Samuel and I have been learning Latin this year as part of our dive into classical education. It has been a highlight of my day to share something new with my smart 8 year old. Thankfully, he doesn't seem to mind drilling the flash cards with me. One of my favorite words we've memorized is the word silva meaning woods or forest. Our home in Michigan has plenty of silva between the house and small canal which leads to Sandy Bottom Lake. It's beautiful here and someday I'm going to come up with a wonderful Latin name for our home... Continue reading

Elizabeth is growing and learning more and more each week. I haven't posted much this past year, so if this is your only window to our home, you probably haven't seen a whole lot of her. She is a little sweetie, of course, but also as bright and eager to learn as any of her siblings. She also has a silly side, which keeps us all in stitches. This morning, she was all about scribbling. I took some quick pics with my phone and even a video, but as I was trying to save it, I was informed by an... Continue reading

October was awhile ago, and right now there is no greater pressing activity, so I shall blog. Here are some shots of the family. This year, 33 days in, has been bustling and full - mostly of school. We are deep in our Classical Conversations year as students and tutor. I wish I had some pics from that, but with a promise of some to follow, I'll post some other pics from the holidays. A few of my favorites... Scott's Christmas gift (he'll really enjoy it come spring!) My gift... rooster in a ton of sterofoam peanuts! Pierre the Rooster... Continue reading

Fall in Michigan is simply GORGEOUS, so we've been enjoying drives around the area, gasping at the glory of autumn flora. As this season usually calls to mind, I'm aware of how fast a year goes. Wasn't it just the other day we were moving in to the house at Sandy Creek Dr. and the trees were bursting with spring green leaves? Now the same are releasing their heavy boughs of red and orange down into heapfuls on the driveway. The seasons changed, and so too our lives. I thought I should take a few minutes to catch up where... Continue reading

Yesterday we had some truly lovely morning weather, so while Grami took the boys to basketball, I enjoyed a stroll to the marina and back. I'm so thankful for the beautiful, natural surroundings of our home here and the beautiful kids I get to share it alongside. Continue reading

One of the best things about being a parent is the privilege of watching a child experience something for the first time. This week was such a time for Samuel and Lucian to experience the game of basketball. A little tentative at first, both finished today with smiles and a new found love of the game. Continue reading

Sometimes the kids really do say the 'darndest things' (thank you very much Bill Cosby). Here's my latest example from the Borchers gang, via my dear daughter. My thoughts are in parenthesis. [Scene: in the bathroom at Olive Garden, Allegra swinging her legs over the large handicapped model] "Mommy, I wish we were African." (Maybe she wishes her skin were a nice chocolate color?) "You wish we were African, honey?" "Yes, because then we could live in the forest." "You mean, like a rain forest?" "Yes, and we would be with all the animals." (Oh, I see she wants to... Continue reading

Scott is such a great Dad. Rising from not so great an example in his own life, he provides, protects, praises, and gives purpose to all our children. He is gentle and firm, generous in word, deed, and gift. He also sets an amazing example as a loving husband and an involved, Christ-loving man of God. I'm blessed beyond what I deserve to have this partner in parenting, in life, in love. I'm so in love. Happy Father's Day, Scotteric! Continue reading

This weekend has been memorial to say the least. Now settling in to our new home, we've been blessed this weekend to be finding wonderful new friends by land and by sea (or at least lake). Add to a BBQ and time out on the lake, a great church service, some Firehouse subs and painting the foyer today, oh yeah, AND a date night... it's definitely been a holiday weekend! Continue reading

So, I know it's been awhile. We've been busy moving and unpacking and just with life. As usual, when it's been some time since I've blogged, I have a hard time picking what to blog about. There was Easter, a wonderful trip to KC for my Mom's 60th Birthday, and moving to our wonderful new home. But, because I don't want another day to pass without a post and because those subjects contain dozens of pictures to sort through, I'm picking a video I took tonight of Ebee. Here she is already over five months old! She's always drooling and... Continue reading

Well, the birthday month is upon us! Mine came first (smile), and it was great. Mom took me out for a yummy breakfast and the purchase of a Maya wrap to hold my sweet baby Ebee in during those busy school hours. It was so lovely to do a little shopping in the adorable downtown Northville, even on a blustery March morning. When we got home, Scott and the kids greated me with lots of balloons and a cake (the huge gift here being that Scott went out with 4 out of 5 by himself to Meijer to get it... Continue reading

While my bunch of kids and sleepy husband watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse this Saturday morning, I've decided to take a second and publically announce that I am thankful! Thankful for my kids, husband, mom, mom in law, sister, brother in laws, sister in law, friends, nephews, cousins, neices, aunts, uncles, people who like me, people who don't. People, people, people. We are all thrown on this earth and sometime we love to love one another and sometimes otherwise. But, I'm thankful this morning that I'm not isolated; that humanity is all around me and cries out for my attention to... Continue reading

One reason I love the name Elizabeth is because of the options. It's open to so many variations... whatever personality is waiting to unfold in the life of this beautiful girl. There were several I considered using before her birth: Betsy, Liz, Lizzy, Beth, etc. Right now, she seems to us all here in the house, our Ebee. I have never even heard of that one before! Which seems perfect, because after all she is unique and very special to me. Here are a few more pictures of my Ebee that I've taken recently. Ebee has interesting eyes - a... Continue reading

So, my little girl is over 12 weeks old and I haven't posted a thing! I have wanted to, meant to, started to... and haven't posted a thing. So, instead of waiting for a perfect hour or even half hour, I'm posting in the five minutes I have right now. Here's my little beauty. She's almost three months old (on Wed)! Continue reading

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This year was a big one for Lucian. Two weeks after baby sister was born, he got the party of his life (so far). We don't usually do big parties like this one, except for first and fifth b'day years. However, last year he only had a few friends to invite and this year he had a whole gang... something worth a big celebration, especially for my mister shy guy. Where to celebrate? Where a kid can be a kid, of course! Chuck E Cheese's certainly knows what they're doing with kids and parties, and the best part was the... Continue reading

Last weekend we trimmed the tree... Grami's no-hassle tree that is! I'm usually a die hard REAL tree person, but you know, ten days after having a baby a woman is less picky about such things. And I have to admit, it's beautiful! (Elizabeth's First Christmas Ornament) After decorating, we had our annual treasure hunt (usually done on Thanksgiving) for the kids to find their Christmas clothes. (figuring out the clues) (finding the treasure!) For the boys: coordinating sweaters and pretty dresses for the girls! Here's a preview of our coming Christmas Eve photo - And of course no tree... Continue reading

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Elizabeth Grace Borchers November 22nd, 2011 at 6:46pm 9lbs. 1oz., 20 inches Continue reading

A week ago Saturday, the big yellow moving van came rolling down our street and out stepped Grami. After diligently working and situating things for 10 days, she's pretty settled in and we're ready for the last member to arrive.... "Welcome Home Grami!" Continue reading

Today begins the last week of life as I know it. By next Sunday, I will joyfully have my Mom here in our home, apart of our household. A week or two after that, I'll have a beautiful new daughter in my arms. Talk about generational blessing! This weekend though, I'm taking mental snapshots of who we are now. Each new addition to our family has been uniquely wonderful, and yet each transition and stage is a blur in my memory. When did I get to have four children, with my fifth on the way? What was it like to... Continue reading

Its one of our lasting family traditions... the pumpkin patch. Last year, we were thrilled to find 3 Cedars Farm for picking out our round orange veggies (check out 2010 here), but this year was even better because we were able to share it with friends! The Millers and the Pereria's and all their boys (totaling eight under 8 yrs old including ours + Allegra), braved the gusty October winds with us and did it all: visiting the animals, exploring the corn maze, picking the pumpkins, hopping on the hayride, of course snacking on homemade doughnuts and washing it down... Continue reading

Last year, the fall season was nice, but not spectacular. I think it was because late summer was dry as a bone - which was not the case this year. In any case, this week has been in the mid 70's with trees turning all shades of sherbert; glorious and beautiful food for the soul. After a year best intentions, we finally headed to the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market. And, wow! It was amazing - very busy and full of produce, crafts and people. There was buying, selling, sipping coffee, crunching on apples, and arms full of mums. Today, as... Continue reading

Here's a video from the petting farm when Philip saw the horses... Continue reading

It took a dozen falls and a busted face last spring (plus some serious wiggling) but he got it out! And he is proud to state, "while I'm still 5!" Continue reading