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

A Thankful Heart and a Big Appetite!

Like most people I spent most of the day cooking up pies, rolls, salads and just simply trying to stay sane through it all. Luckily I have 3 wonderful people to walk me through my day...My Mom, my Sister and on of my BFF's Lisa. Speaking of lucky or should I say blessing because of the time of year, I have so much to be grateful for.

For FHE this week I made a box and we (meaning Emily and Mom-mostly Mom) went through a magazine and found pictures and cut them out and glued them onto a box. The purpose of the box is for us to write things we are grateful for throughout the week and put them in the box. I think we have done fairly well and it has brought on a lot of thought. I had to ask Emily what things made her happy instead of what are your blessing, obviously because she is 2 and the answer was simply "Cabie" (meaning Caleb). It was so cute. They are top on my list for the things I am grateful for!!! Man, they can make me mad one minute and then have me rolling on the floor the next. We were driving in the car a few days ago and they were in the back seat cracking up at each other, it was so funny! I wanted to jump back there and join them!!!

Next or equally on my list would be my sweet hubby! He amazes me! He also can make me mad one minute and them make me smile from ear to ear the next! I love that man, more than I can express!! He is so thoughtful and is so willing to help me with the kids. He works 10 hour days and usually only gets 4-5 hours of sleep at night and is always willing to get up in the middle of the night with either of our kids. He has taught me so much over the past 4 years of our marriage. Mainly to laugh, I think I inherited my dad's dry sense of humor (sorry dad)--I honestly have a hard time laughing, but Ben has showed me how easy it is and there is more to life than living and dying.

Also on the top of my list would be The Gospel. That includes our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. What comfort I receive from praying and attending the temple and learning more and more each day of how I need to be living my life. I love President Monson as well. He is so wise!! Period! He speaks and I know I need to listen...carefully! What a great man!!

I guess I shouldn't say also on the top of my list anymore because everything on my list is number one, including my next blessing...my family and friends! My mom and sister and friends (especially Lisa) listen to me and help me through my day. I love them so much and feel so blessed to have their love and friendship in my life.

Anyway this became a really long post, but I could go on and on with the things I am grateful for. We truly are blessed. I can't wait for Christmas, it will be so much fun this year.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I hope you each eat wonderful food and are surrounded by the people you love.

Twilight...ho hum!!!

So on Thursday me and some of my friends went to the midnight showing of Twilight. I haved so many mixed feelings about the movie. It was good, it really was...BUT it was also so cheesy!! There was of few really good scenes, like the running scenes were done really good. There was also some beautiful shots. Edward's hair was tacky, but his voice and smile fit to a T. I love most of the other characters except Carlisle. He totally looked make-up caked! Yuck! Anyway overall, it was alright, I am glad I read the book first. I will go see the next movie. AND the best part I had alot of fun with my girlfriends!

My two little turkeys

On Wednesday it was such a rainy, dreary day, we decided to make a little craft. I found this cute idea online and went with it. They turned out really cute!!! My 2 babies are the cutest little turkeys I have ever seen!!!

This picture makes me laugh because Emily was making such funny faces at herself. She thought she was so cool!!

Caleb looked so cute! Unfortunaltley, later that night he ripped off the right red wing and ate it...poor turkey!

In the leafy treetops (Or they were leafy before they landed all over my lawn!!!)

We have so many leaves on our lawn because of our 2 huge maple trees. I love the trees in the summertime because they provide excellant shade, but in the fall they have so many leaves that fall and cover our lawn. Last year we fill up our truck 3 or 4 times before the leaves were gone. It is a chore but add a little sugar and the job becomes a game. I obviouisly wasn't working too hard when I was taking these pictures of Emily, but had could I resist?

The other night Ben and I were watching Journey to the Center of the Earth and he fell asleep (not unusual for a Willoughby). But I watched him and thought about all he does for our family and I just wanted to cry. He looked so handsome and peaceful. Although the peace ended when I started taking pictures of him...oops. I am so thankful for his good job and for all the things we are blessed with. I am thankful that he makes so many things possible for us. Today in our RS class we discussed the Joseph and Emma letters and in one of them he says "Remember that I am a true and faithful friend to you and the children forever. My heart is entwined around yours forever and ever." I loved that and feel the same way about Ben and my children. I am just so grateful to be a wife and mother!!!

Halloween Fun

We had a lot of fun this Halloween! I was the mother of Little Red Riding Hood and a Mr. Penguin for the day. With the help of my wonderful mother-in-law, we made Emily a cape that turned out oh so cute!!! And also with the help of my fab sister-in-law Caleb was the cutest penguin I have ever seen! We went to Ben's Grandparent's house and had dinner in a pumpkin and snake bites--it was Yummo!!! And then came the candy. We went trunk or treating and saw a lot of fun, scary and even some pretty risque costumes (mind you this is at a church trunk or treat) I believe the risque ones just saw free candy and stopped on by. But we had lots of fun and I can't wait till next year. Emily has already told me she wants to be Wendy and Caleb is going to be Peter Pan. So cute!!!

Food Storage Update...

Well I think we are finally done buying food storage for awhile. We have accomplished our goal of having 1 year supply of food for 4 people, and it has taken one whole room of our house. I could go in that room and stand in the middle and look around for hours.

Here is a final list:

600 lbs. Hard cracked Wheat

150 lbs. Rice

150 lbs. Quick oats

325 lbs. flour

30 lbs. honey

175 lbs. sugar

250 lbs. beans

3.5 Gallons veg. oil

24 cans evap. milk

24 + cans veggies

24 cans tuna

3 Gal. Clorox

12 cans Spagetti sauce

70 lbs. Non-fat instant milk

48 boxes of jello/pudding

4 bottles ketcup

5 Gal. Laundry Detergant

25 lbs. Instant Potato Flakes

73 Gal. Water

100 lbs. potatoes

5 lbs. peanut butter

40 Cans of cream soup

Panake and Cake mixes

Ramen Noodles---so easy and cheap
25 Quarts of Apples (Applesauce, dehydrated, pie filling)

25 lbs. Spagetti Noodles

20 lbs. Macaroni Noodles

6 lbs. yeast

16 lbs. salt

Holy Smokes..my brain is tired! I will post pictures someday when it is all in 5 gallon buckets and a little more organized. :)