Patriotic Pugmire Party!!!

We look forward to the Patriotic Pugmire Party every year.  Uncle Scott and Aunt Rebecca go to all kinds of work to make a wonderful party. It has loads of good food and good people.  This year we were excited to meet cousin Jen's sweet morsel of a baby!  Our meal is potluck which means everyone brings whatever they wish to share but there are a few expectations.  Some people get known for certain dishes, and of course you have to have homemade ice cream!  The kids enjoy playing while the adults chat.

  

Kids going for the football, McCoy on right

Having a laugh

Pa and Zany

Declan, Grandma and Zany

Declan holds the sweet baby with McCoy

Archy on bridge

Zany loves Uncle Gabe's chicken (an expected dish)!

Auntie Rebecca 

Zany checking out a real life baby!

Soon as it is dark it's firework time! Uncle Scott provides all kinds of amazing fireworks.  He supervises their launching and when the minions aren't doing it right he crosses the bridge to set them straight.  Of course, everyone gets to participate in the sparklers!

Archer

Nona and Pa

Zany

Quinton

Declan

Cousin Jen

McCoy

Possible the finale: Jeanine's Cheesecake!

(Ashlee's note:  Being the designated photographer for our family, I field lots of strange requests of "Take this picture for the Blog, of variuos random inanimate objects. I try to mostly get people in them. But as Mccoy said this dessert was so good,it should make the blog!" And indeed it was!)

Super Bowl and New Lights

I am blowing the dust off this here blog, and finally making a blog post.  My sister (Ashlee) kindly photographed, edited, and put the photos in a draft so all I had to do was be the wordsmith.  Still I had a hard time blogging, terrible I know. Forgiving readers indulge me and imagine it is February, or was it January and the Super Bowl had just happened

We had a simple superbowl party with Pa, Nona, Ashlee, Eddy Rhiannon, Quinton, Declan, McCoy, Archer, and Zaynzley in attendance.  Our tradition is to not tell which team you are supporting; you just appear wearing the colors of the team you have chosen.  It adds a little excitement and makes sure no one can flip flop and change their team mid game.

We also have various treats and candy that is tied to the game. Touchdowns, Coaches Challenge, Field Goal, they all had various treats.

Who is this motley crew supporting?

Bronco Fans: Declan, Pa, McCoy, Archy, & Zany

Before the game starts laundry has to get put away!

We also have a kitty, (a buck a person) whoever guesses the score closest to the actual score gets to keep all the money.  It adds a bit of excitement to the game!

Archer and Peyton are the big winners this day!

In more recent news . . .

I went out of town for the weekend with my sister so she could do a half marathon (hopefully another blog post? if she took pictures) and when I returned I discovered Eddy had added recessed lighting to the livingroom and kitchen.  Let me tell you I am a person who loves light! First thing I do in the morning is go around opening all the blinds and turning on lights.  I can't have too much light, it drives me crazy when Quinton closes the blinds in the playroom in the middle of the day.  He is more troll like just like his grandpa Quinton (Pa) who also doesn't like a lot of light.  So I was thrilled to get more light in the livingroom and the kitchen.  I replaced  the light fixture in living room lovingly named "Head Cracker."  I had purchased it online without taking into account how low it hung.  Ashlee was always cracking her head on it and nearly passing out. She was glad to see (feel) the last of it.  I got this current fixture below for a dollar at a yard sale.  It was to small to light up all the area the previous light fixture had so the dimmable recessed lights are a perfect team!

New Recessed Lights

There may be some more catching up post from the past year but I am sure your imaginations are up for it!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Recently we gathered at our dear Grandma's house to celebrate her birthday, its number 82! She is a wonderful strong woman and we are always happy to see her. We gathered for cake & ice cream, a bit of pole climbing, and to everyone's delight a Magic show!

All of us Grandkids have attempted to climb this pole, sadly I was always too weak to make it up. I remember Cousin Jen was able to do it like a pro. Zany is just starting to learn how still in the assisted phase.

McCoy shows us how it was done.

Even Quint got in the act once he heard that a Dollar was on offer to those that could do it.

Archy came up with his own style and it worked well for him!

Declan gave it a go trying Archy's way with slightly less success.

Here McCoy the Magnifico begins the magic show with a trick...

Daring Declan wows his younger siblings

Archer the Awesome dazzles his fellow magicians



The best magic of all, Grandma opening a present from her two Daughters, Jeanine and Rebecca! What ever could it be? It seems to make her very happy.....

Its and American girl, Josefina!  You can never have enough dolls or too many birthdays! She also received some pajamas, some hummels, a Lamp and a welcome mat, though I was quite the distracted photographer. I also neglected to get a picture of everyone together.

Even Pa is impressed!

Star Wars Party-May 4th

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

Episode VIII

Princess of Power

It is a period of civil war and general unrest despite years of negotiations and political maneuvers.  A new hope has been found in Princess Leia (Zaynzley) who is known for her willingness to befriend one and all.

Zany as Princess Leia 

Princess Leia meets and joins forces with a Jedi Master Obe Wan Kanobi (Archer).  Discussing the possible plans to overcome the evil Empire and bring peace to all once again, they realized they need more help.

Obe & Princess Leia

Obe Wan reaches out to a fellow Jedi, Qui-Gon-Jinn (Declan) to help their cause.  Despite their best efforts to keep their meeting secret, they are found out by an sinister agent of the Empire, Boba Fett.  Bobba Fett brings along Darth Vader and a battle is nigh at hand.  Princess Leia using her powers of persuasion gives Darth Vader a kiss on his helmet and turns him from the dark side.

With Darth Vader subdued, Qui-Gon-Jinn and Boba Fett face off.

Dec and Coy

 Having overcome the Empire the Rebel Forces celebrate.  Princess Leia hugs hugs her new friends Obe Wan & Darth Vader demonstrating the power of a princess. . . 

Rare sighting of a mystery Jedi in the background (Quinton)

 Watching Episode III on Star Wars day (May the 4th) while eating Star Wars inspired treats was fun for all.  Even Papa, Nona and Ashlee came to celebrate!

May the Force be with you!

For Me?!

For a while now whenever Zany saw you with something she wanted she would say dramatically "For Me? drawing out the me and going as high as possible with her pitch.  This was the first time I think she understood the concept of birthday=presents.  Lucky girl being somewhat close to the after christmas sales made out like a bandit I think.

Pa gives here a Little Mermaid Vanity that is also a Keyboard.

Birthday donut cake

Archy decides to help out

She got some horses playset, a walking dog she named "Remington", a giant sofia castle playset and some clothes as well 

What can this be?

What is a party without ballons?

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....