A special place to sit...

I think it is so wonderful that Makenah has great highchairs to sit in when we visit family. I think it is extra special that these seats have history to them. I am pretty sentimental about things like this, and I like thinking about all the memories made in these chairs, and how our daughter is sitting in them now, too.

Thanks to our parents and Granna and Grandad for keeping these special highchairs.  I love seeing Makenah in them!

Here's Makenah in the Billings family high chair. My parents bought this when I was born, and it made it through all three kids. I think it is beautiful and classic, and I love it.

This is the Stucky family high chair.

This chair was used by Bryan's younger brothers, and now Makenah is using it. She has enjoyed many meals in it already, and there will be many more to come. I am so thankful that it is there for us to use.

This is the Wiens family high chair. 

This high chair is at Granna and Grandad's and was purchased when Bryan was a baby. I love its retro style. Makenah loved to bang on the table top. :)

And our high chair. 

Lots of meals and laughs. 

Special moments remembered as she grows so fast. 

I love that there are still lots of memories being made in these chairs. 

Thank you for saving these chairs to be used. 

Christmas: Hesston

We left Garden City early Christmas morning and headed to Hesston. We made really good time! We had a delicious lunch, opened what was in our stockings, and then spent the afternoon opening presents, playing games, and snacking on treats. We had supper together, got another game going, and enjoyed the evening time together before we headed home to Wichita. We went back on Sunday also to spend the day with everyone.

Opening presents in Makenah's stocking.

Aunt Jenna and Grandma Billings helping Makenah open presents.

A piano! There is lots of sweet music being made in our house. :)

Uncle Aaron and his girl Olivia!

Did you think Casey would be anywhere except in the middle of it all?!

The beautiful tree. 

My favorite thing about the Billings Christmas tree is that it is decorated with ornaments that Aaron, Jenna and I made or received when we were little. We decorated it that way when we were growing up, and I love that mom still does that now. When we were younger and all there to decorate it, we were each in charge of placing "our" ornaments. As we pulled them out, we would laugh and remember each one. There are some funny things up there! (I bet you can see them!) I remember the first time Bryan was there to help decorate the tree, we had to tell him about each one, and laugh at the craftsmanship of our youth. 

Mom still puts these up. I love that. 

(And, oh, the sweet angel on top. I think she is as old as I am. Each year someone got to place (or be hoisted up to place) the angel. We took turns for awhile, and then for some reason I remember Aaron insisting that it was his year ...(every year!) 

Grandpa Billings. 

He got a GPS for Christmas.

It just goes to show that everyone can benefit from a GPS.

Who wouldn't want to hear a nice lady tell you that your turn is coming up. 

Even a country-born Kansas man, who travels all over the state with work, who knows the "back way" to get everywhere may enjoy one. :)

We had such a great time with the family, and we all got such nice things! And, of course, Makenah received a lot of special gifts!
Makenah's first Christmas was one to remember!

Christmas: Garden City: Part Two

There was a lot of hanging out and having fun while in Garden City.

Here are some more shots of things we were up to.

Some of the guys got tools for Christmas.

Blake got his out to work on one time, and Makenah jumped right in.

The guys were in charge of the steaks on Christmas Eve.

(By the way, it didn't take all of them to do it, don't worry! Haha! A couple of them were steak guys and there was a lot of hanging out and talking going on.)

 Inside, Debbie and Granna worked their cooking magic!

Warning: Lots of Makenah by the tree pictures. :)

 

The Santa Sack!
Bryan was born on December 23, and came home from the hospital on Christmas Day!
This is the santa sack that made it's first appearance 28 years ago!
It's been at every Christmas since.

 

I love this series of Bryan and Blake on the Wii.

They were in a dance challenge.

Lots of good moves going on. 

 

 

 Makenah wore her Christmas pajamas to bed on Christmas Eve.
She was tired!!
We got up super early and headed to Hesston to spend the next two days celebrating some more!!

Christmas: Garden City

We headed out to Garden City to continue the Christmas festivities!

We spent a couple of days there celebrating.

When we got there, we had dinner at Granna and Grandads and celebrated Bryan's birthday.

That evening the guys (Bryan, his brothers, and his dad) were allowed to open a couple of gifts early... these were important presents. :) The next days activities were going to be a perfect opportunity to test these gifts. So, they needed to be opened!

Secretive bags inside of big boxes...

Chest protectors for dirt biking and four-wheeling!

What a good looking group!

And, new boots!

So, here is the long awaited sneak peek at the full ensemble!

Makenah and I got Bryan new gloves, jersey, and pants.

He got new boots and the chest protector to finish out the look.

That is one tough looking biker doctor!

Of course, the next day all the gear was put to good use out at the river. 

There was a lot of jumping, speeding, and popping wheelies. 

It was documented well with pictures.

Makenah was getting more and more interested in the pile of presents that surrounded the tree. Bryan caught her the next morning checking them all out. She was mostly removing bows and crawling through them. 

We opened presents on the 23rd in Garden City, and enjoyed the evening together so much. We were so thankful to receive so many nice gifts! And, Makenah got many special things too!

What a lovely tree!

(So, from a photography standpoint, I am sure this picture is totally wacky, but, I think it makes the tree and the mood seem radiant!)

Makenah got a dolly from MeMe and Papa. 

This is her grabbing it and pulling it in for a "love." 

I really need to catch her doing this on video. 

She'll make sweet coos, close her eyes and the pull it to her forehead. It is adorable. 

She does it with the dolly, her puppy, and her glow-worm. (And our faces sometimes. :)

 

Lots more pictures to come!

More from Garden City and more from Christmas in Hesston!