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.

little bean embroidery

Just wanted to let you all know about my friend's new business adventure. I am sure you all have heard me talk about Jen... she's the crafty one... Lilly's mom...the Jen who was so kind that she let me and Josh live with her for about 6 weeks when we moved and I was still teaching in Hilliard.

Well, her newest business adventure is an embroidery business called Little Bean Embroidery. Some of you may have already seen her work. I have given many of her items for gifts this year (hand towels for Brian and Heather's cottage at the lake, onesie and burb cloth when Elliott was born, and bath towels for Anna's graduation). Jen does a great job! Her specialty is custom made baby gifts. Check out her work and place an order! Click here to see her website.

Good luck Jen!

to wii or not to wii...

We are starting to make our Christmas lists here in the Boger house. We shop super early so that we can transport gifts to where they need to be while we aren't dragging 2 weeks worth of clothes (that is a whole other blog entry...) One of our family gift ideas is a Nintendo Wii. Josh is even able to play some of the games and I love making Wii people! We wondering if any of you boger blog readers have any advice for us...

Do you have a Wii? Do you like it?

If have have even played Wii games at a friend's house... What are great games to get? Any that our 4 year old can play?

We would love your input while we make this fun decision! Thanks!

what happened to the summer?!?!!!

It's the last day of July! Where have we been? Why no blogs? I really don't know myself! We have been camping a few times and have been around the state visiting friends and family.
Here are the highlights...


June -
Bradley turned 3 and we camped at East Harbor State Park
the water guns were a hit...so was t-ball
This is also when we became obsessed with getting a kid trailer for our bike. That is our newest family toy. We found a used Trek trailer on Craig's List for a great price the next week and went to Mason to pick it up. We have used it at least once a week since then. It is a great Saturday or late evening activity for the whole family.

We spent a weekend at Devils Lake with my whole family. My cousin, Brian, and his wife, Heather have a second home there and we enjoyed jet skiing, kayaking, and just hanging out with the family. Enjoy the many pictures from that weekend...

Cheri (Neil's girlfriend) and my sister, Leslie

Grandma and Papa Box with Lucas
Richard kayaking with Josh
Leah, Josh, Connor, and Ethan in the pool...playing with bubbles
I stayed up with Mom and Dad after the lake trip because Richard was scheduled to be out of town for work. He didn't end up going, but I had already promised Josh a week of play with his cousins, Tristan and Leah, so the boys and I had a week in Grand Rapids. We had a great time going on walks to see the cows. My brother has 20 cows and 2 more babies due this summer! It is an exciting field trip for my guys. Lucas especially LOVES them! He can say Moo! which is sooooo cute. Josh went to Vacation Bible School while we were there and Josh and Leah gave me daily concerts of the new songs they learned.

We were home for 2 nights and went to an outdoor wedding where it POURED!!!! The rain didn't start until the reception, but we listened to the wind pick up and the thunder start while we hoped and prayed that it would hold off until the ceremony was over. We were under a tent for the reception, but still got wet.


July -
We went camping in Indiana with my parents, Leslie, Leah, and Tristan. We canoed 2 days. Lucas even canoed for about an hour. He was fine, but really didn't like it when I had to get out of the canoe to pull us over a fallen tree. Richard was like a camp counselor there. He taught Leah, Tristan, and Josh how to collect and cut firewood, took them on a hike and played Capture the Flag with them.



Leah and Josh - canoeing buddies
(Richard was a brave man and took the kids in his canoe.)
Hot chocolate -YUMMY!!

We went to Cleveland for the 4th of July and went swimming in Lake Erie. While we were there a dead rat washed up on the shore and a little toddler girl started petting it! YUCK! It was so gross.

The next week I went to Lakeside with Kate, Liz and Tamara. We all brought our kids so there were 4 adults and 6 kids. Josh is the oldest of the bunch at just over 4. We took the golfcart around with all 10 of us and probably looked pretty crazy. While we were there we went to a puppet show which was Josh's favorite thing of the week. We also went to God Squad, got ice cream, and swam in Lake Erie again. It was great spending a few days with some of my best friends from college.

Josh is 4!!!

Josh turned 4 on May 18th!

We celebrated with 2 birthday parties. The first party was in Grand Rapids on Mother's Day and was shared with his cousin Tristan who turned 10 that week. We had chicken barbeque and some ice cream brownie cakes with M & Ms. Yummy! His most anticipated present was a scooter which he got from Great Gram Heitzman.

The next Saturday we had a Birthday Safari with the Boger side of the family. We met Grandma, Papa, Melissa and Bradley at The Wilds between Zanesville and Cambridge, Ohio for a picnic and a bus tour that afternoon. We saw many types of deer, Rhinos, Giraffes, Cheetas, African Wild Dogs, and Camels. Josh loved being on safari and having such a special event mark his 4th birthday. We looked forward to this day for a long time and I'm sure he will remember it for even longer.

Then, on his actual birthday we celebrated in Athens. Josh woke up to a house filled with birthday balloons, signs, and streamers. He loved all of the balloons! He feels that a birthday celebration isn't complete unless it has cake, presents, and party hats so he was very excited about all of the extra decorations. Grandma even bought him coordinating plates, cups, and party favors!

One of his favorite presents was the Splash Rocket from Grandma and Papa Boger.

I let Josh look through my cake book and pick out his own cake. He picked a rainbow cake (probably because it was covered with jelly beans...don't ask me how much I spent on those jelly beans)