Time in Lamesa

While going through my pictures I have realized that I am going to have to do at least two posts from Lamesa. So here is the first one.

We left Des Moines on Friday evening and spent the night in Oklahoma City for a half way point on our way to Lamesa, we finished out journey on Saturday when we arrived in Lamesa around 5:30 (we did stop in Lubbock for a couple of hours to see family).

Karson and Braxton walking to the playground in Lamesa. The weather was awesome (in the 80's) the first 3 days we were there. My boys enjoyed every minute of it.
Here is a picture of the cousins taking a bath. They can really make a mess if you let them!!
Andy and Cheryl and the boys on the bulldozer. All the farm equipment was really exciting to Braxton.
Here is an attempt to get a picture of the boys in the cotton. There is a lot of cotton this year in the western side of the state. The farmers are all saying thanks for God for this blessing!
Grandma Bell, Karson and Braxton playing with the trains. They all love the trains.
These last few shots are ones that my son took. Way to go Braxton. Papaw will love this one!
MeMe on the couch.
Cheryl smiling for the camera
Korbin climbing on the red chair
Braxton got to share some of his breathing treatment with cousin Karson. Karson did real well.
I have more pictures to share soon. We sure had a good time in Lamesa and we will be ready to see our cousins again real soon.

We're Back

We are finally back from our trip to Texas. After 10 days, 2000+ miles, and lots of hugs and lovin we are back here in Iowa. We are patiently waiting the arrival of our new little cousin. Only time will tell how much longer Andrea is going to hold out. I have a lot to post about and stories to tell but I just did not know where to start. So here is a random collection of our trip. I am going to do my best to get all my updates done in the next week or so so keep checking back in with us.

A picture of some of the Cagle cousins at the park the day before Thanksgiving
Zach enjoying a Braum's hamburger
Da reading to Braxton
Gay and Mama Z saying cheese
Dad with the boys on Turkey Day
Four generations of Beck's
Braxton took this one!
Beck cousins
PaPaw walking across the street to get the mail with the boys
The boys getting ready to go down the slide

My sweet little boys!

The boys were in the kitchen and I thought I would get a quick picture. Easy, Right? You tell me. Here are the first three takes - I gave up after this. I love them all very much. I know these moments will be gone soon and I am doing my best to enjoy every last minute of them.

Mom - can you see my tongue?
mom: Braxton put your tongue in your mouth

Brazos: Braxton - can you see my tongue?

Braxton: Dad can you see my tongue?

Brazos: Braxton can you see my tongue?

Dad: I see your tongue Braxton.

Dad and Brazos playing with Braxton's new excavator. This toy has been great and we are finally able to share it. Dad has enjoyed playing with it as well.
Braxton chilling in the chair after a long day!
One of the only decent pictures I got of the boys.

Leaves, Leaves Everywhere

Saturday was a pretty day outside. The tree in the back has shed all of its leaves in the last two weeks. While I was out running some around dad took the boys out back and racked the leaves. They made a large pile and put the slide in the pile. Thanks dad for taking the pictures. Thanks for playing with the kids and being such a loving husband and father.

Braxton giving Brazos a shower in the leaves.
Braxton down the slide head first - Brazos to the rescue!!
Here we go again - Brazos showing his approval
Sweet little boy in the leaves
Can you see me now!

18 months

It is so hard to believe but my little Brazos is 18 months old. We had our 18 month well check on Tuesday and it has taken me this long to get an update posted. The appointment went well he weighed in at 22 lbs (15%) and was 33 inches long (72%). He is really growing. He got the last two shots we needed for vaccination and an additional one for the flu shot. He was a trooper, he recovered quickly from the whole ordeal.

Brazos showing off his glasses that were a party favor at our friends birthday party.
Ridding our tractor outside while there is still some pretty days left
Trying to pose for a picture - he closed his eyes too fast.

I have so much more to say about this sweet little boy but it will have to wait for another day. I need to do my monthly post about the two boys and what they are doing now. I will try to do that post this week.

My son the photographer

Braxton has been very interested in taking pictures lately. Every time I get my camera out he wants to take some pictures. While it makes me very nervous to let him hold it he is so proud when he takes pictures. Here are some of his latest work.

Andrea at trunk or treat
Mom trying to make sure the camera does not fall
Uncle Karl being uncle Karl
Not pictures is dad who was in Chicago during the last photo shoot. We will try to get one of him soon.

Our first dentist appointment

Well growing up going to a dentist that we knew and that knew us was really great and a blessing that we most defintally took for granted. Braxton had his first visit at the dentist this week. While it was not the most horrible thing that he has ever gone through it was most defintaly something that he has not forgotten. He did well and has still been talking about it but at the same time he does not want to go back today.

Here are a few pictures from our visit. Our normal hygentist was out and we had this sub. She was good but Mindy is really good. So I will know next time to make sure that Mindy is there.

Here is the hygentisit showing Braxton all the tools and how they work. I only wish I could have been on the other side to show you his face. He was not too sure about it all.

Braxton in the chair waiting to see what is going to happen. One really good thing is that they have TV's in every room so Braxton got to watch Thomas the train while working on his teeth - that was a HUGE help!
Watching Thomas with concern on his face!
He face really says a lot in these pictures. He was watching but just look at his eyebrows!
She is brushing his teeth with grape and he was not very happy with it all.
Can you see the tears?
Closing his mouth. He was finished before she was. We did get his mouth opened again and got him calmed down quite a bit.
The best part for going to the dentist - the toys!!! He as so excited to be done.
All in all it was a good visit. No cavities to be found. We will get to repeat again in 6 months. Way to go big boy~

Fun times with a monkey and a frog

We have had a lot of fun this week. The boys got three opportunities to get dressed up and go trick-or-treating. Braxton was not into the process at all. I had to make the kid put on his costume - Brazos on the other hand was all about the costume and the fun. Here are my sweet frog and monkey.

Our first stop was Night Eyes at the Zoo. It was a lot of fun, below was the boys favorite part - the tractors! The had a blast riding around in circles.
Here is the second chance to get dressed up. This was Beggars Night in our neighborhood. Beggars night is the day before Halloween - that is when they T-O-T up here. Below is Brazos in front of the house.
Here we are all ready to go. Braxton was still not excited. He did okay. He did not get candy at the first three houses because he could not say Thank You so we made him put it back. It did not take long to get the process figured out then he was on the ball. Brazos loved every minute of it. He got the process down pretty quickly and loved it.
Here is the only decent picture of got of Braxton in his costume by himself. This was our last stop - Trunk-or-treat at the church building. This was the most fun for him because his friends were there and all dressed up as well. He seemed to enjoy himself.
Over all we had a great Halloween season. I will share more pictures soon.