Life is a Special Occasion

To My Marmee

May 6, 2012 By kborchert 7 Comments

I don’t think there is any woman alive who doesn’t have a complicated relationship with her Mother. As women we give birth to these amazing little people and have the opportunity to watch them grow. We try so hard not to project our own fears and insecurities on our children, but inevitably we do. We pray they forgive us and turn out okay anyway.

My Mom and I have not always had the best relationship. It has been a hard road littered with many tears, fights, and hurt feelings. While there are ways I don’t want to be like her (we all have that with our Moms, right??), there are many features of my Mom I pray I have.

My Mama loves with all her heart. She has never met a stranger and would invite someone she just met to Thanksgiving dinner without hesitation. She has taught me to always include everyone and to talk to people you don’t know in the grocery store. You never know if you will meet a friend that way.

Share your talents, and often. One of my favorite memories as a child was falling asleep at night listening to my parents play the piano and violin. My Mom would accompany my Dad as he played the violin. They often played in Church. My Mom and sister both have beautiful voices and would sing duets all the time. She was always willing and able to lend her musical gifts to enrich the lives of those around her.

When I was 6, Mom started taking American Sign Language classes. She thought it was a cool language and always wanted to learn it. I was her eager audience and because of her desire to learn, I became fluent and have been able to have some amazing opportunities. She and I have both interpreted for many church services. If there is a need and you can fill it, you do – plain and simple.

As the Mother of 5 children, my Mother learned that laughter is so important. My Mom taught me how to properly TP a house, took me and my friends to movies and the skate rink, and always had a pantry full of snacks for the neighbor kids. She wanted our home to be the house where all the kids would congregate, and they did. When you walked through the doors of our home, you felt loved.

Right now my parents are on a mission for our church. They are in the Philippines for 2 years, sweating, serving, loving and learning. The lessons they are teaching my children right now are just amazing. Teaching my children to serve others, to give of themselves, and to not be selfish are worth more than I could ever describe.

I am so grateful for my Mom. I won’t get to see her again until August 2013, and the Philippines is so very far away. But, I know she reads my blog. So I am using this public place to tell her what she needs to hear.

Mom,

You are amazing. You have done a great job as a Mom. You are an even better Meemaw. You are soft when needed and firm when necessary. Your 25 grandpeople know you love them more than life it’s self. Your 5 children (and 4 inlaw kids) know you would give the shirt off your back if it would help us. I learn from you every day and am so grateful that not only are you my Marmee, but you are my friend.

You have often said to me we don’t give birth and look at these little people and think, “huh, I wonder how I’m going to screw this one up!”. I know you have often felt a failure in the parenting arena, we all feel that way. But I need you to know you are not a failure. You truly have done a wonderful job and I love you.

Happy Mother’s Day Mama.

This is a sponsored post from Hallmark as part of the Life is a Special Occasion campaign. I am so thrilled to be working with this fabulous company this year and to have the opportunity to share ways to make everyday occasions special.
For the latest on Hallmark deals and ideas, be sure to sign up for their newsletter, you just might see me there from time to time. For wonderful Mother’s Day gift ideas, be sure to check out Hallmark Online.

Filed Under: hallmark, Life is a Special Occasion, mother's day Tagged With: hallmark, life is a special occasion, tell me

My baby is almost One.

April 26, 2012 By kborchert 8 Comments

One year ago today I looked like this

No wonder people asked if I was having twins. That is one big belly

Two days later, I looked like this

My sweet baby boy is going to be 1 in two days. ONE people. My baby. My last baby.

This is hard for this Mama. I love when my babies gain independence and we can play together, but I also love being pregnant, giving birth and having new babies. *sigh* I love it all.

I am going to celebrate this boy on Saturday. Birthdays are a huge deal to me. I love birthdays. I love having a day set to celebrate one person. To make it their special day from the moment they wake until they moment they fall into bed exhausted from the fun. We let the kids choose where they want to go to breakfast with Dad, and let them choose every other meal of the day. For my kiddos with summer birthdays, we go swimming or to the splash pad if they want. It truly is their day and they know it

First birthdays are a REALLY big deal to me. I am sure it has to do with Emma – not being able to ever do her birthday except at the cemetery. I love to celebrate my babies and this huge milestone they have reached.

This little guy is no different.

Photo Credit: Leilani Rogers

I am so excited for Saturday, my Elliott’s first birthday. The celebration started a month ago when I designed his birthday invitations and started sending them out to his friends (and my friends, and aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents).

It looks so much better in person. This is the result of my crappy scanner!

Oh yes, my baby is one. Look at how much he has grown and changed in the last year. I always know it goes by fast and I try so hard to slow it down. But I can’t. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Him growing up is bittersweet. I want him to grow and experience and gain independence. But I also want him to always be my baby. I want him to always love me and always find comfort with me.

While I know that it won’t last forever, I will take it while I can. On Saturday we will have friends over, eat good food, watch Elliott demolish a cupcake, laugh, smile and celebrate this sweet boy who makes our family complete.

Photo Credit: Leilani Rogers

What do you do for birthdays in your house?

This is a sponsored post from Hallmark as part of the Life is a Special Occasion campaign. I am so thrilled to be working with this fabulous company this year and to have the opportunity to share ways to make everyday occasions special.
For the latest on Hallmark deals and ideas, be sure to sign up for their newsletter, you just might see me there from time to time. Hallmark provided me with birthday invitations and adorable plates with Elliott’s picture! You can get great items for your children’s birthdays, holidays or other special occasions on their website.

Filed Under: baby #5, Birthday, birthdays, hallmark, kidlets, Life is a Special Occasion, my life, sponsored post, the baby boy Tagged With: first birthday, hallmark, life is a special occasion

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

March 20, 2012 By kborchert 11 Comments

Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace

When it comes to raising my children, I like to think of myself as a mix of Mary Poppins and Snow White. I am fun, but firm. I can make any task an adventure, the toys and clothes can put themselves away with a snap of my fingers and small woodland creatures come to my window to help me sweep.

The key to that phrase is that I like to THINK. I am not even close to Mary Poppins or Snow White. No woodland creatures love me (except the squirrel that lives in our tree out back who the kids have named Fastest). When it comes to cleaning, it is all up to the people living in this house. No amount of magic will get it done, although I really do wish Seth’s magic wand worked!

Spring has sprung and it is time to sweep out the last bits of Winter and make this house fresh and clean. I save the deep cleaning for myself and Jeremy, but the children help out too. Every Saturday around these parts is cleaning day. The children have their chores, and we spruce up the house for the coming week. We sweep, mop, vacuum, clean the bathrooms, clean the kitchen and generally get the house looking like I wish it looked all week.

Despite the fact that my cleaning efforts will only last for a few minutes, we do it anyway.

My children are like all children. They don’t like to clean. It is a chore. It isn’t fun. It is W-O-R-K and Mooooooooom, I don’t want to do it! It’s too hard! She isn’t helping me! He isn’t helping! Why do I have to clean all the time? Have you ever heard these excuses?

So, I have called upon Mary Poppins to help me get the job done. My kids have made a playlist of songs they love. The songs range from Billy Joel to Ralph’s World to Taio Cruz. They find songs they like and as long as the music is blasting through the house, they can get their jobs done.

In ev’ry job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job’s a game

And ev’ry task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree! It’s very clear to see that

A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…
in the most delightful way.

And if my Mary Poppins tactics fail…there is always bribery
How do you get your kids to help clean up around the house? What does Spring Cleaning look like in your home?

Filed Under: hallmark, Life is a Special Occasion, my life, sponsored post, the kidlets Tagged With: hallmark, life is a special occasion

No Chocolate for YOU!

February 10, 2012 By kborchert 12 Comments

: Mrs. C the Birthday Queen

Seth has a very clever teacher this year. She is funny, full of sass and doesn’t take any funny business from these 2nd graders. She is perfect for him and we love her. After his awful experience with his teacher last year, I was really nervous about him going to public school this year. Mrs. C has been an answer to so many of our prayers and we just adore her. I had been thinking about what to get she and Amelia’s Kindergarten teacher for Valentine’s Day when she sent out this email

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I wanted to give you a math problem from the teacher…

If Mrs. C has 22 adorable children and each child gives her chocolates and candies for Valentine’s Day, how quickly will Mrs. C outgrow her school clothes?

I admit, I may have let out a loud guffaw at that one.

I really didn’t want to get candy for my kids’ teachers anyway, but don’t have the time right now to make them aprons like I had wanted to.

Then, I was watching TV one night and saw this commercial

Blooming Expressions allows you to deliver love, appreciation or admiration, again and again, to the important people in your life. For Valentine’s Day or any day, you can surprise someone special with a flower that blooms at the press of a button. Each includes a different sentiment like “I love you” and “There’s only one you!” The full garden of Blooming Expressions is available at local Hallmark Gold Crown stores and select Hallmark retailers – I have even seen them at the grocery store by the Hallmark cards!

The website has 4 different phrases available, but Hallmark stores and grocery stores will have more – so you are sure to find the perfect one for the teacher/wife/mom/sister/friend in your life.

I am so excited to get the women who love my children so much, something that will remind them year round how much they mean to us.

What are you doing for your kids’ teachers for Valentine’s Day?

This is a sponsored post from Hallmark as part of the Life is a Special Occasion campaign. I am so thrilled to be working with this fabulous company this year and to have the opportunity to share ways to make everyday occasions special.
For the latest on Hallmark deals and ideas, be sure to sign up for their newsletter, you just might see me there from time to time.
Also, if you are going to Blissdom, be sure to find Hallmark! They will be set up helping us all learn how to make special occasions out of everyday events.

Filed Under: hallmark, Life is a Special Occasion, Valentine's Day Tagged With: blooming expressions, hallmark, life is a special occasion, teacher gifts, valentine's day

What Memories are Made of

January 25, 2012 By kborchert 4 Comments

“When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just 12 ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life.” -Christopher Morley

As a child, I could often be found lost between the pages of a book. I would become Claudia from The Babysitter’s Club, or Jessica (or Elizabeth depending on the day) from Sweet Valley Twins. I could picture myself living on a prairie in rural Nebraska at the turn of the century, or as a youth in the 40′s. I believe my love of acting was born from my love of reading.

When I was in college I started buying books for my future children. I wanted them to have an abundance of books to choose from. I wanted them to have a story at their fingertips at all times.

My goal has become a reality. My children have books, and books, and books. They love to read, be read to, and best of all, act out what they have read.

From the time Seth was about 2, he has used his imagination to make his favorite books come to life. For about six months, he was Roo, I was Kanga, Jeremy was Tigger and Amelia was “Pliget”. That obsession then morped into Toy Story, Star Wars and then How to Train Your Dragon.

While all of those titles are movies, only two of the obsessions came from the movies – Toy Story and Star Wars. Seth fell in love with the How to Train Your Dragon books before he saw the movie…we all did. He loves that we have Norwegian ancestry and is just sure my ancestor, Thor, was a Viking…thus making HIM a Viking!

He still loves Star Wars and How to Train Your Dragon, but now he has fallen under the spell of Hogwarts and is often found wearing his black robes and waving his wand…he is Harry Potter.

My children are regularly seen playing as if they are the characters from their favorite book. They don’t necessarily act out what happened in the book, instead they make up their own stories using those characters they have come to love.

I absolutely adore this. The use of their imaginations! It is one thing to act out what you have seen or read, just as you have seen or read it. But to create your own stories, plot lines, problems and solutions, that is an entirely different skill, and I love watching it happen.

I love that my children love books. I have always wanted them to love to read and to have the stories come to life.

It has been said the best gift you can give is a book and I wholeheartedly agree. Where else can children escape, become pirates, vikings, princesses, anything their hearts desire. And that is the stuff memories are made of.

:::

I am so excited to be partnering with Hallmark again this year. Hallmark is not only in the business of celebrating the special occasions, but celebrating Life as a Special Occasion. Hallmark and I will both be at Blissdom this year! Come find me as I am a Community Leader, and go find Hallmark (you might see me there too!!) to learn more about how to make Life a Special Occasion!