Snow '13

Yeah!!  It snowed this year!!  I was super-excited for the boys to play in the snow...  including my oldest "boy" my hubby!

Tyson, Tyler and Colton triple sledding down the hill at The Kings Contrivence

Jenna, Keilan and Uncle Nick at the same hill

Colton riding on his belly down the driveway

Blake getting pulled by daddy on our street

Daddy is pulling a "sled train" with Blake in the front, and Colton at the caboose

Mommy and the Sledding Superheroes

Time with cousins

Two weeks ago, I took Colton, and Uncle George took Juliana to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.  It was a very chilly Sunday, but we had such a great time!  The kids were at the perfect age to learn and actually be interested in learning and seeing the animals.  I also had a great time watching them laugh, smile, and especially run around together...  and I learned a few things too!

Check out the pictures!

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Colombel Christmas

Yes--  two blogs in one day!  I really have to get more tech-savy so I can update closer to the time of my pictures.


We celebrated Christmas at our home this year, on the Saturday before Christmas (Christmas was on a Tuesday).  Aunt Kimmy, Uncle Keith, Jasmine and Alexander came down from Pennsylvania, and Aunt Laura, Uncle Mike, Trey, Tristan, Aunt Erika, Uncle Nick, Jordan, Tyson and Keilan (Julien unfortunately had the flu) joined our family for some food, fun, and family time.

Each family brought food, and we had a yummy potluck dinner.  The adults did a White Elephant gift exchange (Eric and I had our gifts taken away, so I ended up with Eric's gift (lottery tickets), and Eric got mine (some kitchen supplies that we gave to Jasmine), and the kids opened lots of presents from their aunts and uncles.

Below are pictures taken from Thanksgiving, when Grandma and Pop Pop were in town and stayed with us.  We started decorating early this year!

Grandma helping Colton decorate his gingerbread house

and with Pop Pop in front of the finished product!

Molly stayed with us too!  She is the superheroes' Aunt!

Blake busy decorating

and Colton too!

And pictures from our Christmas dinner...

Keilan and Blake

Little Colombel cousins- -Colton, Tyson, Keilan, Blake and Tristan

A few days earlier, we were still in the Christmas spirit...

The superheroes with Santa, at our village center Christmas party

The morning after Christmas, it was BEAUTIFUL!  Here is a video of us at the playground.

Hope you had a great holiday with friends and especially great FAMILY!

Hanukkah Par-tay

Yes--  I am super-late updating our blog.  Time has sure gotten away from us over the last 2 months (actually, I am learning how to upload pictures from my NEW iPhone ;)   )

In the beginning of December, we had a 3rd annual "Cousins Hanukkah Party" at our house.  It was super-fun!  Our guest list included the Pyle family (Juliana, Uncle George and Aunt Jennifer), the Kessler family (Jeffrey, Ilene, Jason, Vera, Lizzy, Leah and Jeremy (him and Colton called each other "The Butt Smackers", and kept hitting their butts (that's my boy!), the Hobbleman family (Allison, Cassidy and Scarlett), the Unger family (Sherry, Dexter, Julia and Maddy), Phyllis and Sylvan, and of course Poppy, Mimi, Daddy, Mommy and the 2 superheroes.

We ate, played, and opened gifts from our "secret" cousin. 

Leah Kessler (3)

"The Butt Smackers" Colton and Jeremy, and Blake eating pizza, chips and juice

Aunt Jennifer making Star of David crafts with Juliana and The Butt Smackers

Maddy (4), Julia (7) and Cassidy (4) eating their lunch

Ready to open presents!!

Juliana, Dexter, The Butt Smackers, Jason, Lizzy, Leah, Julia and Maddy.
In the background is Jeffrey, Uncle George and Aunt Jennifer.

We are hoping to keep this tradition up and have a Cousin's Hanukkah Party every year!


Did you have a Kid's Only party this holiday season?!?

Blake's First Party Invite

Blake got invited to Ava's birthday party last Saturday, who is an adorable 3 year-old at his in-home daycare.  The location was at the River Hill center next to the pool.  His mother did an AMAZING job decorating the party space in a carnival theme.

Check out the pictures...  (notice I didn't take any of the other kids...  I didn't want to look like too much of a 'party stalker' taking all of these pics!)

The boys were coloring personalized circus paper which read Ava's 3rd Birthday

Photo Booth and a silly lion

The superheroes played with the animal ball toss

AMAZING!!  Such detail and color coordination.  The cupcakes and water bottles all had personal labels on them, and there were even Animal Crackers and Cracker Jacks snack bags not he table as well.

Cotton candy centerpieces...  Colton loved it!

Little guy doing the ball toss

Ledo's Pizza and water with striped straws

Goody 'Bags' complete in a carnival theme

We got to take cupcakes home to daddy

I LOVE reading blogs and seeing pictures of party decorations.  But my theory for most things these days is back to KISS...  keep it simple stupid.  I appreciated all of the time and creativity that went into this party, but doubt I will be able to top this at all.  Hats off to Ava!

15 Month Appointment

Blake had his 15 month check up last week, and Mimi joined us at the doctor's office.

Blake got weighed as usual.  He is almost 25 pounds already (Colton is currently 33 pounds).  I thinks when Blake is up and walking, he will lose some of his chub.

"I weigh HOW much?!?" 

 Blake (as I put before) is still not walking.  He has only crawled a handful of times, and gets around by scooting on his butt.  On Oct 23rd he pulled up for the first time.  Below is a picture of him after he pulled up on a new toy.

We are going to meet with people from an infant and toddler program in our county soon, so they can assess his progress.  He had his blood work done last week, which ruled out MS, so that highly relieved Eric and I.  But his pediatrician recommended we get some PT so he can "be on his feet" quickly.

Halloween 2012

The superheroes celebrated Halloween twice this year.  On the Friday before the holiday, we went trick-or-treating in our local shopping center.  How cute are Batman and Robin?

Ahhhh...  he would yell at me for posting this if he could talk  ;)

On Halloween night, we decided to trick-or-treat with some neighborhood friends...  easy and we got back home in time to pass some candy out around 7:45.

Taken on our front porch.  Colton and Blake are in the back row

Andrew and Colton as Captain America(s)

The superheroes after trick-or-treating.  Can you tell someone would rather eat his candy then take a picture?!?

Well, the costumes weren't very original, and I sorta feel bad that they didn't have the experience of going to a store to pick out 'new' costumes.  But...  with about 20 costumes in their rooms ready to wear, they were content with their choices.


Hmmmm...  I wonder what they will be next year?