Happy Birthday, Madalyne!

I'm just finally getting these photos up....Madalyne turned 14 on October 23rd and we had a fun breakfast birthday party to celebrate. We made coffeecake, smoothies, coffee and tea and played fun games all morning. Here's a peek into the fun:


Playing "Move It".


Musical Chairs

Team #1 of "Dress a Party Guest in Toilet Paper".

Team #2 of "Dress a Party Guest in Toilet Paper".

I Fell in Love with a Schwinn

This is "the green bike that I ride to the grocery store." Not only is it adorable, it's terribly practical. I can be green, do my errands and feel the wind in my hair---all while getting some exercise.

Back to Portland

Yes, I've moved again. :O
And yes, I'm tired of re-stacking my mattresses on a new floor every several months. : /
And yes, I know that' s what young people do. : ?

But..... I had some great help. They work for homemade omelettes, too! :)

A Little Sparkle For My Day

I finally took the plunge a few months ago and got my nose pierced. I love having a discreet little sparkle on the right side of my face! :D It was rather uncomfortable while healing, but now it only hurts if I accidentally bang it---which for clumsy me is a daily occurence. Sigh.



I've heard that it's almost the most unpleasant thing in the world to have a nose ring and a sinus infection at the same time...SO: I've started figuring in extra multi-vitamins into my monthly budget.


It's a great incentive to stay healthy! Everyone should get one......

Miriam's Blog

I just was doing a bit of reading on my sister Miriam's Blog and wanted to encourage everyone to check it out! She's a great writer and has some very inspiring thoughts, as well as some recent pictures of the kids.

http://masterfulmusingsandmeditations.blogspot.com/

The Little Pit That Could

"Mmm."

"Good guacamole!"

"Yeah, this is really good."

"Maggie, this is really.......Maggie?" They called into the kitchen, surprised that the guacamole monster herself was not loading chips as fast as everyone else.

Maggie was, in fact, carefully inserting toothpicks into the sides of the avocado pit and balancing it over a cup of water.

"What are you doing?"

"One man's trash is another man's treasure--or in this case, agricultural experiment." Maggie said, confidently.

They called her crazy and jeered at the little avocado pit. They told her to leave the growing of fruits and vegetables to farmers and people who belonged in overalls. They told her it couldn't be done.

But it could. And it was. And in 20 years I will have my own avocados.

Moving

Moving to Troutdale a few weeks ago was a breeze with my awesome friends. They even took lovely care of my houseplants. And yes, I realize this picture is a bit cheezy (okay, maybe a lot cheezy) and Brian IS kissing the Jade plant.....but they were super helpful and it was 2am.

More Beach

Some Beach Days....

Family Beach Trip. Miriam's been getting a bit trendy with the shades these days....
Uncle and Nephew in the same stroller?
Malachi getting brave with the crabs...
Handsomeness.

The Site, at Long Last

My new website is finally up! Enjoy.

www.maggiebogart.com

A Tribute to Great-Grandma

My new business name. I opted to take my Great-Grandma Verna Bogart's name in honor of the legacy she left me. Years ago Grandma Kathy gave me a box of Grandma Verna's old sewing stuff and I've loved musing through the patterns and lesson plans and things she had used in her sewing/design days. Dad has often remarked that I must "get it from her", and I thought it would be appropriate to include her name in my endeavors.


Thanks Grandma.

A new place to call home....

Three weeks at my new address and I'm loving it. My days are full---mostly of sewing. I'm working full-time (plus some) at David's Bridal, while feeling out the outlets for my own personal sewing. I'm still learning the ins and outs of the non-Hubbardish land, and soon hope to launch some Maggie Bogart madness!

It's been great fun outfitting my new sewing room. Starting from scratch is a treat, and the organizing and sorting has kept me up til the wee hours many a night, as well as "forcing" me to frequent little second-hand shops, craigslist and ikea to hunt down unique treasures. I'm in love with the result.

I've also put my hand to gardening a bit. (not anywhere near mom's fabulous example, sadly) The tomato crisis these days upped my plot to three tomato plants, as well as some herbs and, of course, beloved jalapenos. I've also become quite obsessive about houseplants.

Photos to follow.

The Truth of It

Yes, for as well-pressed and equally positive in mood and disposition as we all appear in the professional portraits, the truth of our family expressed in these photos.

I don't think I've ever really experienced "tripping over eachother" until the last reunion with 26 people staying in the same house.

Malachi removing warning signs.

Claire playing dress-up.

Cooing and being silly for the babies.

The Mixup

I recently cut bangs, with quite a reaction from my family--they thought I was Melody. I guessed that I could understand that, since we both have bangs now.... That "guessing" was until Melody visited last weekend. We took one look at eachother and both remarked that we felt like we were looking at ourselves. It was a weird feeling.

Kerchers and Co.

The first Kercher family reunion in about 2 1/2 years took place a few weekends ago. Mandi, Phil and their kids made the 23 hour drive over from Minot, ND for a 3 week visit and Melody, Mollie, Matt and their families drove over from Bend for a weekend filled with noise, playing children, catching up, photo shooting, and being Kerchers.

A good looking bunch, if I do say so myself.

Dad and Mom with their 10.

The M&M's

The sisters. I can't believe we're all the same height and shoe size now....! What happened to all the Kercher babies?!

How does he do it?

Malachi: the comedian. The position of Kercher Comedian is always being competed for--by Mark--by Miriam--even Maggie, at times. But Malachi has long held this title, basically since he started talking.

Malachi: "Maggie, here! Grink some of mine Hot Tea Chocolate."
Maggie: "I can't, Malachi. I'm allergic."
Malachi: "Oh."
Maggie: "Are you allergic?"
Malachi: (indignantly) "NO! I'm a boy."
Later....
Maggie and Malachi are playing dolls---
Madalyne: "Oh, are you being babies?"
Malachi: "No, I'm a boy, those are babies, and Maggie is a 'lergic.'"

I guess I should change my gender registration in the State of Oregon from "Female" to "Lergic."

Malachi: the Policeman--

Miriam: "Oh man, I just watched a stupid movie...."
Malachi: "Miriam, don't say dat word! Dat's a bad word 'a say!"

In church the one giving the sermon used the forbidden word....

Preacher: "It is stupid for us to not be seeking the Lord...."
Malachi: (quite loudly) "Ah! Mom! He said a bad word!"

I guess someone told him not to use that kind of language. Recently Mom took all the kids to Bend to see Melody's new baby, leaving Dad and I home alone. Soon after they left I called mom to gloat that I'd be able to say "stupid" as much as I wanted in the next few days. The simple pleasures in life.....

The Feel Good Cooking Show

My good friend Bethany and I had a free evening, a kitchen, a camera, and an appetite--this is what ensued.

Many thanks to Zach who made the publishing of this video possible.

The Best Spanish Christmas Pageant Ever

My Spanish class put on a Christmas Play this year.
They wrote the script themselves!

Everyone agrees that in our Spanish Class we have more fun than should be allowed in a learning establishment. To establish some semblance of order, I demand my 11 students to call me "Mrs. Maggie". It works well.

They are learning very well. The class is conversational in style, meaning I teach the class entirely in Spanish, and the students learn by listening and participating in various activities such as playing games, role playing, and creating stories together. And of course, putting on Christmas Pageants.

Malachi Grows Up

I finally convinced him to stop being jealous of Madalyne's dolls and be thankful for his spacious crib upstairs. I guess he knows how I felt at 7 when I grew out of my favorite "jellies"(plastic sparkly sandals, in case anyone doesn't remember that delightful footwear....).

Family Bowling in Molalla

So, we went bowling. In Molalla. I can't say that the facilites were the classiest around, but the service was, shall we say, very personal. :) We had a great time. Malachi had never been to a bowling alley before and was fascinated by the ball chute.

A little protective...

Papa K, starting us off

Miriam and Madalyne.....such form.....

Mark's great form....

And, Mark's not-so-great form....

This ISN'T the time she fell onto the lane.

Happy about his strike....Good lookin' fam.....Yeah.......

And more yeah......

I don't think anyone ever contemplates their facial expressions when they're forcefully rolling a heavy ball down a polished lane in hopes of causing a few plastic pins to teeter....it's priceless.

I just thought this would be a great way to end.