Pugmire Family

The only way Kevin could be cooler is if there were more wolves

2011-07-14T17:03:00.001-07:00

I Haven't Posted For Over A Year

2011-03-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is a partial entry...

Jeff is forever a Ute fan; took Justin & jared to NM for football & the older boys to the basketball game in UT. He plays basketball a couple of nights/week when he can. Moving the tv station made him pull some crazy hours for a few months. His average weeks are around 50 hours but the worst weeks had 90 hours on the clock. His is a stake clerk.

Here is with his brothers-FUN, the jokes never stop.

Kevin sings & dances, pretends to play video games, looks at books, one of his 1st words was "football" quickly followed by "basketball." LOVES golfing, basketball, cars, pushing carts,& even carrying baby dolls, most of all the dirt pile in the garden.

Here he is meeting Grandmaa Sauer. She passed away 2 weeks later.
Justin is taller than his dad, an eagle Scout, drives with a permit (not nervous or cocky-a good driver), inducted into the National Honor Society, works for a contractor; demolition, conrete, roofing, stucco, drywall, painting, & sprinklers. He plays piano sacrificed the cabin trip for football & played center on JV & a few Varsity games. THey won the 2010 2A Championship. He went through the initial gun training @ Fronsite & is a good shot. Jv Basketball is over & baseball has begun, went his first date.

The girls are singing, dancing tap & ballett, drawing, playing barbies, make up, perfume, & braiding their hair like Repunzel. marie writes us lots of special notes, reads well, & is playing piano through Let's Play Music. Julia dresses up always & cut her hair withJared's help AUGH. I love to dress them a like.

We've had visits from Jeff's parents & enjoying being near mine, Seattle,ferry boat ride, ate fish & chowder on the wharf, Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe, Pikes Market Place, Sauer family reunion, sent Jeff to the funeral in ID, Thanksgiving in UT, sledding & snowmobiling in the greatest snow on earth, swimming, & golfing. We like to watch CLone Wars, Iron Chef, Cake BOss, V, Modern Family, Parenthood, Human Target, & my friends the Duggars. We visited a lot of local museums, zoo, & saw Disney on Ice, Toy Story 3 & Tangled, Jeff & the older boys have seen Harry Potter & a few others- we really love the movies on the dvr! We eat some fast food but lots of homemade, make treats, & green smothies. It is fun to get dinner from our garden!

Jeff & I pulled of the surprise trip to Disneyland; we picked up the boys from school & drove west. Tuesday & Wednesday are the best days to go. It was perfect weather & FUN! The kids are polar diving in our pool. The house should be painted in a couple of weeks & the yard seeded very soon. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Life is blessed & busy!

Happy Spring Everyone!

View of the valley of the sun from outside the channel 12 transmitter

2010-10-05T20:42:00.001-07:00

You can see Chase Field and America Center in the middle.

All i want is a photograph

2010-08-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

kathryn reminds us all when rock and roll attained perfection. The decade of the hair bands.

How do you break in your pool in March

2010-05-30T18:20:00.001-07:00

With a flip

Winter Travels

2010-03-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

Mason camped with the Boy Scouts in the AZ winter, sleeping in a box.

I flew to Las Vegas to watch our niece, Whitney, perform on her

talent, preliminary night at the Miss America Pagaent.

Here we are in the greeting room with my mom.

The annual trip to Utah was all we were after;

visits with family & friends & snow!

Kevin hanging out with Uncle Mitch, meeting Whitney.

Do you see him sucking that thumb? He does it every once in awhile.

Jared, Mason, & Alex playing the Wii
Jeff listening to Justin & Spencer
Michael, Marie, & Carson
Emily & Marie playing tunes.
G & G with their 20 grandchildren Emily & Kate's baptism luncheon.
Cousins; Colby 8 months & Kevin 4 months
SLEDDING is the best.
Here goes Michael.

Justin & Mason had a great crash or 2.

Grandpa, Marie, & Julia drag the boys up with the quad.

Jared & Ryan had too much fun for hours.

Julia ready to go!

Day #2 of snow play.

Jeff & his younger brother, Eric, after snowmobiling all

afternoon with their brother, Gary, up on the mountain.

Jeff loves his Dad & Mom. We can't wait till they visit us in the spring.

Cool Kevin

2010-01-24T18:39:00.000-08:00

Kevin is already a Seahawk fan.

CHRISTMAS

2009-12-25T17:05:00.001-08:00

The children's filled stockings, 7 is heaven!

The AZ Temple lights are beautiful.

We enjoyed an international natvity collection.

A glass one from Venice was exquisite.

It is especially fun to be with Forsberg cousins.

1st visit with St. Nick for Kevin.
We LOVE Santa Claus. After our visit the younger children & I discussed

why Santa might give "bad" kids coal to keep them warm

but good kids don't get coal because being obedient makes them feel warm.
Cousin Austin & Julia help in the kitchen at the family party.

The family party was fun with 40 of us together for a Mexican buffet,
live nativity, carololng, & gift exchange.
Cousin Hunter, Jared, & everyone loved
their fleece blankets from Grandma & Grandpa.
Christmas morning; remote control cars, legos, dolls, CTR ring, scooter,
star wars toys, makeup, finger nail polish, Strawberry Shortcake,
MP3 player, remote control cars, remote control soccer, art kits, games,
gym mats, phone calls with family far away, stories Mom cries over,
carols, delicious food, sumptuous treats, movies, lights...
we LOVE it all. MERRY CHRISTMAS. After waiting until 7am. finally arrived...

Sports, Recitals, Scouts, LIFE.

2009-12-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

Jared's first soccer season

Michael is a SuPeR bike rider.

Kevin 3 months & darling! Marie taps to "I Love You, Santa"
SISTERS
Michael earned his WOLF rank. Here he is pinning Mom, his den leader.

October

2009-11-01T21:24:00.000-08:00

Jeff took Mason & Michael to cheer on the UTES against UNLV.

Hoover Dam making the Utes sign.

Grandpa Bill (my Dad) & I took everyone but Justin to the State Fair.

Kevin is almost 2 months old. He laughs, smiles, & coos, we LOVE it.

Living With Our New Baby

2009-09-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

My dream maker Jeff, eating peaches & cream.

Marie loving Kevin

Breakfast by Michael
The Fort
Marie & Grandma Barbara practice tap dancing.
Look at my great helpers.
Kevin actually enjoyed most of this bath.
Kevin is 2 1/2 weeks old. I am healing up well but need to be a good patient for a few more weeks. Family & friends are so kind to help. I appreciate Jeff & the kids are picking up the slack very much. Life is very good!

Here is Kevin actually eating, but he has the hiccups.

Kevin Edward Pugmire

2009-09-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Kevin (we just liked it & needed to introduce a "K" name)

Edward (my paternal grandfather's & my brother's middle name)

Happy Birthday: 09/09/09, 10:19 pm.

Weight: 9lbs. 10.5ozs.

Height: 22 1/2"

I was dilated to 4cm, 70 percent effaced, & ready for a natural birth when I went to my appointment on Wednesday, 3 days after the due date. The heartrate was irregular so I went to the hospital to be monitored & check amniotic fluid levels, which were low. We started pitocin very low & I dilated to 5cm., the baby got to -3 station & nothing changed for the next 6 hours. Then the heart rate began to dip during each contraction. We realized that c-section was the only option for the baby's safety. This was going to be the natural birth experience I dreamed of & now the option is permanently gone. Jeff, as usual, was steady & strong while I quietly cried preparing & during the surgery, until Kevin was delivered. The hospital policy doesn't let anyone under 13 years old into the hospital because of the swine flu. I missed our kids! We have been welcomed home 2 1/2 days later to an excited family.

Jeff has been so great to care for kids full time. We decided to demolition the master bathroom shower & make it a double. The wood in the wall that bathrooms share is water rotted. Jeff has hurried to jack hammer out concrete & frame the shower & kids bath. He called & came to see me each day we were in the hospital. Signed Jared up & took him to his 1st soccer game. The kids have done their part maintaining chores etc. Jeff & I hope it all continues to roll along so I can recover with everyone happy & without things getting too far out of order.

So I did a crazy thing on that Wednesday morning before I went to the doctor. I bought 2 cases of peaches & 1 case of tomatoes to can. So my dear Aunt Dinah joined my parents in canning our ripe fruit, so it wouldn't be wasted. Our next door neighbors had everyone over for dinner & let the little ones hang out a few times. My Mom & Dad have been schooling the boys for the last 2 weeks, are daily available, & helpful. We are blessed to have great support! We are thankful for this priceless, precious, little boy who has come into our family!

Michael's Day & Utah Vacation

2009-08-16T21:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday & Baptism Day to MICHAEL!

57 people attended the service in our family room &

Jeff baptized him in our pool.

With his favorite cousins; Bentson & Spencer
Utah trip started in Fairview with Grandpa & Grandma.

Golfiing & the riding the zipline were too fun!

We hung out with several old friends in SLC &
then off to the Pugmire Family Reunion
at the cabin on Cedar Mtn.
Pictured are the "wolverines" ready for an air-soft war.
Michael & Jared spent a lot of time on the quads.
The girls love Grandma Sherry.
Jeff's family

After we came home Jared loost his 1st tooth.

Jeff finished the bathroom demolition.

He will replace all of the wood due to water & old termite damage

before it is prepared for the cultured marble.

Video of Jared on the zipline.

The older boys started 9th & 7th grades at school.

This is Mason's 1st year not being home schooled.

He likes it. I am excited for him, but will miss him.

Justin is happy & plans to play JV basketball.

The younger kids & I are almost ready to start school.

I'm excited to paint our entry this week.

We are choosing names & 3 weeks to go in pregnancy.

We went speed walking in the church gym tonight.

Summertime Projects

2009-07-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

Getting this girl to nap can be a project, this afternoon was a success.

Julia snoozing with her babies.

Each of the 4 younger kids sewed a side of a baby blanket for the Humanitarian Center.

Mason & Justin each did a baby blanket with a little help from Mom.
The 3 finished baby blankets looked like this.

The kid's bathroom demolition, by Dad & the boys.

I am still going through a few boxes, organizing, & making decisions on upholstry, etc.

The ONLY thing to fear is fear itself

2009-07-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

The only scary thing about this is me with my shirt off---Jeff

June

2009-06-21T19:23:00.001-07:00

Julia potty trained & turned 2. Mason survived his 1st week long Boy Scout camp. We are summer home schooling, taking an art class, Let's Play Music class, piano, & swimming daily. I flew alone to Utah to visit my sister Denise & watched their daughter crowned Miss Utah.

It was fun to see a few friends I had not seen for a long while.

The BIG New England Trip

2009-06-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

10 years ago Chris & Laura Lewis moved to Boston & we made the goal to visit them.

Thanks to their family for playing baseball, bbq, s'mores, & perfect hospitality.

We have paid for our remodel on credit card & earned round trip flights, but yes the rest of the trip cost a little $ and there is too much to see. So 12 days & 2,210 miles on the rental van later

these are a few of our photos. What did we see...

Cape Cod, Plymouth Rock, Village, & the Mayflower II, Orange County Choppers... NYC; we rode the train in from Jersey, the top deck of the tour bus let us see everything.

We stayed on the bus through Harlem, Queens, Brooklyn, got on the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, tootled all over NYC. New York really isn't that big, Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, everything is much smaller than in the movies.

Yes, we had pizza twice & Junior's excellent cheesecake.

Mason atop the Empire State building.

Inside the lobby of the Empire State Building.

Ate hot dogs & ice cream while we walked through 1/2 mile of Central Park. It is beautiful.

Here is tired Marie at Enchanted's Bethesda Fountain.

The Metropolitan Art Museum, World Trade Center Site,
Jeff braved driving into the city on day 2, it is insane, like driving fast in a parking lot.
Here he is enjoying the last bite of New York's #1 cheesecake.
Philadelphia; We drove to south Philly for Geno's famous, delicious cheese steak sandwiches. Here we are in Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence & the Constitution were both signed.) After this, we had to watch National Treaure on our way to Valley Forge.
Justin was great to always carry the backpack with our water & snacks & carried Julia often. Super Mason usually pushed the stroller. The littler ones held up well with all of the walking.
Jeff was patient with us all. Yes, we were asked about them all being ours everywhere & people were nice to say God bless you & I would respond with, "He has!"
The Liberty Bell
Hershey was great fun!

Cooperstown-The Baseball Hall of Fame. Ate good pizza again.
Canada for Cadbury chocolate & Niagra Falls.
Justin during our ride on the Maid of the Mist at the base of these amazing falls.

Here we are after our boat ride, wet. I was more anxious walking along the fence with the kids looking over than I was actually in the water. That water was rushing in a terrifying way.

I am sure I will feel the same if I am ever that close to hot running lava.

Palmyra; the Smith home, rolling down the Hill Cumorah, the Book of Mormon print site, on to Martin Harris Farm, the Stead's property (ha, ha),
Peter Whitmer's home (where the church was organized)

Julia amazed us all by painfully climbing out of her car seat

to get the keys & unlock that car when she was locked in with the keys.
Justin & Mason each walked through the grove silently by themselves.

The rest of us tried to be quiet. It feels like a sacred place.
Michael coming out of the Sacred Grove.

Springfield, MA at The totally fun Basketball Hall of Fame.
We had time to see the movie "Up" we all liked it & yes, I cried.

We waded in Thoreau's Walden Pond & it is as peaceful as he described.
Drove by where Emerson, Alcott, & Hawthorne lived.
Luckily, it was the Lincoln Minutemen's family day at Lexington/Concord so we got the musket demo & we saw the multimedia presentation about The Shot Heard Round the World.

The Atlantic Ocean & the wind were cold, so we put in our big toes & then played in the sand.
We spent the extra time driving in Newport to see the mansions on Bellevue Avenue. Wow!

I didn't include any photos from Boston but the Freedom trail was super, the USS Constitution, the Old North Church, we indulged at Mike's pastries,

& of course we ate delicious clam chowder, lobster, & other seafood.

We laughed at how often we saw Dunkin Donuts (the Best) & ate them at least 3 times.

Our pilot let the kids sit in the co-pilot seat & push buttons during boarding, here is Michael.
Watching a movie during the flight home.
It was a memorable trip & a fun way to start the summer. Now back to remodeling...

Happy Times Together

2009-05-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Marie performed in her 1st dance recital. She smiled & enjoyed herself through it all,

except this photo. She did a tap routine & a ballet routine.

Mother's Day was fun. We went to church at a Samoan ward & loved soaking in that language & culture for a bit, especially the singing.
At the end of our long day at Newport Beach.
At the end of the even longer day at Disneyland.

Favorites;Julia=the Carousel, Marie= Mad Hatter roller coaster, Jared=Buzz Lightyear, Michael=Teacups, Mason=everything, Justin=Space Mtn., Indiana Jones, & Matterhorn.

Dad & Mom very happy to have happy children & time as a family.

We support the Utes wherever we go.

We did have a sad moment after we girls stood in line for 1 1/2 hoursto meet Cinderella, we were greeted by Mulan, Ariel, & Snow White. Nice but not IT! We did learn that City Hall will tell you where characters will be throughout the day, if you ask, so now we know.

Jared played a SUPER baseball season.

Strawberries on sale mean freezer jam.

Easter morning the Bunny left us a new hoop.

I should have a photo of our handsome boys but here are the darling girls.

Intense unpacking & sorting have consumed several hours. The garage storage is going well. We can squeeze the Armada into the garage. We hosted our first Blewster family dinner on the patio. Home school has gone well & the boys are glad to be finished with traditional school. Today's ultrasound showed us a healthy "normal" baby, we never find out the gender.

WELCOME SUMMERTIME.

What have we been doing?

2009-04-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

21 month old Julia, nursing her doll.

Julia's personal tea party.

We still love Star Wars.

Spring brings Training games & Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Scott, & cousin Kyle to town. The great thing about their visit was Uncle Scott ordained Justin to Teacher & Jeff ordained Mason to Deacon, with both grandpas in the circle. It is so neat to have both of our parents around for these occasions! We took our new family portrait too.

The 1st official swim in our pool.

yes, it was COLD.

The project: building a huge storage shelf above the garage.

Jeff took a different child to watch each game. Mason went when Kyle , G, & G went.

Justin, Jeff, & Jeff's brother Scott

In January, we enjoyed a quick trip to Fairview to hang with most of the Pugmires in the snow. Snowmobiling, of course, happens but sledding is always going on in the road right in front of the house. Here goes Jeff.

Mason loves it the most, I think.

Grandpa, Jared, & Marie

Thanks Grandpa & Grandma for a great visit!

Justin.

How Grandpa hauls them up the road.

Not walking up makes your energy last & riding a quad is always fun!

Oh yeah & we are unpacking here & there. Pregnancy is going fine, especially with daily naps. The new hall closet just doubled in size, hooray!

More to come...

UH-OH

2009-03-01T16:42:00.000-08:00

Jared used his scissors

for Marie's unscheduled haircut

Honestly, I did raise my voice & Jared felt badly,
Marie didn't care & I was really just surprised.

The happy girl with the haircut by mom.

11 inches gone but yes, it is an easy do.

Demolition & Painting

2009-02-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

Justin removing kitchen tile

Mason with the mini jackhammer

Julia priming the entry

Jared priming the entry

Marie priming walls

Justin, Mason, & Michael painting where the fireplace used to be

Michael & Jared helping Dad fill in the cold air return under the fireplace

Jeff, my brother-in-law, & I took out this fireplace with the mini-jackhammer

Our crew dumping the chimney parts in the trailer

Mason & Jeff removing the old ceiling in the entry

Lets all hope the before & after photos will be taken & posted soon!

Happy New Year News

2009-01-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

I can keep a secret but when it is my choice to share wonderful news I choose to. Yes, it is early. The kids think the baby ticker looks like a slug. Okay, I agree. Anyway, uncertain as some things are & crazy as our life is now, I take comfort knowing we will be moved in before #7 joins us. Ultimately, God provides what we need to be alright, especially when it comes to procreation, we just have to choose to see it. I could go on but you get my drift.
WOO HOO, we are having a baby.

Christmas

2008-12-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

Mason with slippers just like Uncle Scotts.

Excited Michael

Scooters in favorite colors.

The Wii was a hit.
Just what she wanted. Commander "Jared" Fox

Christmas Eve we ate shrimp & lobster...yum. Read Luke II again & Jeff told of his Grandpa Doane not receiving anything for Christmas when he was a child but wanting an orange. It is our tradition to leave oranges for Santa to place in the stockings. Oranges are always part of our Christmas breakfast to remind us to be grateful. Who would have guessed that his grandson would have more oranges than he could want. Bedtime was normal but the night was restless for the older boys. At 7am. we all went in to open gifts. Santa ate the cookies we left for him & there are bits of carrots we left for his reindeer in a long line on our driveway where he obviously parked the sleigh. G & G Blewster came for bacon & eggs breakfast. We played all day; scooters, ripsticks, & the parachute when it wasn’t raining. G & G Pugmire sent Utes shirts for all. Cutting & frosting sugar cookies is great. Our neighbors made tamales for our lunch, delicious. The kids were exhausted but Jeff & I stayed up playing the Wii.

The Blewster family Christmas party on the 21st with all AZ family including my cousin, Nancy Showalter was fun. We obviously missed Merrifields & Pietchmanns. We ate yummy Mexican food on the patio, 70 degrees. Grandpa Bill read the scripture narration while 24 grandchildren performed the nativity. Yes, it is recorded. The baby stayed in her dad's arms & Grandpa read that the wise men found the baby in the “arms of a cow” instead of the manger. The gift exchange was loud & joyful. Grandma Barbara was emotional giving her gift to each of her children & grandchildren. She finished quilt squares made by our Great-Grandma Betty Young Follett. Ours now hang in our children’s bedrooms. Mrs. Claus read An Applause for Mrs. Claus & Grandpa read Is Santa Really Real?. The Recital featured; swing dancing, poetry, vocal duet, & many piano solos including pieces by Justin & Mason. In between talents we Christmas caroled. The desserts were plentiful! It was 5 hours of fun. I hope to post a few photos.

Weekend Vacation

2008-12-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

Julia meeting Santa Claus.

Justin

Marie

Michael

Jared

me & my baby

BELIEVE!
We enjoyed last weekend at the Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix using the 2 night gift certificate that Jeff won at a work Christmas party last year. It was to expire the 15th. We played shuffleboard, tennis, swam, soaked in the jetted hot tub, sang on a tractor ride to the greenhouse of 23,000 poinsettias, saw a big bull, watched a Christmas movie, read a Christmas book, ate delicious food, & were exhausted every night from such fun. Jeff & I even went out on a date. I awoke Saturday and realized that my head wasn’t reeling with all of the things I need to do. I didn’t feel guilty about the disorder, for the first time in since moving into this remodel. My mom told me years ago that I must like traveling because it is an escape from reality. I disagree. It is a simplifying of life because it is time just about our family & the basic needs. No extended family, house, work, church, friends, school, etc. It was fantastic! We came home & attended the 1pm Sacrament Meeting, I went to choir practice, while Jeff fed everyone a late lunch & they watched the Seahawks win. After journals & a crock pot dinner we went to the beautiful Stake Christmas Music Program. Then came home for scriptures & bedtime. It was the vacation we needed together! Jeff & I know that I am still the same me when I am away from this stress. It has been a long time!

Holidays

2008-12-16T23:01:00.000-08:00

Lessons in patience, among other virtues, seem to have been tailor made for us since the big move from Utah, & are happening often. We didn’t decorate at all for autumn, Halloween, or Thanksgiving. I really struggle with spending $ on stuff that I already have. Anyway, I finally found the box the day after Thanksgiving. I felt blessed when I found the most boxes of Christmas stuff. Our Christmas tree was up in good time!
Work on the house is slow & trying to be steady. Almost all of the kitchen cabinets are painted & new countertops are installed. I will post some before & after photos. We are off to a fairly good start with our holiday traditions, we have; made some yummy treats, read Nutcracker, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, watched many of the movies, gone caroling, & visited with Santa. We have a few things still to do!

Family Photos

2008-11-26T06:34:00.000-08:00

Thankful Heart

2008-11-26T06:09:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for my sweet Jeff who has “patience, understanding, kindness, & love” for me. I am thankful for his work to take care of us & stay happy within himself. We celebrated our 15 years of marriage this month. I am thankful for each of our 6 children that are fulfilling my dream of motherhood. I am thankful for our extended families. I am thankful for countless blessings from knowledge, good health, friends, other people, USA, LDS church, homeschooling, ancestors, spiritual guidance, & God’s love.

Remodeling

2008-11-09T17:22:00.000-08:00

We have had “setbacks” but hope the worst of remodel is over. Although, there is plenty still to do. We are all ready to be finished with the dusty mess and settle in! My dear parents have been the babysitters, workers, laundry mat, and restaurant for a few weeks. Other family members have helped too. Thank you, choice family & friends who have let me complain without rolling your eyes! Honestly, I lost my patience and cried a few times. Overall, we are doing okay. Interestingly, when I lack the time to study my scriptures alone I crave it, more than miss it. I don’t remember feeling this “thirst” for the scriptures to this degree before. My stress is in a new way, I must be depleted. Jeff said one morning, "I am distracted from remodeling by my normal job".
Life other than house news…Marie and I loved planting flowers in our large pots. We are bummed that we can’t find our fall decorations in the moving pile. Costumes are such a part of our daily life so we were able to find most of them. Halloween was fun! We only had the 4 younger ones with us. We are glad that the older boys have good friends to hang out with. The Utes are still holding a great record 10-0. Jeff and the older boys took a "mancation" and drove to New Mexico to cheer them on to victory. The poor Seahawks are 2-7. Jeff took the boys for the Pugmire cabin deer hunt. They returned; filthy, & with lots to report about the “male bonding” of guy stuff; lack of civilized manners… you get the idea, I don’t try to understand. They rode quads, shot guns, etc. Michael rode the 90 quad alone. At home the girls & I soaked in our “girl time”, went to a fun party, & I painted our bedroom. Homeschooling is alright, but I am more than anxious for it to be normal again too. Jared is reading slowly, Marie wants to learn, while Michael and Mason are trying to be self motivated with their bookwork. We all love when we are studying more than the bookwork. Justin is a great student and marched while playing drums with the school band during the Heritage Homecoming football game. Julia is chattering a lot, loves to be a big girl, and entertaining.

Our New Home

2008-10-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

We officially became homeowners on September 19th. We have some super family and neighbors who helped move, clean, and babysat our kids! Some work is being done on the house. Our brother in law, Dan, is a general contractor. He turned the living room into bedroom 4 and formal dining room, and added a breakfast room to fit our kitchen table. The cracking plaster walls & ceilings are repaired. The To Do List still includes; kitchen remodel, fireplace demolition, window and door replacement, painting everywhere, convert the pool, and install new A/C. Hopefully, we accomplish it all in the next few weeks. I am so glad that Jeff knows much more that I do about actual building, electrical, etc. It is so enjoyable to be creating what is ours! My hope is to stay patient living with just what we need. The rest of our stuff is somewhat disorganized and will stay in the garage or on the patio until the remodel mess is gone. Then the “settling in” will really begin. This could feel like a mountain to climb, when I think about it. However, I know that if I pray, put my family first, & work hard when I can, I will be able to accomplish all that I need to. Mason is a great babysitter! All of the kids have been patient, while I have been working on things. Julia doesn’t let me out of her sight though. Jeff is awesome, & goes right to work, after kissing us each night, when he gets home. We share driveways with a family, who have 6 kids and the family behind us has 7 kids. This is already a great house for us!
What else is news…Seahawks are 1-4, not good! However, Jeff isn’t freaking out too much. He feels okay because U of U is 6-0. The projector screen is about 7 feet x 10 feet! All of the kids including Julia sing the U of U fight song. Our butterfly hatched. It didn’t get higher than 88 degrees today. Happy fall!

The Kids

2008-09-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Justin received his Life rank in Boy Scouts. He now has 20 merit badges. His leaders are good but ultimately it has been up to Justin. He has been doing yard work for some of our neighbors, making $ too. It is great to hear from others that he is a hard worker; we get to see that most of the time. Mason received his Tenderfoot rank & is more than ready to succeed in Scouts. He has been my right hand during the school week while I plan for our new house & move #4. He is everywhere on his Ripstick. The boys are progressing with piano. Michael is usually found reading & growing like a weed. Jared is one of my best helpers & is doing great in school! Marie is such a girl & is teaching Julia everything & loves to shop with me. She & Julia are anxious for me to finish painting the dollhouse Grandpa Monte made for them. Julia is a strong soul, very smart, & showing darling imagination. Everyone loves to swim & we are excited to have our own pool next summer. Our goldfish keep dying, for now we are awaiting the metamorphosis of our caterpillar into a “painted lady” butterfly. Several have asked if my last blog was announcing a baby. Nope, we aren’t….. Yes, it is hot here usually between 100-110 degrees but, that doesn't stop the play.

What is 2.8x?

2008-09-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

Jeff & his brothers sign off Pugmire emails with their position in their family (Jeff is #2 actually, so am I) & how many members are in their own family. Eveyone has a defined # but us. Our "x" represents the variable that is unknown at this point. Its sort of like Pi. No matter how long you work on it, it never ends.
Everywhere our kids & I go, I am asked if they are all mine? Are you Catholic or Mormon? How do you do it? Jeff is told by his co-workers that he can't be that old. I really get the eye when others ask the kids about school & they hear that I homeschool them. I always respond that it is just what I dreamed it would be. Lots of work & JOY. I think it should put some pressure on me to look good going out in public so people can see that I am happy & not in denial or completely crazy. Most of you know I am happy to "go natural" but some may think I don't have time for myself. I do. I take time daily to study personal scriptures, write in my journal, & don't get interrrupted during my prayers every day. It would be great for me to prioritize make up & exercise, among other things.
I wouldn't trade any of this crazy life away! If you ask Jeff he will tell you to take whichever child you wish. Not true! You should see this man when he has all 6 piled on top of him. His joy spills out his eyes. As I look around our dinner table or our family prayer circle, I think we really aren't that big a family... yet.

Hallelujah!

2008-09-01T23:40:00.000-07:00

In a few weeks we will finally have a house to call our home! Forever, I mean 3 years, ago we left our home in Utah & we are here in Arizona. The house has a good floor plan with plenty of living space. Jeff, will have the projector screen with great surround sound, just in time for Seahawk football games. I will set up our formal dining room, the kids will have some space in bedrooms & we will all enjoy our Great Room. Outside; a big screened in patio, a bigger slab for basketball, skating, & bikes, gardens, & a diving POOL. We love the lemon, pink grapefruit, & lime trees. There is some work to do on the old house & it will be worth it. It is in the same neighborhood & ward that we have lived for the past 2 years, near Blewster grandparents. We feel blessed to be guided to a good place to put down some roots again.