Here comes Santa Clause...

Last Saturday we took Emily and Caleb to see Santa. The picture doesn't tell the whole story though. Initially Caleb was smiling and laughing at Santa, but the lady taking the picture was too busy chit chatting with a co-worker to get that picture. So we ended up with the classic picture of crying kid on Santa's lap...oh well it is way cute anyway! Emily was a little nervous because she is so shy normally but I was proud of her effort!!!

Also for those of you who live around here...how do you like all the snow? I think we got somewhere around 8 inches-WOW! Last night we decided our driveway needed a 2nd (yes a 2nd-Earlier that day I went out in Ben's boots all ridiculous looking-Sammi can testify to that and scraped the first 6 inches of snowfall) scraping and so Ben started scraping it and 3 hours later him and the neighbors had scraped 3 other driveways in the neighborhood. It was cool to see all the neighbors working together to help each other out (they seriously had shovels, blowers, 4-wheelers and who knows what else)....that is truly what Christmas is all about!

Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

I love this time of year!! I love the snow (at least to look at), I love the music, the lights and decorations, the time-off Ben has from work, I love seeing children get excited for Santa, (I love using Santa as bribery) but mainly I love that everyone is focused on the Savior and Redeemer of the World. I love how everyone’s attention changes from themselves to being kind to others. Like many others always say, I too wish this feeling would last all year long.

This year has been busy and has taken us on quite the fun ride!

One of the most eventful happenings of this year was our sweet little son, Caleb that was born in March, He is such an adorable little guy (of course because he looks just like Ben.) This month he turned 9 months old. He has 7 teeth, crawls (almost fast enough to keep up with his sister) and has already had 5 haircuts. We love him and are so blessed to have him in our family.

Our rambunctious Emily is turning 3 in March and is so much fun! She is so smart and observant. Emily loves to sing and dance! She recently learned most of her letters and loves to color and draw. I have so much fun with her and it is so much fun to watch her grow and learn new things. She is such a sweetheart and is the best sister a boy could ask for and by far the best daughter parents can ask for!!

As for Ben and I, we are doing great. Life is busy with our 2 small children, but it full of adventure! We never know what the next day will be like. We had a wonderful summer and had the chance to go to Nauvoo with Ben’s family. It was such a wonderful experience, one in which we will never forget. We loved the simply life they lived without so much hustle and bustle. We left feeling very grateful for so many things we enjoy, especially the freedoms we have. (I left feeling lucky to have disposable diapers and microwaves!!) Christmas brings back all of those feelings for us because we have the freedom to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We feel blessed to be able to spend time together this Christmas, and will greatly miss those of you who are far away!

We want to tell each of you how much we love you all and hope all is well in your families. We are enjoying this Christmas season and I love to sit and daydream of all the fun things that next year has in store for us. Until next year….Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year

With Love,
Ben, Jessica, Emily and Caleb Willoughby

Christmas Tag

So Elisa tagged me a few days ago, but my kids have been really sick and today they are just getting around to feeling better. So here you go....


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I will qrap anything just to put it under the tree...dumb I know.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Pre-lit Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving. We watch Elf while putting up our tree.
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? Yummo!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? BIG box full of stuff to make crafts
7. Hardest person to buy for? Brother
8. Easiest person to buy for? Emily
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have 2. My mom made one for me and my mother-in-law bought us a little porcelain one.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, I love sending and recieving them.
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ear muffs
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Late november...I am a procrastinator!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Who would admit to this??
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything, maily fudge!
16. Lights on the tree? Yep!
17. Favorite Christmas song? Traditional: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day---Other:My Grown-up Christmas Wish
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I love to do both. I wish we didn't have to travel, I wish we could all just be together.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes...it is easy when you sing the song to a 2 year old 80 times a day!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?Both
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The competition
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Silver and Red or Red and Gold
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? New slippers...I love slippers!!

I tag Amber, Tracy and Valerie

Our Acting Debut

Above is a video I took of Emily singing Santa Clause is Coming to Town, she is so excited for Santa to Come. When asked what she wants Santa to bring her, she says "A kitchen AND a doll house." Not one or the other she wants BOTH....of course she does. :) Christmas is so much more fun when you have kids! Below is a picture from last year.


So for those of you who do not already know, me and my kids helped my Sister out by appearing in a Mystery Diagnosis Episode on my neice Averi. Averi was born with a disease called Osteopetrosis (a rare bone disease). Mystery Diagnosis comes on the Discovery Health Channel and is pretty interesting.

So the episode on Averi is going to broadcast on December 8, it is called The Baby Who Won't Stop Crying (dorky I know). Caleb played the part of Averi (poor guy played a baby girl, but did a great job!!!) and Emily played Taylor-Averi's sister (after all Emily does idolize Taylor). We recieved the DVD the other day and it was fun to watch. Amber and James (Sis and Bro-in-law) did awesome!! I helped them for 2 days and was totally exausted! The story was only 1/8 of what happened, but as a whole the production is interesting and very tear jerking! My face even appears in the show for a brief moment--lucky me I had just had a C-section 3 weeks earlier.
Anyway if you have the chance or the channel, watch, it is pretty interesting.

http://health.discovery.com/fansites/mystery-diagnosis/mystery-diagnosis.html