Second Season Baseball

It is so fun to play a baseball season with your friends.  Th younger siblings played up with the older siblings and we had a blast in some very hot weather.  

Leighton's Baseball Team

Leighton's Baseball Team for the first season was wonderful.  We had a fantastic coach.  He was knowledgable and very kind.  He even treated the kiddos and their families to ice cream after our last game.  I was very impressed by that!  I guess I am pretty easy to please over here!  It is such a good reminder of how far generosity can go.  

Leighton's First Baseball Season

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

Father's Day

Luke is a wonderful Father.

Luke adores the kids and the kids adore him. Luke cuddles the kids and the kids cuddle him. Luke wrestles the kids and the kids wrestle him. Luke talks about the kids and the kids talk about him. Luke hugs and kisses the kids and the kids hug and kiss him.

I am so glad the boys have Luke as their dad.

This last week, Luke logged a lot of hours playing baseball with the boys outside. Leighton and McCabe love hitting off the tee. Lately, they have both mastered batting without a tee as well. They are both really good. Luke also bought them baseball gloves. They love using them, though they aren't very good at catching the ball, and they insist on wearing their Minnesota Twins hats simultaneously. The dudes, showing off their muscles ...
All the boys enjoy spending time with Luke and value each and every daddy moment.

Daddy
Thanks for reading to me. Thanks for playing outside so much with me. Thanks for my new baseball glove and for playing sports with me. Thanks for all the kisses and hugs. Thanks for all of your enduring prayers for my life and for praying with me every night. You are a great Dad.
Love,
LeightonDaddy
I like that you share your water bottle (or let me steal drinks when you aren't looking) with me. I like that you wrestle me. I like that you blow on my tummy. I like that occassionally you choose to walk around the back of church with me so I don't have to go into the nursery. I like playing sports with you. I just like being around you. Thanks for hugging and kissing me a lot.
Love,
McCabeDaddy
I like walking around with you in the back of church until I fall asleep on you. I llike smiling at you and I really like when you smile back at me. You are a great daddy.
Love,
Brooks

Luke

I am constantly amazed and challenged by you. Thanks for loving the Lord, loving me, and loving our kids. Happy Fathers Day Luke.

Love,

Christy

Leighton & Daddy Playing Baseball

Leighton is a coordinated and athletic boy. I am very thankful for our large backyard, sport toys and a daddy to chase/catch all the balls!

The last few days have been beautful. The humidity went away and a light breeze came. We have been outside sooooo much, playing, eating lunch, and I even enjoyed a hot Caribou Vanilla Latte while out there! We love our backyard.

Helping Daddy Clean the Car

Leighton is a great helper. I'm sure Luke wouldn't have considered it helping since Leighton's shoes were dirty, but he really likes to be involved in helping whenever he can.Hair Cut - By Mommy

Leighton's hair grows fast, and when its long it gets very sweaty outside in the humidity. I have been asking him the past couple of days if he wants me to cut his hair. Yesterday Leighton started playing with his hair and then looked at me and said, "Leighton cut hair by self?" I didn't let him cut him by himself, but I did go in and get the shears to cut it myself. This was my 3rd attempt at cutting his hair and it was successful. I was so proud of it! Leighton liked it too! Much cooler!

Before ...

After ...This is what Leighton does when you ask him to smile! A fresh hair cut and a cute smile ...

Precious McCabe Updates

McCabe is such a sweet boy. He loves to put hige walnuts in his mouth and eat dirt, so he spends a lot of our outdoor time strapped into the wagon and getting wagon rides around the yard by myself and his big brother. You will see plenty of these in the videos posted below.

McCabe also had his year check up! The Dr said he had GREAT reflexes. It is amazing the things that make you proud as a parent. My baby's knee and foot reflexes astonished the doctor! He was 19 pounds, 15 ounces! This puts him in the 10th percentile for weight (officially a peanut!), and he was 65th percentile for height. Lots of shots and a cookie later, we were on our way home with a healthy boy.

Bathing Babies

McCabe got new bath toys for his birthday. These are such a hit. Leighton loves all water animals and loves that these swim and jump in the tub with him. McCabe loves to bite them and absolutely LOVES when one is stuck to his bald head. Intended for sticking to the wall, these toys work on McCabe's head too. He giggles everytime, putting one back up there when it falls down.

Baseball

Leighton and McCabe also like their new tee and baseball bat. Leighton is actually really good. He prefers it when Luke hits the plastic balls really high in the trees. Both plastic baseballs are badly dented, but still seem work well enough!

Playing with Quinn

Quinn came over Monday morning so Meg could take the twins in for their 9 month check up. They played baseball, played in the kid house, and even make a track around the yard (an exact track involving one hill, around the bird bath and in between the trees) to chase each other. The chasing consisted on Leighton in his Big Wheel/Motercyle and Quinn and McCabe followig close behind in the wagon, pulled my none other then myself! Lots of fun! Many Laps!

Here are two videos of the morning!

Great Midwife/Doctor Story

This morning I had a midwife appointment for the new boy! I was all set to go and Luke was going to stay home with the boys. Leighton got the saddest look on his face. He was fitting tears and was so hurt that he couldn't come to the check up with me. He asked very nicely if he could come to the doctor too. So Leighton came along with me to the appointment. I wasn't sure why he wanted to come when the alternative was playing at home with daddy and McCabe. As soon as we got into the car, he said, "Mommy feel better, Leighton go to the Doctor, get cookies, then come home to play with daddy and Cabe." You see, at Leighton's doctor check ups, they give him two small little cookies once he is done with his appointment. He apparently has a good memory and has attached cookies to the doctor which I've taken note of for future doctor visits, though I try really really hard to never bribe! I think he just wanted to come with Mommy so that he could get cookies. Or he wanted to come with me because he thought I wasn't feeling well and needed the doctor to make me feel better. Perhaps, he was along for support. Perhaps, he wanted me to get cookies. I know I sure wanted me to get cookies. Regargless of why he wanted to come, I thoroughly enjoyed one on one time with him. It is somewhat rare to have an outting with just one kid but I got to do it twice today! Once for my midwife appointment with Leighton and once for McCabe's one year checkup.

It is a sweet life that I live. I am so blessed! And although most of the pictures and stories are of the babies, my wonderful husband is a big reason when I am blessed too!