Christmas extravaganza!

The Erbele family had a wonderful and crazy Christmas. The boys started getting sick early in the week so we headed to the doctor's office. Thankfully no one had RSV just bad colds and wheezing. So, let the breathing treatments begin.

This is how our Christmas began.

We went to Garrett's folks on Christmas Eve. We always go over there for lunch and then open presents. This gives us the opportunity to go to church that evening. Sadly, the doctor said we couldn't go to church because the boys were contagious. It didn't seem like Christmas since we missed church.

Here is Garrett's family. Blake and Jack are sitting against the back right-hand wall. This side of the family is growing like crazy. We are up to 8 grand kids now.

The 'opening presents' craziness is about to happen. At the Erbele house there is no structure, it is every man for himself. This screws with my OCD just a little bit, but the kids have a blast. The Skeltons open presents a little differently, more on that to come.

The boys each got one of these power wheels. I was a little nervous about them at first, but they don't go very fast and the button has to be pressed for it to move. As soon as the button is released it stops.

Blake had a blast climbing in the chairs.

Jack and his cousin, Connor, playing with their new wheels. They are just shy of 4 weeks apart.

We got home and started getting ready for Santa's arrival. I went ahead and separated out all the presents so Santa would know where to put the stockings for each boy. I think we may have gone a little overboard, but I come by it naturally. Again, just wait for the Skelton Christmas pics.

Santa brought this really cool tool bench.

The boys loved this tool bench and the new train table.

Jack is going to be handy just like his Daddy.

Blake loves playing with his trains.

The train table was actually a gift from our neighbor Mason. He is five and told his mom that he was ready for Blake and Jack to have his table (that kid just melts my heart). Mason was hoping that Santa would bring him a new remote-controlled race track and no longer had room for the train table. Santa didn't disappoint Mason and now my boys are super excited to get his old table!! Thank you Mason!!!!

After opening presents at our house, we headed to my dad's house. We played for a little while and then put the boys down for a nap. This allowed the adults to eat lunch and open our presents. When the boys woke up they got to open their presents.

Pops and Margie got them this rocking horse. They loved it!!

Blake insisted on riding the horse with the Grinch.

Jack loved playing with my dad's dog, Rooney, and my brother's dog, Zoe.

Ok, a Skelton Christmas has always been way overdone. This is why I have overdone it for my boys. I come by it honestly. When my brother and I were kids my mom didn't even put name tags of our packages in fear of us peaking, she just numbered them. She then had a list of what each gift was. Well, even though my wonderful mother is no longer here, the tradition continues. The packages do have our names on them at this point but they are still numbered. This allows the the camera to be opened before the camera bag, if you catch my drift. However, it takes forever to open presents because we have to tell my dad the number on our gift and get it "apporoved" before opening it. We also open them one at a time so we can see what everyone else gets.

This is just the pile for Garrett and I.

Here is the list of gifts. My dad then crossed each one off with a pen as we opened it. Now you see where I may get my OCD. Just think, I had a mother like this too, so I got a double dose of it. :)

Finally a picture of one of the boys opening a present. It is the one and only. I guess I was too busy helping out.

Blake LOVED his new phone from Uncle Brian.

Blake's new dog Pillow Pet had a ribbon around his neck. Blake untied it and walked it around. It was so cute.

The boys also got a teeter-totter. They love rocking on it together. I was so happy to get a toy that they have to play on together. They are becoming best buds!

After my dad's we all headed to our family friend's, the Bullard's. They are like a second family to us and it wouldn't be Christmas without seeing them.

All in all we had a great Christmas but I can't believe it is over!! I hope everyone had just as great of a Christmas with your families as well!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Boys will be boys!

Let me just start by saying that 18 months old is ROUGH!!! The boys are everywhere and into everything! I'm not sure why we spend good money on toys when all they want is stuff they can't have. I am exhausted at the end of every day and need a nice long break every now and then.

On the other hand, what a great age!! The boys are soaking in so much and starting to pick up a lot of new words, especially Blake. Jack has always been our talker, but now Blake is giving him a run for his money.

We are so excited for Christmas, not that the boys understand the meaning or Santa; but I think that opening presents will be a big hit this year. We do ask the boys, "Where's Jesus?" and they point up. It is super cute!!

Here are just a few (or a lot) of fun pictures from around here.


Apparently one pacifier just isn't enough for Blake.

My studious boys reading about trucks, tractors, anything with wheels.

Oh, they like boats too.

I just love these shirts with their jeans rolled up. I called them both Tom Sawyer that day.

Someone is finally looking at the camera again and not turning away! Thank goodness because that is a cute face if I've ever seen one!

Ahhh, my love!!!

I just want to eat him up!

The boys have started wrestling lately. It is so funny. Just to hear them giggle is priceless!!!

Where's Jack?

There he is!

This is what I found when I got Jack out of bed the other day. He has never had bed head quite like this before. I had to get a picture of it! You may have to click on the picture to get the full effect.

Blake has figured out how to take off his shirt. Tonight, after putting them to bed, we heard lots of laughing so we went in to see what was going on. This is what we saw. Blake's shirt is around the back of his head. I have walked in many mornings and his shirt is totally off. As long as it isn't his diaper, I am fine with it!!!

Santa...friend or foe?

After church we stopped by the neighborhood Christmas party and had the boys' picture taken with Santa. We weren't expecting a great response from Blake, he didn't disappoint.

Thank goodness Santa had a good grip. I think Jack would have been happier if his brother wasn't screaming bloody murder.

Santa's Wonderland

Last night we ventured back to our old stomping ground, College Station. We went with two other families to take the kids to see Santa's Wonderland. Garrett and I went when we were in college, but not since and we were blown away.

Santa's Wonderland is on 36 acres and has over 2.5 million Christmas lights. We didn't just drive through the lights, we went to Santa's Town also. It was filled with fire pits, stores, hay bales, singing, snow and, of course, the jolly old man himself. We had no idea that Santa Town even existed, we just thought we could drive through all of the lights. So, we were very pleasantly surprised.

After being in Santa's Town for a while we took a hay ride to see all of the lights. The temperatures had dipped into the forties and it was way passed bedtime, so I was a little concerned how the boys would handle our little excursion. They did great!!! The boys, especially Jack, had a blast. It took Blake a while to take everything in and he got very sleepy but the longer we were there, the more fun he had.

I kind of went crazy with all of the pictures, so let me apologize ahead of time.


Jack was ready to get down and run around.

Can you see Santa waving at the boys? Cutest. Thing. Ever!!!!

Blake's eyeballs were as big as saucers when he saw Frosty; meanwhile Jack was giving him high-fives.

Jack loved climbing on the hay bales and running on them. He fell a ton, would say "uh-oh" and climb right back up.

Blake is just trying to take it all in.

"Can I eat the hay Mommy?"

Blake and Garrett playing in the "snow".

Jack loved the "snow".

Sleepy Blake.

One of these days he will realize that his dimples are a real lady-killer, but he has to smile for all the ladies to see them. :)

On the hayride, ready to see the lights.

Jack and Garrett looking at the lights. Yes, that is still "snow" on his back.

We thought that Blake was going to fall asleep when we got on the hayride, luckily he perked up.

The boys LOVED the lights.

"Look at the cool lights Mama!"

Blake is clapping for the lights.

Blake and Lexi (his future girlfriend). :)

Finally, Blake is happy!

Santa's Wonderland is a bit pricey and a little bit of a drive but it is worth every bit of it!! We are going to start making this a yearly tradition!