Marvelous McCabe's 2nd Birthday

My McCabe turned 2!

McCabe has been a delight to our lives for 2 years. McCabe's uniquely precious personality and talents have blessed our lives and brought much joy to our family. Here are some of our favorite memories, stores and qualities of our Marvelous McCabe:

Companion
McCabe loves people. He doesn't enjoy his time without a companion to share his adventures with. He especially loves being Brooks' companion. McCabe spends half of his free time throwing toys or balls and the other half of his free time playing with Brooks. He loves kissing Brooks, wrestling with Brooks, playing Peek-a-Boo with Brooks, laying on the floor with Brooks and just being around him in general. He tries to be Leighton's companion too. A couple nights ago, Leighton came out of his room to inform us that McCabe had joined Leighton in his bed. He just wanted to cuddle with Leighton. He has regularily come into our bedroom to try to sleep with us. He just loves being around people.

Talkative
McCabe has a great vocabulary for his age. He loves to communicate. And, yes, his favorite word is still 'Cookie'.


Playful
McCabe loves to play. He isn't super interested in toys, but I would still describe him as playful. He loves to giggle and laugh and is always ready to have fun. He loves to play with Luke: wrestling, jumping on him, head butting him, or trying to blow on his tummy.

Silly
McCabe enjoys running around in circles, stumbling around, jumping up into the air, and wrestling his blanket. But what makes this Silly, and not just childish, is that before the action, He will say, "Mommy watch this ..." and then he proceeds to do his silly gesture, giggle or jump.


Wild
I'm not quite sure if wild, eager, or distracted is the best way to describe him. It is so hard to know when he is being disobedient because he has a very short attention span. He could be on his way to put a toy away and get distracted by Brooks, a pillow, or anything else enroute. He is so excited about new things that catch his attention and this causes him to be overly eager, all over the place, and busy with nothing. This also makes him easily bored. After 10 minutes of ANY activity, he resorts to throwing that actitivity. And when I make him stop throwing, he resorts to wildly running around in circles or climbing on everything and jumping off. He is hard to keep up with.


I am so glad that I have the privilege to run through these sweet memories over and over again in my head and I smile everytime I do. I am honored that God has entrust Luke and I with this precious life. I am thankful for everything about him. I am excited to see his talents and personalilty develop. And I am humbled that we have the opportunity to raise him and train him so that he can spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally thrive.


I love by baby McCaby so much. Happy Birthday to my talkative, playful, silly, and wild companion. I am delighted that you are my son.


1st Party of the Weekend:

Grandma and Grandpa Ludemann were in Des Moines for McCabe's Birthday. My parents are dear to me and my kids are dear to me so I appreciate watching them interact and sharing them with each other.


McCabe loved his new gifts. But of all the new toys, he spent the most time playing with and the most giggles on the balloons.



Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Ludemann.

Here are some spectators enjoying watching Marvelous McCabe. Ah-ha ... finally a ball under all that wrapping paper...

I asked Leighton to tell McCabe, "Happy Birthday." During Leighton's contemplaive and long pause, McCabe can running over and told Leighton, "Happy Birthday." Oops. Then Leighton corrected McCabe, wished him a Happy Birthday and hugged McCabe. Brooks giving McCabe a happy birthday squeeze.

Grandma spending time reading books to the boys.

2nd Party of the Weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Hukee's House:

My Marvelous McCabe enjoying his second birthday party...

Daddy and Aunt Jenna helpng McCabe blow out his huge candles. I think Leighton added an extra 3 candles for himself! :)

I trust that these birthday parties, among the other 364 impressionable days of the year, will build memory upon memory of just how delightful, wonderful, unique, and special our Marvelous McCabe is. We continue to pray that McCabe would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is loved by not only us, and family, but by God as well.

Happy Birthday my Marvelous McCabe.

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

Jeremy & Ashlyn

Congrats Jeremy & Ashlyn Oberg

This Friday was as extra special day; Our good friends Jeremy & Ashlyn got married!

Here is a top 10 chonological list of the events and emotions that made this day a day of memories, tears, joy and thanksgiving:

10. Nails.
Vain, I know! On Tuesday, all the girls in the wedding got manicures and pedicures and I loved being pampered and spending time with these ladies. It made me giddy!

9. Leaving My Kids.
I do not like watching my kids watch me leave the house. I always wonder what is going threw their minds.

8. Spending the Day with the Girls.
In addition to loading up on coffee and cookies and getting pretty, this day together provided time to anticipate the nuptuals to come and reminisce about how these two love birds came to know the Lord and came to know one another. I spent a lot of time just looking at Ashlyn and being so proud of the woman she is.

7. Quiet Times
I was touched by how so many people arrived having already done their quiet time or prayed. In addition, I witnessed many of the bridesmaides, attendents and even hair ladies reading their bible during the day. Ashlyn has really chosen to surround herself with God-fearing women and it was so fitting to have the Lord remaing the priority, even on a busy edding day!

6. Pre-Wedding Prayer.
Again, it was encouraging to have this day bathed in prayer to the Lord, recognizing, adoring and praising his great work in Ashlyn and Jeremy's lives.

5. Nerves and Respect for My Husband: The Officient.
My wonderful Husband Luke was the Officient. He did a great job and I knew he would do a great job, but it was his frist one, so of course I had some nervous emotions, just like I do everytime he speaks. In addition to nerves, I had the upmost respect for him. I can't think of a better man to marry anyone because he is a remarkable husband and God-fearing servant..

4. The Curtain Opening for Ashlyn to Walk Down the Isle.
This is always a powerful moment, especially when you really really really love the bride. ;) But this was even more emotional than usual because her dads looked so proud to be giving her away. This was also the first time all day when all my emotions caught up to me. In this moment I was so filled with Joy for Ashlyn thinking about the past, present and future. It has been so exciting and humbling to watch Ashlyn come to Faith in Christ, mature in her walk with the Lord, wait with patience and purity for Jeremy, and reap blessings from her obedience. I was also reminded of just how much she has blessed my life and for that I am truely thankful. I was so honored to stand up next to her on that stage. I love you Ashlyn Oberg.

3. Speeches/Dances
The speeches were wonderful and were such a testimony to Ashlyn. Her Grandpa left the room weaping. And the Dances ... oh boy do I love Father-Daughter relationships. They are so sweet to me. The dances were emotional to say the least. McKenna, sitting one seat away from me, must have thought so too because she exploded with tears ... literally. The tears from the wedding party really started flowing ...

2. Slideshow
And then came the slideshow. After recovering from tears of joy, came tears of laughter. What could be better than sweet pictures sarcastically put to the passionate Enrique Iglesias song, HERO.

1. Kid-lessness.
You may think this one, titled 'kid-lessness,' would fall into the joyful category or the relief category; You'd be dead wrong. I hate being away from my kids. I was delighted and honored to spend the day praising Ashlyn and preparing with Ashlyn, but I missed my kids so deeply. My parents came to babysit and I required that they send frequent photo updates to me. In the morning, these picture updates caused me to smile and thank God that they were at home, safe, and enjoying Grandparent time. By evening, these photo updates caused tears as my little ones consumed my thoughts. To miss one night of putting my precious babies to sleep was unbarable for me, so Luke and I rushed home by 10:45, embrassed our blankets and books barried little tikes, and tucked them in snuggly to bed.

What an emotional and joyfulled day. What a blessed life! Thank you God!

Ashlyn & Jeremy, we pray that your love for Christ would grow, that your love for one another would grow, that you would increase in fruitfulness and that God would abundatly bless your lives. We love you.

Splash Park Fun

The splash park is sure to be a lot of fun. With 2 playground areas, 1 splash park, snacks, lunches, balls, toys and good friends, the splash is bound to be a wonderful experience that creates memories, allows for mommy fellowship, and wears out everyone involved.

Meg, Myla, Carla, Rex, (Hidden Kaisa) Harper, Leighton, Quinn, Harrison, Eileen, and McCabe enjoying snack time while we waited to get to go back into the water. Jenny, Owen, Bethany, Isaiah, Malachi, Autumn, Oliver, Dawson, Bianca, Levi, & Celia also enjoyed the splash park with us. I think it is about time for our church to get our own splash park. And I think that this Church Splash Park should have baby swings at the edge of the water, a fence around the perimeter for safety, a beach ball for everykid, heated water, and a free Diet Cherry Coke Vending Machine! I think this could be a great ministry and outreach tool. Seriously!

My sweet sweet Brooks ...

This year, Leighton is getting more brave in the water. He is still cautious and doesn't spend much time in the deeper areas, but he still loves the splash park.

McCabe's wild spirit did not disappoint. He was ALL over the place and of course found balls to throw, hit, kick, splash with, catch, squeeze, suck on, and carry around. But when he has two balls at once, and I asked him to share, he was so quick to share it. What a handsome and delightful, wild man!

Quinn, Leighton, McCabe, & Harrison