Red Ribbon Drug Free Week at school

This week was Red Ribbon week at Blaine, Suzanna and my elementary school. All the fun activities culminated today with a helicopter landing in our front parking lot with our school mascot and administrator jumping out and then joining a parade of red automobiles such as a fire truck, ambulance, red convertibles, trucks, etc. all for the parade! The kids went nutzo and truly enjoyed the week celebrating say No to drugs. In the middle of the parade with music blaring, helicopter hovering above, fire engines roaring Blaine comes up to me and says, ' Mom, I am forgetting my spelling words now for the test!" He recognized he could only hold onto them for a little while longer until they were lost from his short term memory! Anyway, enjoy the pictures. I have NO idea why this is underlining this post. I have looked at everything and can't figure out why???

Suzanna and her friends dressed mismatched to say drugs are mixed up.

Monday everyone wore all red for Red Ribbon Week. This is Blaine's class.
Suzanna got to carry the second grade sign to the parade.
Administrator and mascot getting in helicopter.
Assistant Principal dancing to music.
Helicopter landing
Suzanna and friends on red day!

Blaine and friends watching parade.

Suzanna carrying the sign.

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Save Our Streets Ministry

Last night I was able to attend a benefit dinner for Save Our Streets Ministry. This ministry provides a place to be rescued , restored and released in the Bryan/College Station area after families have been broken into pieces due to drug addiction, gang activity, prison sentences , abuse ( verbal, physical and sexual) and all the other "horrors" that we see play out in the lives of our families today. It was a night to refocus on what our purpose really is here and how we can help be Jesus in skin, be prayer in skin and pray heaven down for those who are hurting, suffering and trapped in the horrors of addiction, abuse and poverty. I always have thought to myself that this is "not my season" as I have two little people God has placed in my life to grow into adults with all the challenges that brings, but last night I thought maybe I was wrong and that Blaine and Suzanna are to be a part of ministry, to be a part of changing lives and to allow their God given passions and talents at the age of 7 be part of a ministry...to be a 7 year old who shows us prayer in skin.....for them to be Jesus in skin and to bring the unfailing love of Chirst to those hurting around them. In order for them to be all that then I must make sure that I show that and walk that walk. I know God has great things for each of us and a planned purpose...I just often think how am I missing my purpose, not following HIS lead due to me thinking it's not my season. Isn't that harvest ripe? maybe it should be the Borchgardt's season....anyway, it was a much needed shot in the arm that really placed things into perspective and refocused, restored and revived my spirit. I pray for the SOS team for God to move them in big ways to do big things for his kingdom!

Camping and Girl Fun

Suzanna was ALL smiles this weekend with No BOYs in the house!

The 6 pack of boys

The boys packed up and headed out Saturday morning for an all male camp extravaganza. The great thing about the camp out was it left Suzanna and I to so much needed girl time. Once you remove all the ALL BOY thinking out of the house it is amazing how much CALMER the atmosphere becomes. Although, we were ready to have them back come Sunday afternoon as no boys would make for probably a pretty boring life...well, I can get myself into some situations that would probably keep us on our toes, but for the most part, it is the Blaine-ster and Mr. Doyle that make things wild, woolly foot loose and fancy free around the house. Doyle and Blaine went with 3 other Dads from our Adult Sunday School Class and their beautiful boys. I was so grateful that they had time to bond, fish, boat, catch minnows, play football, roast smores and have Dad and Son time together. What great memories were made that would last a lifetime. At least each boy had an idea for their draft book /journal today in class! Suzanna relished in all girl play dates from sun up to sun down. She should be Littlest Pet Shopped out by now. We enjoyed our time together and loved having time to be Mom and Daughter as well. I thanked God for the amazing children he has given me with each their own spirit and their own passions. What a huge responsibility to be stewards over two of his most precious children. I have to remind myself not by my strength but his. It becomes challenging many days for sure but the rewards and the blessings are immeasurable.

Just some snapshots

The Astros' boys smile!

Blaine anxiously awaits for the ball to come to him as the other team bats!

One of Suzanna's best friends got a new Basset Hound puppy which Suzanna is in love with!!!!! Of course she has decided for Christmas we must get Doyle a new puppy Border Collie since Cowboy the rescue dog didn't quite work out too well as far as being a Cowboy! I don not think the Borchgardt house could handle another thing to take care of as we are many days just living minute by minute!






The Astro's Fall Ball Season has ended. Below is a picture of the team after they received their trophies this past Friday night. We were so proud of our Astro's! Afterwards we went to celebrate with the other coaches family at Koppebridge for cheeseburgers, pool and of course their famous fries! We had a famous visitor, Steph and Brian Lee come and watch our Blaine play , but I do not have her photos accessible yet but I will post them when I do. I could write a whole blog of the Lee's as I am in charge of their fan club =) Ha! but I should be as that is how much I admire their heart's so passionate for Christ and of course their love for Blaine and Suzanna is such a wonderful thing to see.

Below is the video of Blaine's last at bat for the fall. Doyle and Blaine had practiced hitting the ball through out the week since Blaine was in quite a "batters slump". Doyle told Blaine to pretend to kiss his hands when he batted...well, watch for your self how many times Blaine pretends to kiss his hands to make sure he is lined up correctly to bat! Oh our Mr. Blaine, how he can make you smile ................

Blaine makes it to the top of the rope in gymnastics!

Blaine climbs the tall, tall rope in gymnastics!!!!!!!!!

A Thursday Afternoon

This afternoon after gymnastics Blaine and Suzanna headed to the backyard for a quick game of invent your won baseball with a stick and a kick ball. They were being so sweet and fun together that I ran to just video a quick glimpse of them. Excuse Suzanna's attire it's 1/2 gym 1/2 too short shorts =) . Anyway, it made me think how much we rush, rush , rush during the school year with ballet, gymnastics, fall ball, spelling words, homework, and the list goes on and on and on. Quick moments of kickball in the backyard are few and far between. I often wonder how life would be impacted if we all had that front/ back porch time more...that sit down and talk to me time...that let's play a game of kickball time, run, create and imagine time; instead of only rush, rush , rush time. What if the kiddos could go play in the creek and create a Roxaboxen Town of their own and only come in for dinner? I bet we would have different kiddos! Not so stressed, not so tired, not so wired...... So here's to front/back porch time!!!!

North America Presentation Day

Today the duo presented on their North American Research topics. Suzanna made a Black Bear Habitat box with her Mimi and Doyle and Blaine made Mount Rushmore out of clay. They were so proud and worked very hard in class writing their first real research paper!

Blaine playing Brendan's game.

Suzanna smiles with Dad reading her report.

Blaine tells a classmates mother as well as Mr. Petty all about Mount Rushmore.

Suzanna and her habitat box.

Doyle and Blaine with Mount Rushmore.

Baseball Hits Again...Watch the Moves!

Doyle and I watch Blaine up at bat and just smile and smile ONLY because he so wants to be just like the pros. We are HUGE Astro fans and attend many games. Watching Blaine try to hit the ball with all his MLB " Astro moves" surely shows the power those players hold.

What is the power of beating the plate before you hit it????? Hmmmmmm! The fire truck at one point becomes more important than the hitting!

Run Blaine! Run!