MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BURDORFS!
We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours! I'm putting our Christmas letter on the blog because it didn't make it in the mail. You know, because...life. Anyway, we hope it finds you well and enjoy your family in the days to come!
Seasons
Greetings from the Burdorf Family!
We
hope this letter finds you all enjoying the Christmas season and all
it has to offer. As our kids get older, it seems we just keep
getting busier! Here is a short glimpse at what we have all been up
to in 2016....
AARON
Aaron
continues to be the 7/8th grade social studies teacher at
West Marshall. He also refs volleyball, basketball and umpires
baseball and softball and, because he wasn't busy enough, is coaching
the high school boys golf team. In addition, he coached Brody's
spring baseball team and his basketball team. In what has been a long
process, the end is in sight for Aaron's Master's Degree to be a
principal! He hasn't taken the most direct route to that degree as
family comes first, but he will be back looking for an administration
job during the new year. We still have our part-time photography
business that keeps us both busy and really enjoy doing photography
for the school and families. In his spare time, Aaron enjoys golfing
and watching college sports, although the highlight of 2016 had to be
the Cubs winning the World Series! Go Cubs Go!
JAMIE
This
year was a year of change for me with the twins going to school
full-time. I am still the Editor at our local newspaper and work in
the office a few times a week, while also attending meetings and
games at night as needed. Photography keeps my busy, especially at
the beginning of every sports season. This fall I also got to spend
many hours in the tractor doing some tillage for a friend of ours. I
actually really enjoyed the peace and quiet of the tractor and
thankfully didn't run into any fences. Ha! I coached Jenna's
softball team for county ball this summer, while also coaching her
fall and spring league softball team. I love coaching the game I
love to young girls! I enjoy volunteering at church, with Meals on Wheels and mentoring at the library's after school program. In my spare time, I like to read
(self-proclaimed book nerd), work out (sort of), cook and
bake, be outside with my family and riding my new old-lady bike
I got for my birthday.
JENNA
Jenna
is now ten years old and in the fifth grade. She loves her teacher
this year and is having a successful school year so far. She played
softball in the spring, summer and fall and has really found her
niche pitching. Her county ball team won the county championship, so
that was a cool moment to share with her! Jenna played volleyball
this fall and after a slow start, she really enjoyed it! She is
continually setting her volleyball in the house, which drives her
parents nuts! Basketball practice has been going on for a couple of
months and they will start games in January. Jenna started band this
past summer and is playing *drum roll please*
the trombone! Woo-hoo, Aaron and I were pretty excited because we can
both help her. This girl is ten going on 18 and I hate how fast she
is growing up.
BRODY
Brody is now eight years old and in
third grade. Brody is the most curious, inquisitive and
argumentative child we have. His mind is always working. He asks so
many questions about any subject out there. Brody is kind of like
Aaron's mini-me as they can both sit and analyze sports for days.
Brody got to play his first season of kid pitch baseball. Aaron
coached him in the spring and Brody was like a kid in a candy store
because he got to pitch, catch and play the infield. He is also
wrapping up his basketball season and played baseball this past
summer too. He told me in the van this past weekend, “I just can't
wait until after Christmas so I can start practicing baseball again!”
There's no doubt what his first love it. Brody is also taking piano
lessons, got to be the ball boy for the high school football team
this fall and mostly just likes to be outside and wrestle with his
brothers all the time.
BLAKE
Blake is five now and is in
kindergarten! I was nervous how the transition would go to the “big
school,” but there wasn't a tear shed on the first day of school.
The minor setback we encountered was Blake having to get his tonsils
and adenoids out during the first week of school. He recovered like
an absolute rock star and only missed a day and a half of school.
Plus, no more snoring! Blake celebrated his three year
kidney-versary in November! I can't believe it's been three years.
We are so blessed by the fight and resiliency of this kid and we just
love that kidney of his. One of Blake's biggest accomplishments this
past year was learning to ride a bike without training wheels and
losing his first tooth! Blake and Brody are very similar in their
love of sports. Blake also adores baseball. This mom is just stoked
she got not only a left-handed thrower, but also hitter!
BOWEN
Since Blake is five, you know that
Bowen is as well! Bowen and Blake are in different kindergarten
classes, which is just fine with me. I like that they talk about
their own friends each day and still get to see each other at recess.
Bowen is, by far, our most stubborn child. He sets his mind to
something and you aren't getting that kid to budge. Bowen is Mr.
Independent and enjoys school. Bowen is quite meticulous about
everything. He has become quite interested in putting product in his
hair on a daily basis and it makes me worry about what he will be
like as a teenager! Bowen also enjoys riding his bike and is the
best little helper when it comes to anything around the house. He
also has a huge heart and is our animal lover.
The past year we were blessed with
good health and time together. Those are two things we never take
for granted!
From our family to yours, we wish
you much JOY, LAUGHTER and GOOD HEALTH in 2017!
Love the Burdorfs --- Aaron, Jamie,
Jenna, Brody, Blake and Bowen
