Pampered Chef Bamboo Items for Auction!

Happy Valentine's Day! I am holding an auction this weekend to support the Tarapchak kids! You can click on the picture below to learn more about this family and see the other items up for auction.

Since I am a Pampered Chef Consultant, I wanted to auction some of my favorite bamboo items. Bamboo is one of our most popular lines now because it is beautiful, durable, and good for the environment. It is a sustainable and renewable resource.

Please bid on these items to support the Tarapchak kids. You will be helping a great family and will get some beautiful and functional bamboo items to use in your kitchen for food prep and serving.

bamboo salad tongs

bamboo spatula set
small bamboo spoon set

Opening Bid $12 (free shipping)

Auction is open Saturday 10 AM - Sunday 10 PM


You bid by writing a comment with your bid in the comments section. If you choose to not sign in, please be sure to sign your comment so I know who is bidding. Payment can be made with cash or check. You can also make a flat donation if you'd like. Please spread the word and let the bidding begin! If you have any questions, please contact Jen at jenfinh@yahoo.com or me at aliboger@hotmail.com.

I've been tagged!

Jen tagged me to post the 4th picture in my 4th folder of pictures. Here's what I found...

This is an "after" picture when Lucas had his first haircut last February. He has so much more hair now. Every time we cut it, we think that he looks really grown up. Looking back at this makes me realize how much they change in a year. He was sitting in his highchair for this haircut and now he sits with us at the table on a booster and uses a fork to feed himself.

Thanks for the fun challenge, Jen! I'm going to tag Paul, Sharon, Meredith and Dave. Can't wait to see your pictures!

Josh's song

We did a lot of driving over Christmas. We drove about 24 hours during the 2 weeks. I was surprised by how little time the boys spent watching movies. They were pretty content reading books, looking out the window, and just talking. Actually, during the first leg of the trip Josh spent a lot of time asking "how much longer?" "are we there yet?" "are we in Grandma and Papa's town?" On the drive from Mercer to Washington Josh started singing and since Richard was driving, I grabbed a pen and started writing down his song...

When I was a little boy
I didn't know what the world was about
I didn't know how to cross the street by myself
and that was so boring
I didn't eat much
and I just said no, no, no
I couldn't cross the street without my mom

When I was a little boy
I didn't know what the world was up to
I didn't know how they made signs or clothes
I didn't know how to work
I didn't know who God was
When I was a little boy

When I was a little boy
I couldn't do anything without my mommy or daddy
I didn't do any work
Wasn't I a lot of work?
You guys had to do everything...

Then he just started talking about all of the things that parents have to do to take care of their kids. He is really thoughtful and so funny. He is like a little grownup.

Tarapchak Family Blog Auctions

I going to participate in the Tarapchak Family Blog Auction next month and wanted to let you know all about it now....

My friend, Jen, is organizing the auction as a way to raise money for a family in need. Jen and Dave met the Tarapchak family at their church a few years ago. Recently, the father died after a long battle with cancer. Jen asked me to help her with this project and I need your help to make it a success. Check out this link to read about what is going on.

I will be auctioning off a group of Pampered Chef bamboo products that are some of my best sellers and my favorites now. The items together have a retail value of $22.75. Please come back to my blog and put in a bid during Feb 14th or 15th to win them and help a family at the same time.

bamboo salad tongs

small bamboo spoon set

bamboo spatula set

Thanks for helping the Tarapchak family!

End of 2008

I have to share some pictures from the end of 2008 before time gets away from me even more....

Josh started at a new preschool this year. He is in a mixed age class (3, 4, and 5 year olds) at Creekside Early Childhood School where he will also go for kindergarten and 1st grade. His class has 11 children and is called the monkey class. His teachers are Miss Cindy, Miss Meena, Miss Elizabeth and Miss April (a speech teacher). He goes to preschool on Monday, Tues, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. He loves glueing, spinning on the tire swing, his friend Ryleigh and playing pirates with Ben.

Josh and his new orange backpack with his name on it.

Sept 2008 - 14 plants transplanted from a patch in Grand Rapids give their fall crop

Josh picking berries

Our small but delicious fall raspberry crop

Sept 14th wind storm damage

Our new red front door

Josh and Papa Box stirring Applebutter in Grand Rapids

Josh and Leah dipped some candles
A Grand weekend in October - we went to Athens for a last minute trip when we heard that ALL of Richard's grandparents were coming for a visit

Josh, Lucas, and Bradley in matching sweaters from Gram and Pap Filer - We took so many pictures. Here is one of the goofy ones.

Halloween 2008 - a knight and his pet dragon ready to get some candy!

The little dragon was tired and decided to come home early, but the knight had his heart set on getting more candy!

My birthday morning - I don't remember why we are hiding under the wrapping paper, but the kids liked it.

Thanksgiving tradition of raking GG Boger's leaves

A Thanksgiving wrestling match - Josh (4), Bradley (3), and Lucas (20 months)

Chicago Pics

We went on two vacations this fall. The first was to Chicago on the week after Labor Day. Richard did some work in Schaumburg, IL and the kids and I went with him. We were able to visit with Marianne and her family while we were there. Then we spent the weekend with Angie in Chicago and did some touristy things.

Here is the list of what I wanted to do while on this trip...

1. visit Marianne

2. visit Angie

3. Lincoln Park Zoo

4. Natural History Museum to see dinosaur bones

5. Navy Pier

6. Boat Tour of Chicago

7. eat a Chicago Hot Dog

8. eat some real Deep Dish Chicago Style Pizza

I knew I had high hopes and would be traveling with a preschooler and a toddler, but we were able to do all of that and more. It really was a great vacation! Here are some pictures...

Josh and Lucas hanging out in the hotel

Lucas developed a fear of shiny floors and wouldn't walk on any floor that was not carpeted

Josh at Legoland near a sculpture of Chicago's Navy Pier

Marianne and her kids - Elly (8) and Isaac (11)

Marianne and Ali at Rainforest Cafe

A couple of monkeys at the Lincoln Park Zoo


Josh checking the map - he wanted to go back and see the Naked Mole Rats

Angie and Lucas at a park in Oak Park

Ali and Josh - self portrait while riding the BIG ferris wheel on Navy Pier

Angie, Richard and Lucas stayed on the ground

Our brave boy enjoying the view

Boat tour on the Chicago River - totally worth the insanely high prices!

And finally, the Chicago Hot Dog!!!

Applebutter Fest

We went to the Applebutter Fest in Grand Rapids over the weekend. I went every year when I lived at home, but it has been awhile since the last time. I took Josh and Lucas for the first time and it was great to see this fun tradition through their eyes. Josh loved the magician in the children's area and couldn't wait to get some kettle corn. Lucas loved seeing the birds of prey from a nature rehab center.

We spent most of the time in the village park. It was the place to be... that's where they make the applebutter. Josh helped my dad stir and had his picture taken for The Blade. Check out the article and Josh and Dad's picture in Monday's paper.