The Boardman Bunch

Honduras 2010

2010-03-15T09:15:00.010-05:00

We were very excited that God opened the door for Dave and Josh to join a medical team in Honduras for a week. It was truly a life changing trip for both of them. I'm really happy that they got to go, but I'm even happier that they are home in one piece! Here's a few pics of their week. Ben and Zach helped Dave pack the meds for the trip. He was able to take two suitcases full of antibiotics, vitamins, pain relievers, etc. There was concern that the customs agent in Honduras could confiscate it and make them pay a fee to get it back. Prayers were answered when they passed through without even a medicine suitcase being opened!

This is the view from the end of the runway at the mission station. Beautiful scenery!!!

Some of the team members with Daniel Melton, the resident missionary at San Luis.

Clinic day in San Juan. Over 700 patients were seen in four days by the medical team.

One of those special, heart-tugging moments.

.Josh taught them all to do "muscles"!

Your turn, Josh!!!

Josh thoroughly enjoyed his assignment for the week-----entertain the kids!

This dear lady roasted coffee beans over this primitive stove as a souvenir for Dave to bring home. She was instrumental in helping the EFM work get started in San Luis many years ago.

Catching up!

2009-12-28T08:12:00.013-06:00

We really enjoyed having Eric and Melissa stop in for the night on their way to Louisiana. It was our first time to meet Princess Piper. Yes, she is everything her Modgie June says she is......

Two little red-heads.......gotta love it!

Piper's new buddy!

"Grandad-in-training"

Josh and Em having a "moment".

Happy 14th Birthday, Mr. Ben!

Emmy and Andrea at our annual church Christmas dinner.

We can only be adorable for a limited amount of time!

The cousin's table

Thanksgiving Dinner------the food is still in the kitchen!

Thanksgiving 2009

We're still here!

2009-11-08T17:12:00.002-06:00

Happy 11th Birthday, Zach! You are loved!!!!

Just making sure Mom bought the right one......he definitely takes after his dad in this department.

A birthday is a lot more fun when hanging out with your best buds!

Happy 6th, Emmy Grace!!!!

2009-09-14T10:17:00.007-05:00

Emily Grace, How do I love thee, let me count the ways......
You are the pixie dust in my sometimes chaotic life.
You fill my days with unanticipated joy and smiles.
Your willingness to help and your love for others inspires me.
Your adventuresome spirit challenges and terrifies me.
You are truly the finishing touch on my wonderful collection of children!
I love you, sweet girl!!!

You can tell that I was delighted to finally be able to put all the bows and ruffles to good use!

At this age, she was climbing out on the back porch railing, stuffing frozen peas up her nose, and giving her mother heart failure about every day!

Someone else I know was very excited to finally have a daughter......

Is there anything more special than the gift of a very best friend?

Happy Birthday, Caleb!!!!

2009-09-01T08:40:00.007-05:00

Little "Chunkers"

How time does fly!!!!!

Our family comedian!

We celebrated with the Stein family while they were visiting from Germany. Ethan turned six and Caleb turned eight. (Caleb's black eye is from a stray baseball!)

Tetons and friends!

2009-08-06T09:05:00.010-05:00

The majestic Tetons

We spent Friday night in Idaho Falls reconnecting with our precious friends from med school days, Mark and Danielle Hinkson. Danielle and I spent many hours cooking and crafting together while our men were buried in the books. It was wonderful to be with them again!

Our great friends and hosts in Denver----Jerry and Heather Esparza

Casa Bonita in Denver

Our vacation was truly a trip of a lifetime. It was a chance for our family to spend "together" time. In this day and age, it seems as if we're hamsters on the treadmill of life. (If ya know what I mean...)

Yellowstone

2009-08-06T08:27:00.007-05:00

My guys kept up their yearly tradition of whitewater rafting. I don't know if I'll ever be brave enough to try it.

Snowball fight on top of Mt. Washburn

Right at the brink of the Falls

Hiking down to look at Lower Falls was my favorite part of Yellowstone Park. The Falls drop about 300 feet and when you stand at the top, you can just feel the power of it all. There's no words to adequately describe it.

God's little reminder at the end of a perfect day.

Yellowstone

2009-08-06T08:06:00.005-05:00

Mammoth Hot Springs
The hot water is surging out of the ground and pouring over these rocks. It is so amazing! The smell of sulphur did kinda make us feel sick. By the end of the trip, we drove right by the geysers with our windows rolled Up!!!

We only had to wait about 45 minutes for Old Faithful to erupt. I was amazed at the number of people there and the excitement level in the crowd. Quite a phenomenon!!!

Traffic jam in Yellowstone.......buffalo do not, I repeat, do not walk very fast.

More Vacation Pictures

2009-08-06T07:41:00.007-05:00

Happy 4th of July from Devil's Tower, Wyoming!

Caleb really wanted to see Devil's Tower, so we took a little detour and spent a couple hours hiking around the Tower.

It was very overcast the day we visited Mt. Rushmore. We all took a helicopter ride to get a better view of the faces. I was surprised at how small they actually were. The faces themselves are only 60 feet tall!

Here's the bear that scared me nearly to death while we were driving through Bear Country USA. He was licking the bugs off of our front bumper and when he got around to my side, Dave rolled down the window! Grrrrrr!!!!

Our trip west.......part one

2009-07-24T08:54:00.009-05:00

On our way to Rapid City, we spent several hours in the Badlands of South Dakota. It was beautiful there in a strange sort of way. You could almost imagine that you had landed on the moon. Of course, after two days straight in a conversion van, it might as well have been the moon!

Dave called this, "Heidi's visit to the Madlands"!

Two of my "sweeties"

Emily never wants to pass up an opportunity to pose for the cameraman!

Zach probably enjoyed this day more than all the rest. He is a true outdoorsman.

Josh the Giant!

As you can see, Ben and Zach's theme song for the trip was "Ain't no mountain high enough"!

The sun was setting as we left the Badlands. Talk about a wonderful photo op!!!

Our latest fairytale adventure.........

2009-06-30T12:38:00.003-05:00

Once there was a lonely little princess named Emily whose mother refused to give her a baby sister. All seemed hopeless, until.......

One day, the little princess found a beautiful toad to claim as her own. As luck would have it, the first thing on the agenda was playing dress-up. Little Toad, (yet unnamed due to pending gender determination), even smiled for the photo shoot. At least that's what the princess told me. And the saga continues>>>>>

Happy 16th Birthday, Josh!

2009-06-29T09:21:00.002-05:00

Happy 16th to a wonderful son, an awesome brother, and a loyal friend!
We love you!!!

The Magic House!

2009-06-24T10:26:00.012-05:00

Yesterday, Mom and I packed up my three youngest kiddos and Tyler, Travis, and Andrea Truitt and took them to the Magic House Children's Museum in St. Louis. We had a ball! I just love to watch my kids have fun! Here's the girls in Cinderella's coach. Aren't they adorable?

The kids really had fun in the mock-pizza parlor. It was equipped just like a real one---only in miniature. Where was this stuff when I was a kid???

Mamaw, waiting somewhat patiently, for her pizza order.

Pizza, anyone?

Service with a SMILE!

Merriweather Lewis aka. Tyler Truitt. Gotta love the hat!

The girls had a blast in the Lewis and Clark exhibition. They made that camp site rather domesticated. I guess that's why Sacajawea was there....right?

The temp hovered around 100 degrees that day. Thank God for air conditioning!

Next stop, St. Louis Zoo!!!

More Beach Pics!

2009-05-19T20:01:00.008-05:00

This is the place where we stayed. It was just a short walk down to the water. We really enjoyed beach combing in the early morning hours. Talk about relaxing!!!!

I absolutely love these pictures of the girls! They look so young!!!

We drove over to Florida one afternoon just so Holly and I could say that we've been there.

Holly and Mama getting a little carried away!

Gulf Shores Girl's Getaway!

2009-05-16T16:13:00.005-05:00

The "girls" got to sneak away to Gulf Shores this week for a little getaway. It was an incredible three days of rest and relaxation. I'll post more pics later. I'm sure Brittany will be posting soon as well........

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-10T17:24:00.003-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to the most precious mother in the world! She has always stood by with her love and unceasing prayers. Her zest for life and her playfulness has reminded us kids to never quite "grow up". Over the years, she has tried to create a special bond with each of her grandchildren and they love her for it. She is my mother and she is my dearest friend.

Wow! Am I blessed or what?

Family, Friends, and Finally our own church!!!

2009-05-06T16:39:00.006-05:00

Last Friday, I drove over to Carbondale to spend the afternoon with one of my best friends on the planet. Robynne Bollig has been a real homeschooling mentor for me. She's been doing it for 16 years, so she knows how to keep me centered.

Baby Margaret----simply adorable!!!!

While the older boys were at Penn View last week and Emmy spent the night with Andrea, I took Caleb and Zach out for a long-overdue "bubby" day. We had a yummy lunch at Ruby Tuesday and then spent some time at the skate park. I don't recommend this for fearful mothers. I could hardly stand to watch Zach on the half-pipe. (and I'm the mother of four boys?)

On Sunday, we had our ribbon-cutting ceremony at our new church. The rain held off and 85 people showed up for the event! We even had the mayor of Jackson there!

Some of my favorite photos of the month!

2009-04-29T21:17:00.009-05:00

We visited the Creation Museum after our week in Dayton. Dave's sister, Sarah was able to take the day and be with us. The Museum is impressive and the surrounding gardens are soooo beautiful! It is well worth the drive to experience it all. Josh spent the day at God's Bible School attending VIP day.

My Sweetest!!!!

Creation Museum Gardens

Just one of the menu choices at Pappadeaux's !

Emily lost her first tooth while we were at Aunt Sarah's house for IHC. (By the way, she still taking donations.)

Josh and the "love" of his life!

Easter weekend was really a hectic time with Penn View Choir at our house, but good old Dad made time for his tradition of coloring eggs with the kiddos. They had a lot of fun!

Emmy's Special Collection

Jenn's Birthday Dinner

2009-04-29T20:51:00.005-05:00

We went out with Troy and Jenn to celebrate her birthday. It was a great evening with very dear friends and the best pastor and wife on the planet!

We were trying to buy this for Jenn's birthday............not for a photo op, TROY!

Mystery solved!!!!

2009-04-10T09:49:00.004-05:00

I just received a call from the neighbor....."Are you missing a trampoline"? The lost has been found. Burial arrangements are pending....... I think this case is too far gone for even my favorite DOCTOR!

Late Breaking News!!!!!!

2009-04-10T08:47:00.002-05:00

Due to tornado-like conditions around midnight(Central Standard Time), the Christmas trampoline is missing....... As in, "drive around the neighborhood, nowhere to be found" kind of missing. A search party of brave young men on ATVs will soon be scouring the area for clues. If you have any information or would like to leave an anonymous tip, please do so in the comment section. Sorry, there is NO reward!!!
P.S. I really think that trampoline was afraid I would get out there and jump on it again.

Sharing one of life's little moments........

2009-03-23T09:59:00.004-05:00

I just had to share this recent picture of the girls. Some of you may remember a similar picture of the girls from last year. In those moments when the girls are giggling and sharing their little secrets, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness to the Great Physician. It's been amazing to see their friendship mature through Andrea's "tough" days. Emily has had to learn to be understanding during "steroid week", be calm when Andrea's feeling sick, and silly when Andrea's on a "high"! (She didn't have to learn that!) I'm very glad they have each other.

Best Buddies!

Mom's Lovely Place

2009-03-14T20:25:00.008-05:00

Don't you just love it? Mom's blue room is finally finished. Hope you enjoy the tour.

This is Mom's all-time favorite place in her room.

Here's a closer look........

The kitchen area. Emily loves to come down here frequently for "Mamaw" time.

This is a little corner in her bathroom. The "rose" picture nearly moves her to tears with its beauty. She loves it!

FFO (Finally Finished Object)---The new alternative for us latecomers!

2009-03-14T19:54:00.004-05:00

Here they are! Finally finished objects! aka---new hairbows for the little girl who actually goes through the day without getting her hair combed.(sometimes....) Holly, please no retribution for my past history of, "I'll never do that when I have a little girl".

Even Miss Em got in on the fun! I had to help her a little with the sewing, but most of the innovations were her idea. Maybe I can teach her to smock soon so that she can finish all those dresses I started for her. Please tell me where moms go to lay down the guilt!!!! Smile!

I'm finally crawling out from under the rock!

2009-03-13T08:53:00.002-05:00

Hello dear blogging friends!
Yes, we are alive and well, -----well, really busy! Since my last post, we attended Preacher's Meeting in Shreveport, I attended Bus and Outreach convention in Indianapolis, and now I'm making trips to St. Louis to buy a conversion van. My blogging has suffered greatly! I will try to get some new pics up soon. My Mom is wanting to post some pictures of her bedroom downstairs. She has it decorated so cute!
Until later....

My Sweet Valentine

2009-02-17T08:44:00.005-06:00

Nineteen Valentine's Days together and we're still smiling......I love you Davey!!

Dave gave me the most beautiful arrangement of roses that I've ever had. Not bad for the hospital gift shop.......no kidding!!!

When we left for dinner, we instructed the kids to have the kitchen tidied up before Mamaw got there. I guess Miss Emily shooed the boys out and informed them that she could handle it. She did a great job and even put the leftovers in the fridge. Maybe I've been underestimating her capabilities. Here's the "harried housewife" in all her glory......including the makeshift apron.

Take note "FOF" crafters.........this apron project is quick and efficient!!!!

A Little "Branson" Therapy

2009-02-09T14:40:00.010-06:00

Last week, Mamaw, Emily, and I headed to Branson for a little "retail therapy" while Dave and the boys went skiing. Holly and Kyri joined us for a couple days. It was a blast. I just wish Brittany could have joined us too. (We're hanging on for May, right, Brit?)

Enjoying the warm day and the fountain at Branson Landing. We stayed at a hotel right on the Landing. We could step out on our balcony and look down on the shops. It was absolutely wonderful!!!!

I love this picture of the girls riding Kyri's horse together. It was the first time that Emily was old enough to enjoy it.

We took the girls to the Build-a-Bear Workshop down at the Landing. Here's Kyri with Misty.

The selection process----trust me, my daughter is much more decisive than her mother!

Emmy and Kyri with their finished products. I was amazed at how much the girls enjoyed the whole Build-a-Bear experience. They loved it!

Here we are getting ready to say good-bye to Holly and Kyri. We made some great memories, ate a lot of delicious food, went to a good music show, and did our best to stimulate the economy of Branson.

Josh unleashed!

2009-01-28T17:33:00.002-06:00

Snow Day!!!!!

2009-01-28T17:13:00.006-06:00

My mom, enjoying her first snow in over four years. I think she is just as excited as the kids.....

My very own "Snow Baby"!

Emily is ecstatic over the snow! She has been our faithful alarm clock and snow reporter for the past few mornings! I'm amazed at her stamina! She stays outside for hours!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-13T11:57:00.009-06:00

New Year's Eve found us crammed into the family Suburban chugging our way north. The entire Boardman Clan, as well as, Shelby and Mary Boardman, and Myron and Betty Brown, converged on Steve and Lu this year. Build a new house....... we'll break it in for you! We made some very priceless memories in the next few days. By-the-way, I highly recommend the Boardman Resort in Milan, Il. for all your entertainment needs! (Don't you love me, Luann?)

Precious Grammy and Caleb, the official hugger of the family!

Our boys have turned into men.

The youngest cousins enjoying Steve and Lu's indoor pool.

Aunt Sarah, a.k.a. Mrs.Claus, and all her happy recipients!

The gang waiting, not so patiently, for the gift exchange.

Dave and Emmy had so much fun sliding around on Uncle Steve's frozen pond. I wasn't around when Dave had the four-wheeler out on the ice, but I heard about it! Scary!!!

Kandi, Sarah, and Aunt Betty creating a dinner "masterpiece".

Merry Christmas and God bless us everyone!!!!

2008-12-24T09:54:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas from our hearts to yours!

Happy Christmas Birthdays!

2008-12-24T09:40:00.004-06:00

Ben, you really make 13 look good!!!

Happy Birthday to the dearest man in the world!

Emmy's new pics!

2008-11-22T22:36:00.005-06:00

Josh's Monster Buck!

2008-11-22T22:09:00.005-06:00

Check out that rack!!!!!

Gotcha!! It's really just a three-pointer! Josh found the beautiful skull and horns in some brush while he was out tracking that Monster Buck. Needless to say, I'm glad my boys had some success in the woods this year. If only good old Dad could have been as fortunate.

The great hunter in a moment of hilarity. Believe me, this is rare!!!

Efficient ???? or just plain "ole" LAZY!!!!!

2008-11-15T22:19:00.004-06:00

My dear son, Caleb, wanted to bring a pile of toys to the living room tonight so that he could play in front of the fireplace. Normally, I wouldn't care but we were having company this evening. I acquiesced under one condition, everything had to be cleaned up when he was done. (He's not well known for his work ethic, I must admit.) He promised me he could handle the job in one load.........as you can see he nearly made it. I couldn't resist grabbing the camera!!!!

It's always important to take advantage of every available option.......

This cleaning stuff has really messed him up!!!!

Here's your smile for the day.........

2008-11-06T10:10:00.004-06:00

Here's a funny video from last year's blogs. The guys were target practicing and Zach tried to shoot Dave's old 12 guage. It sure provided a lot of redneck entertainment for the rest of the gang. Hope you enjoy!!!!

A Slice of our Life!!!!!

2008-11-06T09:38:00.011-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, my kids disappeared into the woods for hours. Here's what they were doing. Ben built Emmy a really awesome fort. They are two of a kind when it comes to the great outdoors.

My little "Amazon" woman!

Here is Alex Truitt babysitting himself while his parents and the Boardmans solve the world's problems.

Is this fun or what?

Holly and I took Josh, Shallen and Lauren Truitt to Youth Challenge last month. After we dropped them off, we headed to Cinci to hang out with the sister-in-laws for a couple days. Sarah, so graciously opened her home to us and we had a blast! This picture just cracks me up! Holly told us to snuggle up for the picture and some of them took her seriously!!!!

The sis-in-laws after their shopping and feeding frenzy. Don't we look rejuvenated? ( Sorry for the candid shot of Sarah's dog, Lucy. Didn't see it until after I loaded the pic.)

The proud hunters!

This is a special moment for Ben. He and Zach are dedicated sportsmen and it was so exciting for him to shoot an eight-point buck for his first deer!

2008-11-06T09:32:00.000-06:00

Oh be careful little Mom what you say.....

2008-10-20T11:12:00.003-05:00

Last night after church, a group of adults were discussing their concerns about the upcoming elections. Emily was listening in, as usual. When I tucked her into bed, she wanted to know "who is Obama?" How do you explain Obama to a five year old? I tried to explain the ideological differences between us and Obama. It didn't work! The only conclusion she drew from my explanation is that OBAMA is a "bad guy". "Well Emily, let's pray for him tonight". So she did. Minutes later after turning out her light, I heard yelling from her room. "Mom, I'm scared Obama is going to climb in my window!!" I give up! No more political discussions with a kindergartener!

Fall is in the air!!!!

2008-10-17T15:44:00.003-05:00

Pumpkin Bread Trifle
Layer upon layer of yummy pumpkin bread, vanilla cream, caramel sauce, and praline pecans

It's one of those perfect fall days. The guys are in the front yard playing football. Emily wore a turtleneck and tights to violin. We've mowed our yard for the last time this season (hopefully). Chicken noodle soup is simmering and I tried a new recipe--Praline Pumpkin Bread Trifle. Come on over and I'll brew you a nice cup of hazelnut coffee to go with it.

Happy Birthday, Zach!

2008-10-10T09:42:00.001-05:00

Happy 10th!

Girl Scouts!

2008-10-10T09:21:00.008-05:00

We have embarked on a new adventure! Girl Scouts!!! Emily and Andrea joined the Daisies yesterday. This Troop is made up of girls from the home school group. I am going to help with the meetings. I think it will something fun that Emmy and I can do together!

"I sure wish Mom would let me try this at home."

Yeah! We get to do messy stuff!

Princess Andrea!

Love those eyes!!!!

Emmy loved the guinea pig that someone brought for show and tell.

Gatlinburg Vacation 2008

2008-09-25T10:21:00.023-05:00

We took our first-ever vacation to the Smokies this month. It was awesome! Our days were filled with fellowship with good friends, a day at Dollywood, delicious food at the Apple Barn restaurant, shopping at the outlets(That was just me, of course), riding go-karts, playing mini-golf, attending a show at the Comedy Barn( They had Emily up on the stage during part of the show. Needless to say, she freaked out and ran and jumped off the 4ft high stage. It was definitely a show stopper!), bear sightings at Cade's Cove, white-water rafting, and many happy moments hanging out at the cabin.

Our cabin was beautiful! I think I'm ready to go back--tomorrow!

Doesn't this look inviting?

Paul, Sarah, and the kids came to the cabin and spent a day with us after visiting Memaw. We had several pots of coffee and plenty of "rocking chair" time on the back porch. The bonus is we almost got all the problems of the world solved. Thanks for coming, guys!

The girls have to stick together. Jessica and Emily

Best buds-----Josh and Paul

Our dear friends, the Bollig family, drove over from Bryson City and spent the day with us. We have known them since residency days. Some friendships are just made to last! We took the kids to Ober Gatlinburg. In the winter it is a ski resort and an amusement park in the summer. The alpine slide and the ice skating kept everyone happy. Robbynne and I remained the faithful cheerleaders through it all.

Are we having fun yet?

Here's Ben trying to help Emily learn to skate. I think the "Princess" was more into looking cute for the camera!

Emily tried to milk this cow statue at Old McDonald's Mini Golf. Trust me, an 18-hole course was a little bit too much for a five year old attention span.

Having fun at Dollywood!

Playing in the creek at Cade's Cove

Goodbye to dear Memaw Brown

2008-09-23T10:07:00.005-05:00

We said goodbye to our Memaw Brown last week. She has been a shining example to all of us. I have wonderful memories as a new bride being entertained at her house. She welcomed me into the family with open arms. Her delicious blueberry muffins, homeade rolls, cheesy potato casserole, and chicken and dumplings are just a few of the recipes that sealed her to my heart as a precious lady and an outstanding cook. It was our privilege to spend some time with her on our way to Gatlinburg a couple weeks ago. She was so frail and sick that day. Emily just hovered over her so much that I was afraid it would make Memaw nervous. She seemed to enjoy the "dedicated" care. I had tried to prep the kids before we got there. I told them that this was probably Dave's last time to see Memaw and they needed to be sensitive to their Dad's feelings. Our visit was going fine until Emily announced to Memaw , "You know this is the last time I'll see you before you die." Luckily, Memaw couldn't understand her.
We bade her a tearful goodbye and determined in our hearts that we are going to follow her example. Memaw, we will meet you in the morning!

Dave's sister, Sarah Holden and her family

This picture represents to me the journey of life. Our days are but a vapor and the only thing we can leave behind when we go is the memory of well-maintained relationships. Memaw left her family and friends the security of her love.

September Birthdays

2008-09-23T09:22:00.009-05:00

Caleb, you're looking great at seven!

Ok, don't judge me. I know you're thinking "a BB gun at seven?" I'm just following an old Boardman tradition that was started by their Dad on his seventh b-day.

Gotta love those breadsticks!

Happy 5th birthday, Princess Emily

Oh, where did my baby go?

We are WIDE awake, Mom!

Emily and Caleb both had birthdays this month. We didn't have very big parties with everything that has happened this month. They really didn't seem to mind. At this age, all they care about is having their best friend over for a sleepover and opening their gifts. Caleb wanted to eat at Olive Garden for his birthday meal. (He informed us that he likes Olive Garden so much that he is going there for his honeymoon!) Dave took him dove hunting on his birthday. It was a very special day for him.
Emily's birthday was the day that we traveled home from Gatlinburg. However, on Sunday, we did have Andrea over for cake and a sleepover in Emmy's new tent. Those two are so cute together! I think they were awake till midnight coloring. I just wish I could have captured all their "deep" conversations. One of which included "whether or not ist was ok to get married at fourteen". Eeks!!!

A Week in the Life of the Boardmans

2008-08-27T09:08:00.010-05:00

We attended Patti's wedding shower last night. It was a lot of fun! We had a delicious salad supper and a lot of good fellowship! Congratulations, Patti.

Sweet sisters---Penny Jones, Patti Mahan, and Jennifer Truitt

Lauren and Alex Truitt

It was our pleasure to entertain our niece, Sandra and her husband Zane for the weekend. Of course, Baby Levi was the icing on the cake!!! Can you believe I'm a great-aunt? Sandra was only three when we got married!

I really enjoyed spoiling Levi. He is so pleasant and easygoing!

Hey mom, can I get a little help here! It seems Cousin Emily is a little mixed up.

I just love this picture!

Here's the results of our warm cinnamon roll incentive at Sunday School. As you can tell, Pastor Troy is full of good ideas. His vision and passion for these kids is so contagious!

Camping is not for cowards! (especially if you're taking 10 kids!)

2008-08-18T14:53:00.002-05:00

Well, another first has been added to our list of experiences--camping with ten kids. We took five of the six Truitt kids with us for an overnight trip to Sam A. Baker State Park. We had a blast! Other than discovering we had only brought three tent poles for two tents, it went off pretty well. I guess next time I'll have to double check the kid's packing endeavors. Thank goodness for the camper!
On Saturday, Dave took the boys and Lauren on a three hour canoe trip. Emily, Andrea, and I played in the water for a while and then we just relaxed at the campsite. It's amazing how easily kids are entertained in the great outdoors!
Troy and Jenn were able to spend some time away to celebrate their anniversary and we were able to grow in patience, gentleness, parenting skills, tent building skills, and the list goes on.......
Aren't Troy and Jenn just the greatest friends a person could have??? BIG SMILE!!!!! Actually, it was a privilege. We love their kids just like our own!

2008-08-18T14:24:00.011-05:00

We really love you kids, but did you have to wake us up at 7:00 a.m.?

The best part of waking up, is Dave holding his coffee cup!(with apologies to Folgers)

A little rise-and-shine music. Thanks, Josh!

Lauren is definitely NOT ready for the day!

What more do you need?........warm sunshine and a clear Missouri river.

Me and my "Chunkers"!

Patrick Henry Hughes

2008-08-08T10:08:00.002-05:00

I am so excited! Tonight we're going to hear the inspirational story of Patrick Hughes, a boy who is blind and crippled from birth. As a toddler, it was discovered that he had an exceptional talent for music. Today, he is an accomplished musician. He's a junior at University of Louisville where he plays the trumpet in the marching band. His dad attends every practice and every game so that he can push Patrick in his wheelchair. It is truly a story of dedication and inspiration. If you would like to see an interview with them, click on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qTiYA1WiY8

Family Reunion

2008-08-07T15:31:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, my mom and I took the three youngest kids and headed for northern Ohio. We hadn't been to the Throne reunion in six years. We ended up packing so many events into four days, that I felt a little numb by the time I got home. Grandma Throne's house was nice and roomy. The kids monopolized the hot tub, which was a good thing. (Great babysitter!) We took my Mom out for Chinese on Friday night to celebrate her birthday. We cooked all day Saturday and then headed to the reunion that night. On Sunday, we drove up to Bird Lake Church and heard Bro. Maloyed preach a great message. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting the old family farm and attending a 50th anniversary celebration for one of my mom's cousins. Needless to say, the meaningful memory making just about wore me out!!!:)
I have to say, connecting with your heritage is so important. Like my mom said, "It gives you a sense of who you really are."

Making Memories...............

2008-08-07T14:42:00.014-05:00

On our way to Ohio, we stopped in Indianapolis and took my mom's Aunt Ginny out for lunch. Aunt Ginny is my mom's last link to her real mom who died of cancer at thirty-three. I was able to get some video footage of them sharing memories together. It was a moment to cherish!

This is a special picture. Aunt Marie is the last surviving aunt on the Throne side. She's in her nineties and as sharp as a tack. (I hope I got a few of her family genes....)

Grandma's girl!

Mamaw and Zach

Let's just say, I'm not a pro at the water balloon toss.

My Mom attempting to win a prize in the bubble-blowing contest.

Ok kids, forget about the roast in the crock-pot and your growling tummies! Just SMILE!!!

We stopped by the old home place on our way home from church and let the kids wander through the barn. Grandma is showing them her grape vines.

Grandma Throne is the ultimate hostess. We love you, Mimi!

The gift shop/cafe here at the Gaither's headquarters is definitely worth your time . We had fun picking out a few treasures to bring home with us. The kids were really hoping for a glimpse of Bill, but all we saw was his bus! I guess next time we'll have to pay the fifty bucks if we want to see him in person!!!!!!

We stopped in Westfield, IN on our way home and my merciful sis-in-law fed us a delicious lunch. Thanks, Kandi!

A Time to Celebrate!

2008-07-16T11:23:00.012-05:00

What a beautiful couple!

Soooo precious!!!!

Ben with the "ladies"!

Caleb with Cameron's neice, Adelaine. They were the miniature bride and groom. Someone overheard Caleb tell Adelaine,"We have to hold hands. Isn't that embarrassing?" They must not of minded too much---they held hands most of the evening!

Grandma Sarah and Baby Levi

Jessica Holden and Sandra Holden Hatfield and Emily. They were all in the wedding.

Grammy with her great grandbaby, Levi Hatfield. We were all together for Janae Boardman's wedding to Cameron Wellbaum on the 12th of July.

Phil and Lisa's youngest son, Addison. Isn't he adorable?

I really enjoyed spending time with my sister-in-law, Lisa, at camp this year. She and Phil were able to be there for the whole week. Phil was faithfully at our camper every morning for his cup of coffee. We had a wonderful time being together!

Fishing with Friends!

2008-07-16T10:53:00.007-05:00

When the going gets tough, the girls go fishing!

Andrea Truitt and her daddy, Troy.

Zach loves to fish----in fact, he's at the creek right now catching crawdads!

Good job, Caleb!

Dinner with friends!

2008-06-28T18:10:00.004-05:00

Our guest of honor last night was Dulina Dias. We celebrated his birthday a little early. Aren't those eyes absolutely adorable?

Dulina really took to Dave and wanted to be held most of the evening.

Our dear friends from Sri Lanka, Dharshaka, Prahtibha, and Baby Dulina. It was so much fun spoiling the "little man"!

Hey! What's up?

2008-06-25T10:07:00.003-05:00

I have heard the words "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer"-------where did those people live anyway? We are having the crazy part, that's for sure! The month of June kicked off with a visit from Dave's sister, Sarah Holden , and her two kids. We had a relaxing weekend interspersed with a little Starbucks and shopping. Sarah, thanks for coming!!!
After Sarah left, I hit the books pretty hard. I had three ethics classes to prepare for the teenage girls at youth camp. My theme this year was "What Every Girl Should Know". Each day I covered a different topic: herself, guys, and beauty. I was really uncertain about how it would all go over with the girls. Teenagers can be pretty harsh critics. I ended up with forty girls who were the most attentive and supportive girls I have ever taught. My prayer is that my girls would grow in confidence and grace. I want them to be proud of their purity and treasure their growing-up years.
Youth Camp 2008 is history! What an exihilarating and exhausting week. Victories were won at the altar and lives were changed! God is good.
On Monday, I took Josh and Ben, Lauren and Luke Truitt, Katie Snodgrass, and Bethany Davis to Saint Louis Mills mall. We decided to celebrate Josh's B-Day early since we had extra teenagers in town. They got to ice skate, play Lazer tag, ride NASCAR simulators, do some rock climbing, and eat a lot of good food! I had the privilege of embarassing them a few times and realizing that I am finally middle-aged. Really and truly, they are a terrific bunch of kids!
I know I have written a post of epic proportions. Please have mercy! Until next time, God bless.

Crazy Days of Summer!!??!!!

2008-06-25T09:21:00.002-05:00

The Birthday Boy (in rare form)!!!!

Don't they look MEAN?

Mexican at Chevy's!

Tired but happy!!

Do I love Aunt Sarah because she's precious or because she keeps an endless supply of gum in her purse? Isn't she the best!!??

Who can tell what kind of party you will have when Cousin B.P. comes to town. Maybe even a new "do"! Sarah, Paul, and Jessica came for the weekend while Paul Sr. went up to Boundary waters for a fishing excursion. The kids had a great time swimming, riding go-karts, and goofing off. The mom's went shopping, of course!

Vacation of a Lifetime!

2008-06-02T15:36:00.011-05:00

Let me pinch myself---am I really here?
(This picture was taken around 10:30p.m.)

The Sapphire Princess
Our cabin was on the right, second row of balconies. Get this----this ship uses 65,000 gallons of fuel a DAY!

The infamous Creek Street. This is located in the pretty little port city of Ketchikan. During the Gold Rush of 1898, this town was a booming metropolis. The day before we arrived, a mama bear and two cubs were roaming around on the airport tarmac. When the authorities tried to shoo them off, the cubs ran through the automatic doors of the terminal and jumped up on the conveyor belt in the baggage claim. The airport was temporarily closed until the situation could be resolved. Now please don't check this story out on truthorfiction.com because the tales from Alaska are a lot more fun if you don't know all the facts!!!!

This is our Filipino cabin steward, Tranquilino. He was such a personable guy and he worked so hard. He took care of nineteen cabins, all of which, he cleaned twice a day. Twelve hours a day, seven days a week, ten months out of the year. Wow!

GLACIER BAY

Dave thought he had died and gone to Heaven---King Crab Legs!!!!
Our dear friends, Tim and June Robinson cruised with us.
Juneau,AK

This glacier is over 200 feet tall. I happened to catch it "calving". Huge chunks of the glacier break off randomly and fall into the ocean. It was so cool to actually catch this on camera.

Seventeen years and we've only just begun!

Bon Voyage!

2008-05-22T08:31:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to say that Dave and I leave in the morning for our Alaskan adventure. My Mom is able to come and watch our kids in spite of her terrible flood fiasco. Thanks to those of you who prayed for them! We got a call from the travel agent yesterday informing us of a room change on the ship. Evidently, Princess Cruises need our rooms, so they bumped us up to a suite with a huge balcony. (Free of charge! Now, that's sweet!-----bad pun, I know!)
Lots of pictures when we get home...............Love to all!!!!!

2008-05-05T14:36:00.005-05:00

A fierce pillowfight!

Two really handsome guys!!!

Together at last!

Poxie Moxie!!!!!!

2008-04-29T19:50:00.003-05:00

Caleb's back. OUCH!!!!!!

This quarrantine is starting to take its toll.

Mamaw, you wanted to see this. Ben's gonna hate this!!!!!!

Blackberry Cobbler!

2008-04-29T19:40:00.003-05:00

I'm so tidy, my Mommy lets me bake without an apron!!!!!

The finished product!

What's New? More Pox!!!!!!

2008-04-29T19:13:00.003-05:00

Hallelujah! My last child broke out with the pox this morning! Caleb and Ben broke out on Saturday and it seemed that Emily was going to skate through again. In direct answer to Andrea Truitt's prayers, Emmy got them today. The poor girls are going through "best buddy" withdrawals. When it's said and done, it will have been six weeks since they have played together.
Emmy and I had a little fun in the kitchen on Saturday. We made blackberry cobbler. I remember several years ago, before I had a daughter, it would drive me crazy to have little hands in every pot in the kitchen. It's amazing how my perspective has changed! Emily loves to be on the counter during every meal prep. I'm actually starting to enjoy her help. Yes, we have found reddish-blond hairs in the soup. (don't tell the men!)
I'm finally starting to get excited about Dave and I's big anniversary cruise to Alaska. We've been planning it for eight months and now it is only three weeks away. Passports are in, will has been notarized, Mamaw is scheduled to babysit, all thats left is the packing........
Here's Emmy's latest quip: Last night at dinner, Dave and I were discussing and agonizing over our recent bid for termite treatment for the house. I was stressing (as usual) and Emily looked at Dave and said, "Well, don't use any of my money!"

Help! I need you Geek Squad!

2008-04-18T14:16:00.001-05:00

My post went crazy and I can't seem to fix it! It looks like one of those eye exam charts at the doctor's office. SO sorry!!!!!!

I've been tagged, tagged, and tagged!!!!!!

2008-04-18T12:46:00.006-05:00

Ten Years Ago----We lived in Benton, MO. Dave was doing his clinical rotations. I had two little boys and was expecting a third. Life was a lot simpler back then. There was time for sewing, smocking, and playing. Josh was learning to read and Ben was jumping off dressers and breaking his bones. On second thought, maybe life really hasn't changed that much!

Five Things On My To Do List---- 1. Fold the PILE of clean clothes on the floor in my bedroom.
2. Finish up the week of school with my kids. 3. Do the dishes.............AGAIN! 4. Go out on a date with my hubby. 5. Say something to my kiddos besides: go take that test, finish dusting, stop making Emily cry, no more wrestling, you forgot to do Math, yes, you can play a computer game, Please go play a computer game!, Is it time for that date yet?

Snacks I Love---- 1.Anything to do with coffee (I mean anything!!!) 2. Moist and chewy brownies.(I have been known to eat them for breakfast.)

If I Had A Billion Dollars----I'd pay off Dave's student loans if it would go that far. Smile! I would most certainly find some orphanages and missionaries to support. I'd take my Mom, my sis, my Grandma Throne, and my sis-in-law, Brit, on a girl's vacation.

Three Bad Habits----1.Not putting the clean sheets back on my bed until it's almost bedtime. (This really bugs my dear husband).
2. Buying something because it's a good deal----not because I need it! (I have a closet full of the evidence of this very bad habit.)
3. Planning my supper menu an hour before it's time to eat. Warning! Can cause the cook to be very creative and the diners to be very puzzled!

Places I Have Lived----1.Milan, IL 2.Tulsa,OK 3.Shreveport, LA 4.Papua New Guinea 5. Rock Island,IL 6. Kirksville, MO 7.Benton, MO 8. Carbondale, IL 9. Cape Girardeau, MO 10. Jackson, MO

Jobs I Have Held----1.Waitress at a catfish restaurant, 2. Babysitter, 3.Clerk at a fabric store, 4. House cleaning service, 5. Full-time wife and mom.

2008-04-14T17:24:00.005-05:00

Buddy, you'd better hang on to those britches!

The Happy Hunter!

My new wall stickers! It says "Home , where your story begins".

The POX!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-14T16:53:00.002-05:00

Well, it happened! The Chicken Pox finally caught up with the Boardman Bunch. Zach broke out yesterday. Unfortunately, he is the only one so far. This could mean weeks of staggered outbreaks. Help!!!! Obviously, our big plans of going to IHC this week as well as an overnight trip to Tennessee to see Dave's Memaw Brown have been cancelled. Oh well, such is life!
I had a wonderful trip to Louisiana a couple weeks ago. It was nice to be with my parents for the week. June Robinson kept me entertained with several shopping trips.(Or was I entertaining her?) It was so nice to be with my almost-sisters, Esther Pannebaker and Anna Dodd. I lived with them during my college days and made some memories that will never be forgotten. The boys sure enjoyed getting in on the "real school" atmosphere. Hopefully, they did well on their SAT's. Thank you Jenny for taking good care of them!
Saturday was Youth Day for turkey season. All the boys went this year. This was Caleb's first time. He told Ben that he was more excited about meeting Bill and Eddie(the old country guys that own the land) than actually shooting a turkey. Somehow, he ended up wearing Zach's camo pants-sz 12-and he couldn't take a step without them dropping to his knees. The other bummer was that he locked Dave's keys in the truck. I had to make a trip to the country to bail them out. They were a sorry-looking bunch of hunters. And, no, they did not get a turkey!

Easter 2008

2008-03-23T21:32:00.002-05:00

Easter 2008

Happy Easter!

Build an Ark!

2008-03-22T16:27:00.004-05:00

I thought you guys would like to see what our creek did last Tuesday when it rained 11 1/2 inches in about 24 hours. We couldn't get out the main entrance of our subdivision for about two days. Thankfully, there is a back road into the neighborhood.
I am wishing all of you a blessed Easter!

Best Friends for LIFE!

2008-03-12T08:36:00.003-05:00

Our two little princesses!

I couldn't resist posting this picture from yesterday. The girls were on their way to church after having a special afternoon together.

2008-03-10T14:45:00.006-05:00

Perfect weather for a walk to the creek.

What Ben does when Mom's not around!

Steve Sturdevant and Dave

Emily is sooo excited about her new violin! She starts lessons this summer or fall. She's been begging for a violin, but when she heard the terrible racket it made when she attempted to play it, she burst into tears. I guess she thought it made music on its own!

Where is Spring?

2008-03-10T14:05:00.003-05:00

It's a beautiful day in Jackson today! Come on out, groundhogs, Easter bunnies, and daffodils. Old Man winter is being banished from these parts, and sent to hang out with you northern bloggers!
We are starting revival tomorrow with Dan Durkee. I am looking forward to a spiritual renewal. I guess I need spring in more ways than one.
We had the privilege of entertaining Steve Sturdevant a couple weeks ago. He is involved with Arms Around the World missions organization. His presentation was so challenging. It was great to renew our acquaintance. He and his first wife were missionaries to Papua New Guinea at the same time that my folks were there. I was just a kid back then!
Updates on the kids:
Josh----went to the hospital with Dave last night for a late-night admission (I guess he is continuing to test his interest level in a medical career.)
Ben----has grown out of three pant sizes in about nine months. He really wants to be taller than Josh.
Zach----is determined to shoot the resident squirrel in the treeline behind the house. I guess he has hit it several times to no avail. Zach said it is moving a lot slower. It's probably filling up with BB's. Now, you animal rights activists, no
unkind judgments of my parenting skills!
Caleb----has a new favorite word--ambitious! As in, "There was a log bridge over our ambitious creek." Or, the reason he disobeyed me and went ahead and played the computer was because he was a little too "ambitious"!
Emily----is feeling very saintly lately. She told Ben that the reason she couldn't turn her bedroom light off for the night was because she "needed to have her devotions and hear what the God said".
Never ever a dull moment around the Boardman Ranch!

2008-02-28T10:41:00.009-06:00

Let the show begin!

Love my girl!

Lauren and Em

My homeschooling mentor, Robynne Bollig

Best Buddy, Ellie Bollig

Josh catching a little air!

Ready, set, fly!

Happy skiers!

February Fun!

2008-02-28T10:17:00.002-06:00

This month is gone already! In some ways it has been a month filled with blah winter days; however, when I remember all the special times we have had together over the last few weeks.........I am blessed!
Our little buddy, Andrea, is in the hospital for a few days so we get to have the Truitt kids at our house. My kids love it! (So do I!). Right now, Debbie(Nana)Mahan, has taken them back to their house to get their schoolwork done for the day. The kids all play really well together and it's almost easier having nine than five! Mealtimes, I will admit, get pretty interesting.
Last night, I took Emily, Caleb, Travis, and Lauren to see Go Diego, Go Live. Let's just say, I felt like I was in a Preschool pep rally. Two thousand toddlers yelling and clapping. You get the idea! Emily loved it! Caleb and Travis endured it! Lauren was my willing source of adult accompaniment. Actually, this was supposed to be Andrea's birthday present from Emily. We were sad that Jenn and she had to be in St. Louis last night.
Well, I had better go and do lesson plans for the next few days.
Love to all!
Heidi

2008-02-13T15:01:00.006-06:00

Catching a few snowflakes.

Check out the rosy cheeks!

Wild Man Zach!

Emmy enjoying her hot chocolate.

I guess this weather is "for the birds"!

Snow Days!

2008-02-13T14:37:00.003-06:00

I can't believe that it's the middle of February and I'm just now posting. Let's see........maybe I can update you on what we have been doing. We had a going away party for our dear friends, the McLean Family. They have been stationed in Eugene, Oregon. Only three years and maybe they'll come back! Our church already misses them. Forty people came over for the get together and it was a blast!(Other than the fact that I was coming down with the flu. God bless you, Ibuprofen!
Last week, we got about six inches of snow. Even Dave got a snow day! He went out and bought all kinds of sleds ,saucers, and a snowboard. A good time was had by all!
Monday, it started sleeting and it didn't stop for almost 24 hours. We ended up with about four inches of ice and no electricity. Between the fireplace and extra blankets, we managed until Dave brought home a generator and a kerosene heater. About the time our power came back on, the Truitt's lost theirs. They don't have a fireplace so they came over here for a big slumber party. One of their boys commented that "This is the best day of my life!".
Dave and the three oldest boys are leaving tonight for Galena, IL. to go snow skiing with Boardman brothers, uncles, and cousins. Pray for protection over life and limb! Caleb, Emmy, and I have big plans of going to McDonald's Playland. Wow! Emmy said, "Mom, can we actually go in the door?" As you can tell, I'm more of a drive-thru Mom!
Sorry I've rambled so................................Until next time, Ciao

There's a new kid in town!

2008-01-29T12:43:00.000-06:00

Emily and I went to see the latest Truitt addition last night. He is really a beautiful newborn! Jenn is doing well and Troy is , you know, just Troy! Emily really wanted me to just drop her off at the hospital today so that she could just "stay with Aunt Jenn". (I'm sure she would be so much help) Ha! It was pretty special holding a tiny baby again.........however, I think I'll just be content to share in the Truitt's joy this time around. Troy is a little bummed that we're messing up the Truitt-Boardman ratio by not doing six for six! Oh well..............................

2008-01-25T14:00:00.001-06:00

Hey Sarah! Right back at ya!

2008-01-22T17:47:00.000-06:00

Happy girls at the baby shower!

It was special being with Dave and Brit. Her Mom watched her kiddos and June Robinson watched mine. Thanks Girl!

Surgery Day! We were tired!

Emmy climbed up by Papaw and didn't want to leave.

My year so far!

2008-01-22T17:23:00.000-06:00

Wow! What a crazy three weeks! On January 9, my Daddy had open heart surgery. I left Josh at home with Dave and took a flying trip to Louisiana for five days. It was quite a traumatic thing seeing my Dad in ICU. He is home and doing very well. Mom told me yesterday that he walked a 1/2 mile. Thank the Lord!
I came home on a Monday and helped with Jennifer Truitt's baby shower on Tuesday. Emily was thrilled to be able to attend this "big girl" function. No peas up the nose this time! Thank goodness!
On Wednesday, we entertained Bro. Will Byler from Lebanon, PA. He is the president of an organization called Mission Helps. They assist missionaries in several ways; construction crews, deputation vehicles, laptop computers, a prayer ministry, lodging, and healthcare. He came to discuss the possibility of Dave joining the group as a medical consultant or caregiver. Dave is really excited about it!
School is back in full swing. Josh is leaving me in the fog in his Algebra. In fact, I'm going to let our friend, Dharshaka (Sri Lankan) tutor him from now on.
I found out today from Pastor Truitt, that I am the teacher for the teenage girls again at youth camp. If any of you have some favorite resources or websites, please share them with me. This is my third year and I would like some fresh material.
Until next time,
Heidi

A Bunch of Boardmans

2008-01-03T16:22:00.000-06:00

Great GrandPapa with Little Levi

Grammy seeing her great grandbaby, Levi, for the first time!

Janae with her two main men, Caleb and her fiance, Cameron Wellbaum.

Ben and his best cuz, Jessica, sharing some tunes.

Emmy loves her Grammy!

Boardman New Year

2008-01-03T15:56:00.000-06:00

Happy 2008

2008-01-03T15:20:00.000-06:00

Remember Ben, quality, not quantity!

Zach didn't know it yet, but his new Kawasaki 90 was waiting just outside the door!

Caleb a.k.a. G.I. Joe

Josh, you just thought you were getting a widescreen for your computer!

Merry Christmas, Emmy!

We are enjoying a few more days of holiday break before it's back to school and back to the grind!
Our trip to Indy for the Boardman reunion was a blast! Thirty-two cousins, brothers, sisters, parents, and grandparents in one house for 4 days is bound to be exciting if not a little scary! We had some wonderful meals (Cincinnati Chili, homeade Belgian waffles, ham and potatoes, broiled roast beef sandwiches,,,,,,), played a fun Boardman Trivia game, and spent the rest of the time enjoying each other. I sure married into a terrific family!!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!!

2007-12-24T09:57:00.000-06:00

I found this great card for Ben and I inserted a picture of him at that age in the same state of undress! He got a real kick out of it!!

Here's my birthday boys!

Merry Christmas! The excitement is building at the Boardman house and the countdown has begun! This Christmas is a little different for us this year in that none of our relatives are here. I thought I would be really blue, but so far, we are having a blast! Like Dave said, "What's there to be blue about?" We are so blessed!! I just want to say that I am so very grateful to all of our friends out there. The heart-ties that we have with you have carried us through every phase of our lives. You are all so special and we love you lots!
Last week, we celebrated Ben and Dave's birthdays. Friday night, we took the kids and a couple of Ben's friends out to Outback for dinner. Ben had a big sleepover that night. I can't believe he is twelve! Dave turned forty-two. Wow!!!!
Merry Christmas!!!!!!

2007-12-12T09:06:00.001-06:00

What a precious boy!

My Sri Lankan friend, Prahtiba and her son, Dulina. Don't you love the eyes?

2007-12-12T09:02:00.000-06:00

Truitt's new wheels!

Church Christmas Dinner

2007-12-10T16:38:00.000-06:00

We had our annual church dinner last Saturday night. It is always a night filled with delicious food, fellowship, hilarious skits, and presenting a nice gift to our Pastor's family. Emily was really excited because Andrea was well enough to attend. They bounced around together all evening! The highlight of the night was seeing the Truitt kid's faces when Josh drove in on their new Kawasaki 90 four-wheeler. They were literally speechless! Usually, their gift from the church is a $25 Target gift card. It was a dream-come-true for them!
We're on the countdown for Christmas around here. The closets are bulging with unwrapped gifts and the kids are under close surveillance. Our Christmas Pageant is this weekend. I'm sure many of you can feel the stress just by reading these words. Smile!!! Do you remember what happened to me last year at Pageant time? Yep! I got lice from some of my precious Sunday School kids. I'm trying to be more careful this year!
Have a blessed day!

The Finished Product!

2007-12-03T17:01:00.000-06:00

Here it is! After two trips to Target for lights and maneuvering around my posse of miniature decorators, the tree is finally up! It is sooo pretty and festive! I'm really getting excited for Christmas now. Stop by anytime for a cup of coffee......

Too Busy for Blogging!

2007-12-01T09:54:00.000-06:00

Well June, here I am at last! I've been lying on the couch eating bon-bons and I can't reach my computer. I'm sure you understand!!!
Our Thanksgiving reunion was a highlight for me. My cousin, Monica, and her husband, Rob, came all the way from Germany for the occasion. Aunt Karen flew in from Florida, Uncle Richard and Bobbe from Alaska, Grandma's "special friend", Joe Hollingsworth, and all my immediate family. Wow! What a crowd! Everyone pitched in on the cooking and the cleaning. It made it really easy on me! Thanks guys.
This week, I have been in recovery mode. Since we are going to be by ourselves for Christmas this year( 1st time since 1995), I am struggling to get in the mood to decorate. Usually, I host the Boardman Family and this year we're going to Dan and Kandi's. I did put a wreath on the door and addressed all my cards. I'll keep you posted on the progress.......if any of you feel a burden for the decorating ministry, let me know.

Boardman Follies

2007-11-13T20:02:00.000-06:00

Well leave it to Ben to keep our household interesting. He decided to make his own variation of a Dagwood sandwich. After pleading for permission to try out his culinary creativity, I conceded. The conditions being that whatever he created, he had to eat. Here's a list of ingredients: bread, mayo, mustard, grape jam, bologna, cheese, corn flakes, saltines, pretzels, ranch dressing, and topped off with a little salsa. He managed about four bites and the dogs handled the rest. It was quite the entertaining lunch hour, let me tell you! I'm trying to learn the great parenting lesson that it's not just trying to get to the destination, it's all about enjoying the ride. Now I need to go and clean up the kitchen!!!!

It's a wonderful day to be alive!

2007-11-06T08:23:00.000-06:00

It's a gorgeous fall day with a nip in the air! I start thinking about pumpkin pies, pulling out my long-awaited Christmas CD's(I try to hold off until Nov.), holiday visits from family, losing weight so that I can enjoy holiday feasts with a little growing room-smile-, Apple scented Glade Plug-ins, and all-around thankfulness for the goodness of a merciful Heavenly Father. It truly is a great day to be alive!
Yesterday, we were able to have Andrea Truitt over for a play-day with Emily. She has been so secluded with her blood counts being too low for much interaction with the outside world. The girls have missed each other dreadfully! They played outside for hours and then came in to play house. It is so much fun to listen to their conversations. They are truly "heart sisters". I have to say, Emily is a little jealous that Andrea is getting a new baby at her house. There is the promise that Andrea will bring the baby over and share with Em. Thanks Jenn, you got me off the hook!

Zach's First Deer!

2007-10-30T11:57:00.000-05:00

I guess the Boardman's have entered a new phase of existence. Hunting!!!! Dave took Ben and Zach out Saturday for youth hunt. Around 10:30, a six-point buck("non-typical"I'm learning the lingo) walked out about 50 yards from the stand. Zach dropped him with a single shot! You talk about excitement! My very laid-back husband called me and he was almost yelling into the phone!
Last night, our very committed friends, the McLeans came and showed us how to put up deer meat. I never dreamed I'd ever be doing this. If anyone out there in cyberspace has some tried and true venison recipes, please share.
Last week, I took Josh and Lauren Truitt to Youth Challenge in Indiana. They had a wonderful time. I went with my sister-in-law, Sarah Holden, to hang out at her house for a few days. I took Emily with me and she enjoyed playing with Uncle Paul and the pug, Lucy. She wasn't real sure about Uncle Paul at first. She told us she only liked Doctor dads, not computer guys. By the time we left, she and Paul were fast friends.

The Mighty Hunter!

2007-10-15T19:04:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a great day for Mr. Ben. He bagged his first turkey! Actually, he is the first one in our house to shoot one. The guys were so inspired that they hunted for most of the afternoon as well. I've decided that this turkey probably cost us at least a hundred dollars a pound. Smile!
Dave says its quality bonding time with the young men in our family. I tend to agree with him.(It was also nice to have a quiet house to clean on Saturday.)
We start revival with Penn View quartet in a couple days. Our church is really excited for them to come. Their enthusiasm is always contagious. Bro. Truitt started a contest for the kids at church to see who can invite the most friends on Sunday. It could be standing room only!
We are winding up the first quarter in school this week, so that means lots of exams to study for and grade. Oh, when are the holidays?????

Birthdays and more birthdays!

2007-10-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was a busy one! We celebrated Zach's 9th birthday Friday with a big pizza party and around 30 people. He had three boys stay over for a sleepover, so I was the mother of 8 for one night!(Seven of which were boys!!!) They had a blast creating piles of laundry, eating constantly, running in and out the front door, and acting like normal boys. You gotta love em!
It seems like I've had a constant stream of B-days and parties: Josh in June, Caleb and Emmy in September, and Zach in October. Whew! Ben's isn't until December!!!! I just wish they wouldn't grow up so fast. I can't imagine this house without the constant noise and activity.
I'm posting some birthday pics.

Branson Trip

2007-10-02T08:20:00.000-05:00

We just returned from a very relaxing 4 days in Branson! We were able to rent a two bedroom condo on the lake for their off-season prices. What a deal! We spent a couple days at Silver Dollar City. We even convinced Caleb to ride the roller-coaster. It took a $20 bribe to get him on, but he finally did it! I even squelched my fears and rode Wildfire(a coaster that actually goes upside down-TWICE). I did ok the first ride, but the second one did me in. I was on the bench for a half-an-hour waiting for my Dramamine to kick in!
The Truitt's(our pastor's family) and the McCarthy's(my sister's family) were also in Branson last week. It was great to be together. We took the kids to see the Duttons. They are a performing family of six brothers and sisters plus the parents. They play all kinds of instruments and they sing. It has become our tradition to go see them every time we're in town. I posted a pic of Ben Boardman with Ben Dutton. (Both are very Hyper!!!)
We are back to the grind of school this week. In some ways, the routine is very calming for us. In other ways, I would like to try the perpetual vacation for a while!

Branson Trip

2007-10-02T07:59:00.000-05:00

2007-09-22T08:16:00.000-05:00

What an eventful night! The boys loaded up their camping gear(several four-wheeler trips) and headed for the creek. Even Emily decided she was joining in on the adventure! I was okay with the arrangement until Dave came home from work and realized that they had camped up an embankment on the other side of the creek. About midnight, I started having visions of Emily sleep-walking and falling down the hill. So good old Dad drove me down to get her. Needless to say, she was not impressed with being awakened and taken back to safety. Smile! The boys did come back to get her for the campfire breakfast this morning!

This is fun

2007-09-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

We are the Boardmans. Dave and I have been married for 16 years. We have five wonderful kids--Josh, Ben, Zach, Caleb, and Emily. Dave is a primary care physician here in Cape Girardeau, MO, and I am a stay-at-home mom. We have been homeschooling for 10 years and it has truly been an adventure! Our house is located out in the country on about eight acres full of rabbits, deer, coyotes, and SNAKES. God has been so good to our family and we're loving life!