Makenna Telling the Story of Jesus BIrth

Jared and I try really hard to impress upon the kiddos why we celebrate Christmas. We want them to know that it is a day to celebrate the greatest gift we have been given....Jesus.  We continued with the same traditions that we started last year with the kiddos. You can read about that here.

All that being said we think it is really sweet to here the story of Jesus birth told by Makenna so here is a video of her telling us about Jesus' birth.

Disclaimer: Colin adds his two cents in and Kyla has to make it difficult for her big sister to tell the story. But hey that is real life here at the Willis house so enjoy!

Annual Pictures with Presents

2012 Willis Christmas in Pictures

Typical picture of the Willis cousins.

Drew finally has a boy cousin to play with.

Posed picture for Grandma Janelle - I think it turned out rather well:)

Great-Grandma reading "The Night Before Christmas" to Makenna.

Makenna sledding down Papa Jim's hand/skid loader made hill.

 Kyla taking her first sled ride......

 I think she is indifferent to what just happened.

 Colin sledding.

 Ally and Kyla.

 Love Tana's face in this picture.....captures her personality perfectly:)

 Uncle Jason and Colin.

I think that in a few years any picture resembling this might equal trouble:)

2012 Sigmund Christmas in Pictures

Papa pulling a sled full of grandkids.

 Michael is not quite sure of what is worse....his pink coat or the snow.

 Who says you can't still play on a playground after a 9" snowfall?

Michael and Kyla

 The tent we got Jacob and Michael for Christmas was a huge hit:)

 Me and my baby

 Hey where are my sister and my stockings? :)

 Watching movies in Nana and Papa's bed.

 Makenna's Belle dress.

 Kyla in her Christmas jammy jams.

 Daddy giving Colin Christmas snuggles.

Happy Birthday Jesus

This year on Christmas day the kiddos help make a birthday cake for Jesus. We thought that this would be a simple way to help make the day a celebration of Jesus birth. And a cake is an easy way for our kids to identify with Jesus having a birthday because they get to have a special cake on their birthday.

Here are the a few pictures of the kiddos and the cake they made to celebrate Jesus birthday.

 

And a video of them singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

And because she couldn't really participate in the singing or the cake making...here are 3 cute pictures of Kyla on Jesus birthday.

Merry Christmas

 

First Snow of the Season

Makenna and Colin looking out the window in amazement at the 9" of snow

 

Planning and plotting the fun they are about to have in the snow

Kyla enjoying her first snow ever

 

Makenna crawling around in the snow like a crazy kid....she is loving everything about it

Colin "helping" Daddy shovel the driveway

Kyla @ 9 Months

Kyla had her 9 month appointment the week before Christmas. The doctor said that she continues to grow at the accurate rate for the tiny peanut she is.

Here are her stats:

• Height - 26 1/4 inches
• Weight - 15 pounds 14 ounces

Here are a few highlights of what she is up to now a days:

• pulling herself up on everything and walking along furniture
• eating some table foods (I am hoping to transition into all table food and no more baby food with in the next several weeks)
• started to dance to music
• loves almost all food I offer her
• started to give her water out of a sippy cup
• naps twice a day (once in the morning and once in the afternoon)
• nursing her 4 times a day and giving her 3 bottles a day
• she still loves to stick everything in her mouth
• loves peek-a-boo
• will stand alone briefly
• tries follows Makenna and Colin where ever they go

And of course here are a few pictures:

And for a quick comparison...
Makenna's stats and accomplishments @ 9 months
Colin's stats and accomplishments @ 9 months

Family Pictures

This past Sunday my friend Megan took some family pictures for us. I thought that she did an amazing job.