Christmas Pictures

Here are pictures from Christmas.  Will try to write more later when I get a chance.

http://willsonsweekly.shutterfly.com/pictures/238

Jingle Bells

Dane (2 years, 4 months)
Ryleigh (3.5 months)

Dane absolutely loves to sing Jingle Bells!  The other day we were in Kroger and he was singing it very loudly throughout the entire store.  All of the other customers loved it and thought he was an excellent singer!

Merry Christmas from the Willsons

Our New House

Alek and I have an estimated closing date of December 27 on a 3 bedroom house in Grosse Pointe Woods.  So far the appraisal and inspection have come out good, so we are hoping the deal won't fall through (our last one did due to a low appraisal).  During the inspection, I took a ton of pictures so we could start planning changes we want to make.  We have to paint the entire house as we do not like the wall paper, yellow walls, yellow trim, and yellow ceiling.  We also want to finish the basement and put a bathroom and bedroom in it. 

Here is a link to the pictures:
http://willsonsweekly.shutterfly.com/pictures/123




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He Did It!

Wooo hooo!  Dane made the good boy list.  Santa sent him another message and Dane was soooooo happy!  We are all very proud of him!   Yay Dane!

Click on the link to see it:
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/g54TyxjyyTGwzqLsjrCVLkg

Also, an update on Ryleigh:  she has gone to the chiropractor 3 times now and has a few vertabrates out of place in her lower back.   The doctor just holds her in one arm and then runs his fingers up and down her spine to push the bones back in the correct position.  You can see her fidget when he gets to one spot that is "hot" because the muscles are tender there from being out of whack.   But for the rest of the manipulation she is smiley and happy.  She is now having a bowel movement just about every day (occasionally she might skip a day).  I have also been off of dairy for almost 6 weeks now.  I am not sure if it is the dairy free diet, the chiropractor, or both that are helping her.  So I will go back on dairy soon and we will see what happens.

Message from Santa to Dane

Dane sometimes has difficutly listening, but what 2 year old doesn't, right?  Since Christmas is coming up, I thought I would use it to my advantage, hee hee.  Here is a video from Santa to Dane.  Don't worry, I will make sure to do another one later to follow up on this video.

Click on the link below:

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/gc7s7IegI5QwPg_i8ihMVqA


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Holiday Surprise

Last Sunday at Mary's weekly family dinner we all surprised her with a Christmas tree. Matt and Alek went out and got one and brought it over and then the kids all pitched in to decorate. We also sang a lot of Christmas carols, and I must say that those Willsons sure do have nice voices! Lets hope Ryleigh and Dane inherit this trait too, as I am so bad that when I do begin to sing, Dane yells at me to stop :P

Alek and Matt

Mary and Matt

Mary asked each child something nice they had done that day and then each one helped put straw on baby Jesus's bed for her nativity scene.

Dane and Liam

Dane, Libby, Liam

Mary, Ryleigh, Dane, and Lex

Dane getting mad at me for trying to take his picture

Ryleigh and Libby

Mary coloring with Liam and Dane. Matt, Libby and Alek

Happy Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in the Sault as we will be down in Grosse Pointe for Christmas. Dane did an AWESOME job sitting quietly at the table and eating his dinner and Ryleigh slept peacefully in my arms. The meal was excellent and everyone had a great time!

Ryleigh is 2 Months!

Ryleigh went to her 2 month well visit yesterday. Her stats are:
Weight: 11 lbs. 12 oz.   50-75%
Height:  23 1/4 in.         75-90%
Head:    15 in.                50%

Dane at 2 Months was in the same percentile:
Yes, I know you are not supposed to compare children, but I was curious :)
Weight: 12 lbs. 15 oz.   50-75%
Height:  24 1/4 in.         75-90%
Head:    15 3/4 in.          50%

Ryleigh is also having constipation issues like Dane did. So since I am breastfeeding, I am off of all dairy and soy for 4 weeks to see if that helps. Our pediatrician also suggested we take her to a chiropractor because if the nerves are the least bit out of whack, it can cause all sorts of problems, constipation being one. I am a little nervous about her going to one, but the more research I do on the topic, the more I realize it is safe and could really help.

Here are Ryleigh's monthly growth pictures.

So Much Fun!

As you can see, our last few days in the Sault have been filled with lots of fun...

Swimming in the hot tub

"Grandma what are you doing to me?"

"Ok, now get me outa here!"

Bonding with Grandpa

Digging for worms

"Ah ha, found one!"

Pillow Pets from Kathy and Charlie Albon. 

More fun in the hot tub

Helping cousin Don blow out his birthday candles

Dane's Pet Worm

Dane was digging in the garden with grandma on a gorgeous fall day and found a pet worm. He just had to bring it in to show mommy.

We're Making Money Now!

Because Dane's Jack in the Box Video has received over 40,000 hits, we are now able to make money off of our youtube videos.  Youtube places an ad next to the video or one will pop up while you are watching it, and we get a small portion of proceeds.  If you click on the ad we get even more money =)   So, along with our personal videos, I am going to start making videos of my art lessons too.

Here is a video I made of Dane this morning.  We  had just woken up, as you might notice.  He is 26.5 months old.

Halloween Visit Up North

Mom and Dad had to come down to the Detroit area for some business, so they stayed at our house for a few days.   Ryleigh, Dane, and I then drove back up to the Sault with them, and Alek will pick us up next week after he is done with guard drill.  So we will have over a week to spend together up in the beautiful upper peninsula that I miss so much.

Mom and dad brought the baby einstein down from the Sault and Dane was so excited to see it again.  He immediately jumped in it and started playing the music. 

My friend Tiffany Williams gave my mom this toddler bed so that Dane could have a bed to sleep in when we visited them.  He really liked it and had no problem sleeping in it.  Thansk so much Tiffany!

Ryleigh had a very tough time sleeping and taking naps her first day here in the Sault.  She was hard to put to sleep and once asleep, she would wake up after about 20 minutes.  Aunt Shirley reminded me of Betsy and Mark's idea of putting their babies on the dryer and so of course I had to try it.  She slept about 45 minutes - the longest period that day.  Thankfully she has now adjusted and is sleeping much better. 

Ryleigh Lynn with her Great-Grandma Edna Roe

4 Generation Picture

Dane 26 months, Ryleigh 7 weeks

Dane and I had a lot of fun carving a pumpkin mom and dad bought.  Dane especially loved playing with the gooey guts!

Trick -or- Treat

Dad drove me and Dane to a few houses so that he could go trick-or treating, while Ryleigh stayed back at the house with mom.  Dane did really well going up to the houses and saying trick-or-treat and thanking everyone.  He was in awe of all of the kids in costumes and halloween decorations, especially the scary ones.  He also had a lot of fun handing out candy to the kids that came to the house once we were done.

Eating candy, lots and lots of candy

Ryleigh hanging out with her grandpa.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Roger Roe

Trick or Treating at the Park

On Saturday, October 22, we went trick or treating at the Park where Matt and Angie are members. Everyone had a ton of fun, and I am so glad we able to join along with them!   Dane is 26 months and Ryleigh is almost 6 weeks in these photos.

Liam was road kill, ha ha.

Best Buds!

Left to right:  Dane, Luke, Liam, Ryleigh, Libby, Lex

Ryleigh was just along for the ride =)