Leland's 11 months old!

...and he's off...well, he took one step (while being lured with a popsicle)!

Leland is a sweet boy that loves his daddy. He has the best belly laugh and shares smiles and kisses with very few. He is babbling more and more. He is down to two bottles a day and eats almost anything you put in front of him. He prefers fruit (fresh blueberries)! He enjoys: going up and down the stairs, playing demolition with anything Kaden has built/worked on, clapping, eating with a fork, waving, blowing kisses, smacking his lips, kicking whomever is sitting next to him at the table, making monkey and dog sounds, and beating his own personal speed record of getting to daddy first!

He is sweet. He saves all his actual kisses for momma and is found lethargic on daddy's shoulders!

Kaden is his best protection from harm. He is such a great older brother. Kaden likes Leland to play horse with him and chase him. They share a "don't shake your head at me" game. I love our boys and we are very blessed with the two (very different) loving boys we have!

After Christmas Tradition

Every December we head to Micah and Jennifer's house. We enjoy our friends. This year the Fry's had a wedding to attend over New Years so we had to cut our time short and just accept that they have "other" friends/family as well. Karl and Micah enjoyed their time playing in the shop and outside in Micah's new shop. Jennifer and I enjoyed being in the house with four kids. They are so much fun together. It was actually nice enough to let them venture outside! That was NICE! Thank you Micah for taking my husband out and working him. Thank you, Ava and Max for sharing your new house and toys with Kaden and Leland! Thank you Jennifer for feeding us and letting us make your house home for a day or two!

Micah and Max
Leland
Max (a fast moving little thing on his knees)
Ava and Kaden eating lunch with the t.v. on. We turn ours off at home. He did well eating at Ava's house....may be we should turn the t.v. on.

Our plan was to head from the Fry's to St. Louis, MO. But, I forgot four bottles and one large package for Christmas. So, plans changed and my husband was flexible and loving about having to go BACK through Paris. Mom was ok with the change in schedule as well. We arrived around 4 pm on Thursday. It was still light and dad had called to ask if we would go feed. WOOHOO! Kaden was excited!
Ready to go to the barn. I had only packed long sleeves for Kaden. It was 75 one day while we were in Texas on our Christmas vacation! Poor Kaden. He never complained.
Karl playing hard head with the goat. Karl won...imagine that!!! He was not super excited about going over the fence and helping the goat, but he did. This was the second goat he had to free!
Most of the kids in this pen were still small enough not to run away. Kaden loved picking them up. The older kids were smarter and just ran like mad from him! Kaden like chasing them...until he got caught and was told to stop!
Leland...in DECEMBER...in a onesie...outside. I miss Texas weather (it is -1 here today as I write this on January 19th). Sweet smile. He just sat and watched all the commotion.
Dad had been on the road Thursday and had some work to do that evening. Kaden was interested in his scanner and wanted to lend a helping hand. Da, being the patient man he is allowed him to even though momma said "no". He listens to other so well. Kaden is a wonderful kid and I can't wait to have a place where we can entertain some animals...learn some good old responsibility! Hate we had to spend more time in the car...loved that we got to have another day with mom and dad (I think we saw them for 4 hours...all of it counts)!

Oh, Christmas Tree! Oh, Christmas Tree!

We headed south for Christmas! It was the year to be in Paris for Christmas, so we met at mom and dad's Wednesday the 22nd! Karl and I get to spend every anniversary together...in the car...headed to Texas! I enjoy the trip home with Karl. It's nice that we get to actually talk when the boys are napping and have some time to catch up on life!

Friday morning Karl, Kaden and I got up early and headed to Frankston. We enjoyed our time there and go to see Grandpa Johnny, Grandma Cindy and Aunt Sherry! Kaden made out like a bandit...Karl and I did as well. We love our Aggie Christmas'!

We left early Friday morning. Kaden is still in his pajamas! It must have been a good day!

Leland helping open gifts!

Kaden showing off his loot!

Aunt Sherry helping Kaden load the marshmallow gun...Thanks, Aunt Sherry!

Fire away...at dad

He also got a couple of cool books.

Leland needed some free time down and out!

We headed back to Paris Friday night to spend some time with Da and Z. Saturday morning the boys woke up and informed us that Santa had been there. He left a dinosaur for each boy (and rings for Leland)! We could hear Braxton reading each person's name and handing out the gifts. It was fun. The boys had been told Santa was not going to stop in Paris (he came to New Home and Urbandale while we were gone)! They were excited that he came to Paris as well.

We got up and opened gifts and then the boys had a paper tube fight. Braxton and Brazos wanted to "get Karl". So, they did. Then we all surrounded them and let Karl "get them". Braxton tried to escape. Kaden doesn't like all of the fighting....unless he's winning! The boys had a blast!

Braxton tried to escape!

Brazos the protector

Brayson found a gentler way to use his weapon

Amy brought swords! The boys put them to use...as soon as they came out of the package.

Karl and Amy

Da had little helpers deliver the gifts to the bigger kdis.

Dad took some sheep skins he had saved and had our school certificates printed on them. They are printed on the skin side (all of our schools from grade school though present schooling). Love it! Super neat! Diplomas used to be printed on sheep skin. So, dad and mom printed our lifelong diplomas on one of our own sheep skins! Super cool! Karl's is on one side and mine on the other.

These magnet tiles are great. Kaden gets them out almost daily.

CHEESE!

Brazos, aka: The Gamer

Andy and Braxton building a lego truck.

Amy gave the Beck boys a roll of duck tape for Christmas...Braxton went straight to work! Great gift, Amy!

Da and Leland

Lyneil found a recipe online of their lemonade and made it for us! It was yummy. She had 6 critics asking her to keep making it until she found the perfect recipe! Thanks Neil!

Thursday, we took mom and dad out to eat for their 40th Wedding Anniversary! 40 YEARS~! Wow! I love that I have such awesome parents! We took them to Fogo De Chao! Wo loved it. It was a nice evening and we all enjoyed the company of the ride over, during the meal and Andy enjoyed a nice quiet ride back home!

Karl and Amy are just weird!

Later Christmas Day we headed over to Papa's and did our gift exchange. The kids joined in this year and we all had a blast. Papa took it all in and acted as if all of the noise and commotion was normal...we all know he was screaming inside...lol He just smiles...

Leland said, "Papa, if your not going to call this chaos, I will!".

Craig's Bunch

Jenean's Bunch

Pam's Bunch

Grands and Greats

Dad's Bunch

Papa with his kids (minus Jenean)

Jennifer, I really feel like Micah is in love with you....don't you think?

Andy and Lyneil

Stormi and Vince

Our 'for hire' photographer!

Stormi made this hat for Papa! I love the face with the hat!

Phillip loving on Leland

Trying to catch Michael with a smile is like trying to catch a sneaky mouse. As soon as the cameras come out, he goes from cheesy smile to solemnness! We love our Uncle Michael!

Sunday we all were together at church! I love it when we all get to be together at church...some of my most favorite times! The Beck's left Sunday before lunch to head home to see what Santa had left for them.

Amy and Jorge stayed around and we traveled with them to BrokenBow. They were shopping for living room furniture! We put in our opinions and took them up on a free ride and more time together!!!!

Mom read to Kaden in the back seat, Amy and kept Leland entertained and Karl kept Jorge company! It was nice!

Tuesday morning we left to meet DaddyMac in Greenville for lunch. Marti, Murrs and Lou!

We enjoyed our lunch and walked away saying the visit was way too short.