Brooks

My happy Brooksy Boy ...

Come Home Please

Sometimes Luke is out late.

Sometimes we wait patiently for his arrival.

Sometimes we send him incentives! This picture almost didn't happen because I didn't take into consideration how ticklish the process of writing words on their feet would be! It was hilarious trying to get these squirmy gigglers so actually let me do it.

Here are some other sweet pictures...

Daddy and McCabe

I love these MEN .....

Mickey McCabe

McCabe is such a delight to our household. I wish I could constantly video tape him because he is so wonderful. He is adorable. He is sweet. He is silly. He is MINE!

I am so blessed to be Mr. McCabe's Mommy!

And I am going to make sure he is Blessed to be my Son!

Tiny Tiny Baby

Brooks had his 9 month check up.

Develepmentally, he is progressing like crazy and at the top of the charts.
Physically, he is not. :(

My poor little man actually lost weight between his 6 month & 9 month appointment.

Height: 27.8in (29%)
Weight: 15 lbs 2 oz (About 1 lb 10oz lower than the 3rd percentile)

So, we have 1 month to beef up brooksy before a weight check apointment! Yesterday he started rice cereal in addition to his normal nursing schedule. In a few more days he will begin peas and green beans!

Slash Park Video

Leighton is growing more and more brave in the water with the help of a courageous friend, Quinn Rude. And McCabe is still, well, all about throwing things and playing with balls!

Another enjoyable day at the splash park was had by all ... especially by mommy who gets to sit in the water sunning while enjoying my kids!

My Sweet View from the Couch

There is a catchy country song by Lonestar with the lyrics, "Ill never beat the view from my front porch looking in" & "nothing takes my breath away like my front porch looking in." This song came out when I was in high school! A long time ago. I've always liked it .

But never anticipated how much I would resinate with it. Personally, my front porch is small, with a very slanted cement step and with no room for a chair. However, the view from my couch is quiet beautiful. I love a simple evening spent inside where I just get to play with or watch my little babies. I love the view "from my big couch looking upon my kids." It might be boring to you, but this video is so beauitful to me...

I especially love when Leighton tells McCabe that he is proud of him.

Ca-Babe

Lately I realized that McCabe didn't know how to say his name, or even know what his name was.

Let me tell you, this explains A LOT.

Today he made a bracelet with his name on it. Well, actually he didn't really do any of the letter picking out or threading, so he didn't make it at all. In fact he crawled under the picknick table and was eating dirty cheetos most of the time.

But he loved wearing his new bracelet. Later, when I asked him what his name was, he would reply, "Duke!" Obviously Duke is not his name and I don't know why he thinks Duke is his name.

Needless to say, we have spent considerable time working on his name the past few hours. We keep asking him what his name is and what his bracelet says. This is the closest I got to him pronouncing it correctly ...

Ca-Babe

Mom & Babe

A picture of me one-on-one with one of my children, is so sweet to my soul.

4 Full & Fantastic Years

I am so honored to be married to Mr. Luke Hukee. He is a wonderful Man. I am so thankful for his leadership of our family and that he fears God. I love being his wife. I love watching him love our kids.

Happy Anniversary and thanks for a fantastic and full 4 years!
4 Big Accomplishments:

1. Having Leighton

2. Having McCabe

3. Having Brooks

4. Luke becoming a Pastor

4 Things we are most likely to do after putting the kids to bed:

1. Watch the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News

2. Pray for our Kids

3. Talk

4. Sleep

Luke's 4 Least Favorite Questions that I ask Him:

1. What are you thinking right now?

2. How many kids would you ideally like to have?

3. Can we have someone take a picture of us?

4. Can I buy this item from Craigslist?

4 Pictures to Smile At:
1. Our First Photo Together

2. Our Engagement Morning at Sunrise3. Our First Trip to MN 4. Our Wedding Day

4 Stories to Remember:
1. Sleeping. About once a week (I do it less and less now ... you'll see why!) I ask my husband, "What are you thinking about?" And guees what he says? Your wrong! He always always always answers, "Sleep," in the most dull and monotone voice you can image. Seriously. He did it the first couple times in complete honesty, and now he does it just to get a reactionn out of me. He isn't much an emotion communicator! After I continue to ask, he does give his actual answer. In addition, while typing this post, Luke was sitting across from me so I asked him, "Hey Babe, what is your favorite memory or story from the last 4 years of being married?" He looked at me and said with a soft smirk, "Sleeping." In all seriousness, this is just a special joke he and I enjoy. I guess that is how boring flirting is when you are married?!?! And for the record, he isn't depressed, Luke loves his life and consideres it a life of abundance blessing from the Lord.

2. Our 1st Pregnancy Test. We took our first pregnancy test before church one morning. It was posivite - as most of mine are - and we were thrilled. I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. It was excited to know that a baby was inside of me and extra thrilling that Luke and I both new, but no one else did. It is fun to know a secret, especailly one that great!

3. Honeymoon in Fort Meyers Florida. I hardly remember what it is like to fly, pack, eat out, or lay at the beach without kids. I hardly remember what is it like to sleep in. But Luke and I did all of these on our honeymoon and took them all for granted. Little did we know that 9 months later we would welcome home Leighton, then 15 months later McCabe, and another 15 months later, Brooks. Little did we know that these kids, with all the changes they brought, would be more joyful, exciting, precious, and enjoyable than sleeping in, lazy vacations, easy living, and yes even laying out on the beach. We love that our vacations are forever changed but every once and a while, it is fun to reflect on the lazy, carefree, and indulgent days of our sunny honeymoon.

4. Insulating our House 24 Hours Straight. My wonderful & hard working husband bought me a house. I love this house and I love making it our home. After buying it, we realized that it was not insulated. So Luke drilled a whole in between evert post of every single outer wall, rented an insualtion machine (free for 24 hours if you bought a lot of insulation) and went to work. Since it was on;y free for 24 hours, he rounded up a friend or two (who took shifts) and proceeded to insulate our whole house in 23.5 hours to return it just in time! He literally worked 23.5 hours straight nd went a night whithout sleep. So the first time I saw him after this, I asked him how much the machine would have cost if he would have needed to rent it for another day. He answered, "$30". It is a funny story! But it is also a character revealing story. My husband, works long and hard to provide for me and the kids and to physically and spiritually insulate and protect our home.

4 States we have been to together:

1. Minnesota to see my Parents (12 - this is a total guess)

2. Fort Meyers, FL (1) & Marco Island, FL (1)

3. Branson, MO (1) & Osage Beach, MO (2)

4. Omaha, NE (2)

* We have also vacationed in Clear Lake, IA, but since we live in IA it doesn't count!

4 Favorite Date Spots:

1. Cheesecake Factory - where we celebrated this year!

2. Centro

3. On the Border - only because they have free chips and we get gift cards to go there

4. Coffee (anywhere)

Busy 4th of July

Parades, family time, brats, desserts, fireworks, friends and other 4th of July activities are always enjoyable. We also get excited about the acutal Holiday itself; Independance Day! What a wonderful thing to celebrate. There is something so wonderful about your children waving American Flags and personally reflecting upon all the freedoms we enjoy!

Our busy day began with a Parade ...
Candy ...

and more candy!

Happy 9 month Birthday to my Baby Boy Brooks!

After the parade, we enjoyed Lunch Bruce and Julie's House and got to see the new steep birm that will hid the new road that is doing to be built in their backyard!

Then the Boys napped.

Then we went to our churches camp and enjoyed an All American Meal, Baseballs, Sand, and patriotic tatoos. Actually either of my boys would wear one, so luke ended up with a flag and fireworks on this bicep! :)

And lastly, we enjoyed fireworks at Adam and Alaina Emerson's House complete with sparklers, glow necklaces, extra butter popcorn mixed with m&ms, and a memorable fireworks display because Brooks loved it and was bouncing all over the place with joy, but Leighton and McCabe fussed through it with mom and dad's hands placed over their ears. At one point I think McCabe even fell asleep.

Happy 4th of July

Life at Home

Leighton built a moutain. He would get upset if you put it upside down so that it actually looked like a mountain... Leighton was so proud of himself for making this lego zoo and mountain; He was not however, more proud than his momma...

McCabe loves our electrical trains. He watches them go around and around. He loves to watch them come through the tunnel and usually doesn't move until Percy crashed into his eye...

Someone is always taking a break from play to love on Brooks ...

I love my kids. We are busy, but somedays we chose to stay at home and they are not boring. I laugh out loud at the things my kids say, their imaginations, and the way they treat one another. Home is good!