We're off to see the Wizard...!

A few months ago the kids and I watched, "The Wizard of Oz," and I had this idea that I would LOVE to have the kids be the main characters in the movie for Halloween.  I mean, I kind of have the perfect genders of children for this. ;)  

Without further ado, I give you the 2013 Burdorf Halloween Edition...

  

**Sidenote:  Please don't pay any attention to my ridiculously messy toy room, ok?  Ok, thanks. **

 

Blake was saying, "ROOOAAARRR!"

  

We ordered Bowen a costume.  The morning of Halloween we realized it wasn't coming and was back-ordered.  I made a mad dash to Hobby Lobby and threw this together in the afternoon.  

 The twins.

 My two oldest.

 

Ding-dong the witch is dead!  Brody, Bowen, Blake and Jenna wish you a very

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Wordless Wednesday - Family Style

One Week!

One week from today is the big day!  I can't believe we are down to single digit days.  It once seemed so far away and now, here it is quickly approaching.

We had a pre-op appointment in Iowa City last Friday.  We met with the urologist who will be doing Blake's bladder augmentation.  Dr. Kieran will be taking a portion of his ureters to make his bladder bigger, aka hold more urine.  Right now he holds an ounce and post-surgery we hope that he will be able to hold about four ounces.  We also talked about the catheter placement.

After that, we met with our nurse, Jen, who took Blake's blood pressure.  We've been having some issues lately with it being high.  The last 7-10 days it has been steadily creeping higher.  High blood pressure is caused by too much fluid on Blake, so we made adjustments to his dialysis prescription and added a few extra cycles.  Between that and all the prayers (thank you friends!!), it's working.  Just tonight his bp was 108/60! 

I also wanted to let you know that our good friend, Cathy Conkin, is putting together a "prayer burst" for our family and Steph's family next Tuesday (the 5th) at 7:00 AM.  If you would, we would love it if you would say a prayer for all involved at that time. :)

Birthday and Baptism Weekend

We had a full, fun weekend in Mankato last weekend!  Our nephew Maddox turned four, our nephew McCoy got baptized, plus it was the weekend of the Mankato Marathon. 

 We got to Mankato Friday night and the cousins were in heaven!  They stayed busy playing, playing and playing some more.

 What was cool about this weekend was it was the first time in four years that EVERYBODY from both sides made it to the birthday weekend.  My mom and Jenna went to the mall and got Jenna's ears pierced Saturday.  Super excited Jenna!!

 Blake, Bowen and Carter.  A meeting of the minds right there. ;)

 This pretty much sums up the weekend - John Deere themed party!  Maddox got enough John Deere stuff to last him awhile. 

 

We took some group photos that I will post later.  Mandy thought she was SOOOO funny in this picture. ;)  She thinks she's the favorite daughter-in-law or something!

 

Cody spotted a dog toy on the roof, so Jenna was handy and her uncles lifted her up to get it.  

 

 After the party on Saturday afternoon, McCoy's baptism was Saturday night.  The four cute cousins listening to the children's sermon. 

 McCoy did so good and didn't even cry.  He celebrated his three month birthday recently and is such a doll - love him!

 Sunday morning we got up early to make signs for the Mankato Marathon runners.  Our good friends Scott and Lisa Nelsen were running the half marathon. 

Brody's sign: SMILE if you're aren't wearing underwear!

 Jenna's sign: Touch Here (bullseye) for special running power!  You would be shocked at how many people touched her sign, talked to her, laughed, played along, said they needed some of that (we were at mile 10).  Jenna soaked it in and stood out there in the cold with her sign even after the boys went and sat in the van. 

 After Scott and Lisa passed us, they were looping through a park, so I walked across the park to see them again at mile 12.  I was sad I wasn't running in Mankato, but I have to say that it was fun cheering on the runners!  I had a sign that said:  Run like someone called you a jogger.  I got a lot of compliments and laughs on that.  I am so proud of Scott and Lisa, they did awesome!

 It was such a good weekend and nice to have one final bit of extended family time before Blake's transplant, which is two weeks from today!! AHHHH!!!

Piano

So, we have a piano now.  It's awesome.  When my dad retired last year and moved he had two.  One has been sitting in his garage since last May and he kept bugging me about taking it.  Aaron didn't want any part of it.

 Last year, Jenna started piano lessons.  This year, Brody did as well.  That was the selling point I think to Aaron.  BOTH kids taking piano and it being ridiculous that they had to practice on an electronic keyboard.  It's so not the same!

 We love it.  All six of us.  It's right off the living room, so it's easily accessed by the entire family.  Jenna and Brody are good about practicing.  The twins are interested.  I like to attempt to hammer something out.  Even Aaron plays. 

 I find it's a good stress reliever.  I quit taking piano far too early.  One of life's regrets, stopping piano lessons.  UGH.  It is a life long skill, but the good news is that I can still get better, right?!

 We were unsure about if Brody was ready for piano since he has the attention span of a five year old boy.  However, we have been so pleasantly surprised.  He's really into piano and Kara (the piano teacher) assures me weekly that he's doing great!

 You know what I found out about this guy that I married?  He can play by ear.  Not like, two-handed or anything, but he plays the melody by ear.  It's actually sort of impressive. ;)

 And Mr. Blake here.  The kid is all about music.  Doesn't he look like a little maestro right there?  During halftime of football games while the other kids are running around he is completely tuned in to the band.  That makes me happy.  I've even thought about asking about music therapy while Blake is in the hospital for his transplant. 

 

I asked my dad to bring me up this book of gospel/church songs for me to "borrow," when he brought the piano.  Look what song I found today!  This is one of my favorites.  I have very fond memories of singing this for church choir back in Armstrong.  

That made me think about my dad, Mr. V, George and Bernie singing men's numbers in church, which made me sort of sad that I'll never get to hear them again.  That's one of those things I wish I could have bottled and anytime I wanted to listen, I could. :)

 

Anyway, happy thoughts.  We have a piano (finally!).  And we like it.  We like it a whole lot. :)

It was a good one.

Do you ever have those weekends where you just think, that was a really, really good weekend?  We had one of those last weekend.  I think it was due to the fact that the weather was insanely gorgeous and we spent a huge chunk of our time outside.  Perfect.

Friday night we went to the Fall Festival uptown.  The kids had a blast.  A hay rack ride.  Free caramel apples.  A bounce house.  Face painting.  They loved it.  We capped off the night with a West Marshall win on the football field!

 

As he has in the past, Aaron ran the grain cart for our friend, Jay, on Saturday.  About mid-morning, I hauled all the kids out and we split up and had kiddos both in the combine and the grain cart.  We even had lunch in the field, which is always fun for the kids.  

Can I also tell you that Jay let (pretty much made) me drive the combine?!  I did maybe like 3/4 of a pass and I was cussing like a sailor.  I do that when I'm nervous.  All I could think about was messing up and tons of corn going all over.  AHH!!  Anyway, not my finest moment, but I think I did ok.  And, I can say I drove a combine now! ;)

 

 When we got done with lunch we headed home because I had a family photo shoot in the afternoon.  Luckily, the family didn't have a problem with me hauling the kids to their place with me.  I think we got some good shots.  They had a tire swing and Jenna and Brody didn't want to leave!

 Since we had already been in the field and outside at the photo shoot, I decided we'd head just outside of town to get our pumpkins. 

 The people that own it are the BEST.  Seriously.  They are so good and patient with the kids.  They have animals and they let them check out all of them, answered their questions and let them help feed them.  Blake and Bowen were willing the sheep and horses to come closer (below)...

 Brody dropped the apple in to the chickens and ducks and then decided that was a bad idea and tried to get it back out.  I'm quite certain if we had chickens Brody would take care of them all by himself.  He was all about those chickens.

 Blake is so leery of unknown things.  However, he loves those animals.  He doesn't have any fear.  Maybe it's because they are on his level?!  I'm not sure, but I like what I see. 

 And Mr. Bowen.  He is all about the cats.  Blake was holding a small orange kitten that escaped, so they caught this much bigger cat that Bowen declared, "HEAVY!"

 Sunday brought more time in the tractor for Aaron and the two oldest.  I took the twins to Ames for groceries.  That was exhausting!  Have I told you they refuse to ride in the cart.  It's not the funnest of times these days. 

I captured this photo of Bowen running through the leaves as the sun was starting to set. 

 

Story time and cuddles to end our weekend.  My favorite. 

I hope you all are having a great week!