Ella's First Christmas Program

Here's a small taste of Ella's Christmas program Monday night, complete with James dancing and trying to make a break for it. She did a great job as little Mary full of grace.

Five Days of Christmas

I had these grand ideas of posting all the pictures day by day of our Pugh family Christmas but realized this morning that if I waited to do that I would never write about our weekend.  December is a busy month, yes?  Thus, a brief summary and a few pictures and not a blow-by-blow and EVERY picture.

Thursday I spent the day cleaning, packing, and cooking in preparation for our celebration.  James was unusually quiet and content to sit in one place and watch cartoons while I bustled about, and I had so much to do I was happy to let him.  I thought, "He's being so easy today."  At nap time, I gathered him up to change his diaper, and his skin was so hot, and I said, "Oh.  That explains it."  A temperature of 101.8 was causing his unusual stillness.  I gave him some ibuprofen, and he slept for three hours.  When he awoke his temperature was 103.  Even so, he was still pretty perky when we drove over to KJ's parents around 5 p.m.  

We had dinner, exchanged gifts, talked and shared, and it was a good night.  James did end up getting in the bed with me, sending KJ seeking the comfort of his own bed at 1:30 in the morning. I didn't get much sleep, but I liked having my feverish boy close.  He was so sweet.

I think John David liked his new pajamas.

As did Claire.

Ella loved her new sleeping bag.

The sweet feverish boy was quite satisfied with his new Blues Clues DVD.

And T and Big Daddy were quite satisfied to have all their brood home.

I've been waiting all year to take pictures with Christmas tree lights in the background with my new camera.  Be forewarned, I'll probably ask you to pose there if you come to my house.

I don't think Kam and O. minded following my instructions to kiss in front of the lights, though.

Friday morning we woke up to Praline French Toast and the unwrapping of more gifts.  James' temperature had dropped to 101 something, so it was headed in the right direction.  Ella spent the day playing happily with cousins and then went to a birthday party in the afternoon.  I did a quick photo shoot with the Kizziahs, and Olivia and I designed a Christmas card for them.

I love this picture of James reading the back of his new DVD.

He's so studious.

A sweet couple

We all enjoyed a good night's sleep in our own beds Friday night, and after cleaning up the house a bit took the kids to spend time with T, while Big Daddy took all the adults to lunch.  It was a fun time together, followed by the girls doing a little shopping.  

My lunch date

Sunday we had church in the morning, followed by a big family lunch, followed by preparations for our Lottie Moon Banquet.  I got to spend a little alone time with Claire on Sunday morning.  She did a great job sitting through the service but got a little restless at the end.  I was more than happy for an excuse to take her out and play.

Monday we had another family lunch with KJ's grandmother and made all the great-grandkids pose for a picture.  Those attempts are always funny.  Then we spent the afternoon visiting with my parents and going to Ella's Christmas play, where she was the most beautiful Mary ever.  Pictures from that coming soon.  

This one was one of my favorites of everyone watching KJ's attempts

 to get James in the picture.

There has been much running to and fro over the past 6 days, but they have been rich in fellowship, and we have enjoyed them.  We are so thankful for our family. 

A Pugh Family Christmas

It has been a very busy four days around here.  We have been soaking up every possible minute with family, and it has been so fun.  I'm so thankful to belong to this precious group of kindred spirits.  Our celebrations are still continuing today with the arrival of KJ's grandmother, and tonight is Ella's school Christmas program!  There is much to do, but I wanted to share a few pictures from our "Christmas Eve" before I do some speed-cleaning.  There will be more to come later.

We had a pretty happening kids' table this year.

It's the first time all four cousins ate together, with no one in a high chair.

That is a precious and fun group of children.

I speak the truth; I'm not biased.

Pumpkin Pie

James got to open a present early.

He was running a high fever, and we'd forced him into a cool bath.

He wasn't happy about that.

He was very happy with his "choo-choo."

Uncle KJ taught John David how to play Zelda.

Fun presents from Aunt O

They were a big hit.

More from the Pugh family Christmas coming soon.

Christmas time is here.

We just came home from celebrating Christmas with all the Pugh family.

Hopefully the celebration will continue through the weekend, and perhaps there

will be time to share more pictures.  It was a wonderful time with brothers, sisters,

and cousins, and we are now thoroughly exhausted.

(Maybe that's partly because James ran a 103 degree fever last night?)

He seems better now, though, and we are thankful.

(and hopeful that Ella and the cousins will be spared the fever)

Santa Claus came to town.

I spent 3 1/2 hours yesterday morning photographing the children of Ella's school with Santa Claus.  Some were super-excited, some cried, one screamed, and it was fun listening to some of their Christmas requests.  One third grader asked for a Kindle Fire.  That made me laugh, thinking about the difference between that and what I would have been asking for in third grade.  Oh, the times.


Ella isn't too big into character pictures, but she agreed to get her picture taken since I was taking them, but she was determined to remain shy.  I caught this expression where she's trying not to smile.  She can never keep the straight-face for too long.

Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve for the Pugh family.  The Kizziahs are in town, and we are excited about having several days with them.  I'll be checking my list twice this morning, making sure all presents are accounted for and all ingredients for Christmas goodies come home from the store with me.  Merry Christmas!

Monday's Memories (along with some book talk)

I stumbled upon a book in the "New Releases" section of the library last week that I am really enjoying.  Surprised by Oxford can probably best be described by a phrase I read last night:

"I breathed over the problem with looking for God at Oxford,

or with God looking for me at Oxford."

This memoir tells the story of how the author comes to Christ during the time of her graduate studies at Oxford.  I just realized this morning how she is mirroring C.S. Lewis' own autobiography, Surprised by Joy.  That is a fitting reflection as Carolyn Weber describes her journey as an agnostic who had never really heard the gospel before her first year in Oxford.  I'm almost halfway through the book and really enjoying it.  It is a beautiful thing to "see" God's pursuit of a person separated from Him.  Combine that with a glimpse into the world of the study of literature at Oxford, and of course I am riveted and wishing I could do the same.  

I loved Weber's description of her first experience with British road signs.  I love British road signs.

"After the impersonal terseness of American construction signs

that say only Bump or that illustrate with simple lines how a road

is about to change course, British signs seem positively loquacious,

a little quirky but far more cordial.  As we finally entered the parking

lot to Stonehenge and approached an impending pothole that stretched

like a moat in front of our car, the first sign cautioned us to Mind the Gap.

When we left, the exiting sign warned us of Changed Priorities Ahead."

I wrote about how we visited Oxford on Matriculation Day.  We didn't really know exactly what was going on, so it was nice to now have an explanation.

"Matriculation, from the Latin matricula, meaning 'a roll,' marks the passage of becoming a lifelong member of an Oxford College, and so, by extension, the University.  Those who are beginning their studies at Oxford gather in the required subfusc, or the black-and-white formal wear donned beneath the academic regalia appropriate to their current academic status and program.  Thus arrayed, incoming students proceed, according to college, to the common ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre, where, in short, they take an age-old oath to respect one another, the institution, and the high call of learning, along with the promise not to start fires in library holdings.  Appropriately extinguished and distinguished, they return to their individual colleges to celebrate."

And now I understand.  I could see and hear a group of students at one of the colleges singing and celebrating from my perch atop St. Mary's tower.  There was definitely a lot of excitement in the air.  Did you know that after our four years of seminary, KJ discovered he could have gotten a Master's at Oxford in nine months?  That was sad.  What a wonderful start to our marriage that would have been.  I'm glad I got to spend a day there, nonetheless.

When I first saw the panorama on website for Surprised by Oxford I thought I had the same shot, but after looking at my pictures I think it's taken from the other direction and from a different tower.  There are certainly no shortage of "dreaming spires" to take a picture from in Oxford.

The East View

Friday's Flashback: Baker Street

Everyone knows who lived here, right?

A Famous Profile

No, not KJ's...yet...

Sherlock Holmes', of course.

I won't lie.  I liked walking down Baker Street.

I had read that 221B had a museum with wax figures of characters and scenes,

and I'd also heard from a friend it wasn't that impressive.

We were short on time and feeling so tired by this point, we mainly just enjoyed being on

Baker Street and stepping into the gift shop.

All the personnel dressed in period clothing, which was fun.

The doorman, I presume.

The gift shop was filled with Sherlock Holmes hats, coats, canes, figurines, book marks, chess sets, framed prints, you name it.  

Our favorite book

I'm looking forward to seeing how Professor Moriarty is portrayed in the new movie coming out this month.  I wonder if any Bartitsu will be employed?