Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Everyone! 

And Happy 12th Birthday, Ciala!

McBride Christmas Card Photo for 2011

Aiden gets into the Christmas spirit.

Birthday Girls!  Ciala turned 12 on the 25th, and Kona turned 3 on the 24th!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CIALA!

Lauren, Aiden and Ciala smile.

Girls in hats (thanks, Mom!  We love them!)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Lauren, Aiden and Ciala snuggle into their warm PJs before snuggling into their beds for sugarplum dreams.

To Great-Grandmother's House We Go

We spent a wonderful weekend in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, visiting my Grandparents' Valentine.  Aiden loved meeting his great-grandparents, a few great-aunts and great-uncles, and cousins, to boot!  He also loved Goldie, my Grandma's little "baby". 

Grandma Valentine with Aiden and Goldie.

Grandma, Goldie and Meg keep Aiden from furniture-flipping.

Cousin Laura and (2-month-old) Levi with Aiden and Meg.

Aunt Rosemary, Meg & Aiden, Laura & Levi, and Uncle Rick.

Grandpap Harvey, Grandma, and the McBrides.

Grandma and Aiden (and Goldie!).

Grandma with two of her great-grandsons: Aiden and Levi.

Grandpap Harvey with great-grandsons Aiden and Levi.

Grandpap Harvey and Aiden plot confer.

Autumn Chills

Autumn has brought her cool weather to North Carolina--time to bundle up!

Aiden (with Kona behind the gate).

Yes--Clyde was wearing his first.  I believe I'm the only one of the three of us that thinks its adorable!

Aiden reaches new heights.



Happy Halloween!

Much of our October has been quite warm, so our little round-headed boy enjoyed time outside.  Though too young to really get into the Halloween spirit, we decided to take advantage of Aiden's hairlessness.

Waiting for the Great Pumpkin

Good grief!

The last of our REALLY warm days, and Aiden's first time in the cart.

Please keep arms inside the vehicle at all times.

Diminishing Decor

Just when I would love to be fiddling with Autumn arrangements and placing accents of orange, yellow, burgundy, and brown around the house, Clyde and I find ourselves removing things.  Removing things that were not before, but have quickly become, safety hazards.  Removing things from the path of 7-month-storm Aiden.  Aiden spends more and more time on his chubby little feet (with the assistance of furniture and big people's legs), and his reach seems to extend with each passing hour.  I shudder to think what will be in store for me when it's time to decorate the Christmas tree and hang stockings (some of my favorite holiday objects!)!  Clyde has suggested a harness, leash, and helmet, but he was just joking.  I think.

Aiden on the ottoman (thanks for the photo, Tara!).

Aiden trying to reach Clyde's speakers.

Aiden playing under the counter stool.

Aiden pulling down the birds from his swing's mobile.

Aiden pulling down books.

Aiden in the curtains (thanks for the photo, Tara!).

Aiden caught trying to figure out the baby gate release (thanks for the photo, Tara!).

...and then flashes his two teeth to get out of trouble--can you see them? 

(thanks for the photo, Tara!).

Aiden reaching at the dining room table.

Aiden loves using Clyde's head for a boost...

...or as a drum.

Pumpkin Pickin'... Sort of!

Tara came to visit and I enjoyed spending a wonderful week in her company.  We had planned to pick a pumpkin at Mike's Farm Pumpkin Patch just down the road, but I wasn't sure what time the hayride to the patch began.  We decided to go and check it out, since there are animals to pet, baked goods to sample, and other fun things to do if we were too early.  Aiden had a blast, and we all enjoyed the beautiful Autumn weather (which has since warmed up again).  Although we had an incredible time, things did not go exactly as I planned.

Aiden checks out the produce at Mike's Farm (not yet at the Pumpkin Patch).

Aiden and Aunt Tara get in the spirit of things as we await the hayride.

Aiden's ready to go...

Baby Goat and Aiden really hit it off--we missed the shot of Aiden letting the goat lick his fingers.

Almost time for the hayride!

Our hayride stopped at the Pumpkin Patch, but Aiden couldn't stay awake. He had been watching all of the big kids playing along the way.

We tried to let Aiden pick a pumpkin...

But (as Clyde said later), Aiden was all pumpkin-patched out.

Kiss a pumpkin for good luck! (Yeah--I'm not sure where I got that... In fact, I'm not sure that's a kiss!)

Thank you for visiting, Tara!  We miss you already!

Mentos and Diet Coke

 We had a wonderful (but swiftly passing) weekend.  The girls' presence brightened the otherwise dreary weather, and we enjoyed just spending time together.  We mostly just hung out at home, with Ciala and Lauren volunteering to help as much needed safety monitors, tracking Aiden as he pulls himself up against ottomans and walls.  He loves seeing their beautiful, smiling faces, especially since they are so gracious to focus their attention on him (that little ham!).

I mustn't forget to mention the ole (or is it new?) mentos and diet coke experiment! In hindsight's clarity, I would have suggested that Clyde do the experiment with the girls before showing them the youtube experiment.  We tried it first using mentos gum, as that was all the grocery store had available.  The resulting "that's it?" prompted Clyde to go the the gas station in search of actual mentos.  The subsequent reaction was much better, but it does not quite compare to that in the youtube video (link posted below).  Still, we had a blast!

Lauren and Aiden.

Ciala and Aiden.

Aiden is fascinated by his big sis.

Ciala spots Aiden while he climbs up the chair.

Lauren and sleepy Aiden.

Experiment preparation.

Diet coke and mentos:

Diet coke and mentos (with a few more resources):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vk4_2xboOE