free on Amazon prime, I think it may have been a lifetime original. Wasn't too bad for what it was. 

5. Santa Clause 3- Ok, of course I prefer the first one, (which I think is Eddy's favorite)

6. The Grinch who stole Christmas (Jim Carrey version) which I have declared will be the last time I see it. I found it annoying and it didn't like how the sets were designed, it made be feel claustrophobic, nor did it keep the interest of the little boy I was watching it with.

7 Fred Claus- I had never heard of this one, even though it has A listers in it like Kevin Spacey. I don't recommend it, though I found Vince Vaughn's character very annoying. 

Delivery Crew

We like to give small tokens of the Christmas season to some of our friends and neighbors.  This year we are giving poinsettias with a card and lucky for me I have a delivery crew.  They were all very excited to wear Santa hats and scarfs.  They walked around our neighborhood happily delivering to each house. 

It's Arizona so you can still wear shorts in December.  Our leaves are finally turning colors and beginning to fall.  It has been so warm I haven't been able to use my wood stove for a while.  Last time I had a fire in it Ashlee and I were wrapping all the black friday purchases so the door to the room was shut.  It got quite toasty and Ashlee stripped down to her tank top declaring she was working in sweatshop.  Ashlee and I wrapped all the presents.  I get quite addicted to wrapping presents as soon as they are unloaded off the UPS truck.

Ready for delivery

Ho, Ho, Ho

Heading back from a delivery while a neighbor puts up Christmas lights

Maybe the UPS delivery drivers should wear Santa hats and scarfs, and bring a bit more pizazz to the delivery.  

Dear Santa

This year I made sure all the children got their letters to Santa written in a timely manner (before Thanksgiving).  It is polite to give Santa as much time as you can so he can make all the necessary preparations. I let the kids write whatever they wanted and just encouraged them to thank Santa for last years presents. They know these letters are just a suggestion and it is up to Santa to make the final selections.  Santa knows that mama doesn't want any dogs this year, sorry Archer. It is sometimes surprising what they ask Santa to give them.  Declan was very eager to get the letters mailed.  

Declan painstakingly re-writes his Santa letter, he has been told his whole life he has terrible handwriting and so he tries really hard to be neat (I also have terrible handwriting and I always got "C's" in penmanship in grade school)

Zany colors a nice picture

Eddy helps Archer write his letter

Even the teenager, Quinton, had to write one.  I told him if he wanted a say in what Santa was getting him he had better write one too.

Zany took someone's rough draft and added her own addendum, don't worry Santa can read scribbles

Archer's Santa Letter

McCoy's Santa Letter

Quinton's Santa Letter

Declan's Santa Letter

I even planned on making my sister write one but somehow she got out of it.  

As the famous kindergarten teacher Mrs. G (three of my kids have had her)always declares,

 "You git what you get and you don't throw a fit!"

Good advice for kindergarteners, adults and everyone in between.

Mystery Artist

When Eddy has to go to early morning meetings or be an a.m. substitute bus driver, he likes to pick out his clothes the night before and lay them out in the living room so he won't wake me up (nice guy).  At lunchtime, a fellow teacher asked Eddy why he had a guy drawn on his rear.  Eddy had no idea what she was talking about.  Then several other people noticed.  Eddy was horrified when he discovered that someone had used his pants for some artistic expression.  He was forced to continue wearing the pants the rest of the day much to his chagrin. I had noticed that someone had draw in pen on his pants but I had no idea he hadn't seen it and he was going to wear them.  No one as of yet has fessed up to the deed but if I was a betting mama I would put my money on Archer.  It is a rather cute stick figure and seeing how it didn't come out in the wash we can continue to enjoy the doodlings of the mystery artist.

Fancy Pants

Our Thanksgiving Spectacular!!!

For years Rhi has wanted to have a thanksgiving program, of songs and the like.

Fortunately the majority of the Pugmire clan was in attendance and brought their musical talents with them. Rhi contacted and informed them of her program idea and luckily for those of us whose talents lie in being enthusiastic audience members, they agreed.  I was bad photographer and didn't get any of the meal, but it was wonderful and everyone ate their fill. Sadly, I missed Cousin Jay on the Sax and McCoy on the Piano.

Hmm, I think she its just going to give it pat, right? Seems safe to give the one bite monster a freshly baked loaf.

Declan, Re-enacting the pilgrim's hunt

Cousin Jen and Uncle Scott preforning the theme to Andy Griffith

Quinto gives a reading

Declan wows Zany with his magic

And Everyone else too!

Pa reads a selection from Leaves of Grass

The Pugmire Girls preform a musical Christmas number that I hadn't heard before but was wonderful. 

Cousin Tom reads a poem about a hawk

Grandma plays the piano. McCoy also played the piano, but alas I missed him.

And for the Finale, the choral of the bells! The only thing that could make it better- Victorian costumes! Maybe next year....

What They Wore-Purple

Having entrusted my camera into Archer's care I shouldn't be surprised when I find twenty or so photos taken by that fellow.  Yet, I was surprised to see how many he took, mainly extreme close ups of his mouth or toy car. One photo he did capture was Eddy getting Zany ready for church.  I usually pick out her entire outfit socks and hair bows included but today I just picked out her dress intending to get back to her room to finish her outfit.  Eddy just did it by himself and as we always take two cars to church when I arrived I was surprised by Zany's look.  Her hair was just as it appears below combed straight back with no adornment of bow or flower and her socks with her shoes were just funny.    I will just be glad and grateful that my Eddy is such a sport to get a little girl ready for church.  

As a farewell to fall they all wore purple but I really feel like it should still be September.  This fall has melted away far too fast. We have begun decorating for Christmas which is quite an endeavour.  I am right in the horrible part where everything is a mess and I can't wait until it is all tidy and Christmassy.  Last year we didn't watch very many Christmas movies.  This year we are trying to make sure we watch all of our favorites.  So far we have watched: Nightmare Before Christmas (Ashlee's favorite), Elf, and White Christmas.  

Eddy dressing Zany for church 

(photo credit: Archer)

Quinton (left) surly teenager

Zany holding a picture from Nursery

McCoy always cool

Archer very upset he didn't get to play with play-doh in Nursery

Declan as always a happy guy

Here's hoping the month of December slows down so I don't feel like it is over before it has begun like fall did.  Ha, December is the fastest month of all!

Happy December!