Painting Styles, by Myles & Ollie

"What should I paint today?"

"A masterpiece."

"What should I paint today?"

"My tongue."

Merry Christmas from Myles & Ollie!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!

Early Morning Mayhem

(this is the name of our new family band)

Ollie is very excited to wish you a "Merry Christmas!"

Myles' new Radio Flyer balance bike! When he saw it, he said, "Oh! A motorcycle!"

A little Beatles for the ride followed by a good tip…

Motorcyclists must wear their helmets!

An Aldridge family stocking staple - the Whitman's Sampler!

Montessori lacing beads...

Montessori color tiles

Santa brought Myles "Candy Land"…which he legitimately won 4 rounds in a row.
How is that even possible? Papa sincerely suspected foul play.

The next day was Christmas in ATL with Greg's family! There were what seemed like a million of us, yet this is the only picture I have from the night...

Cousins on a Couch!

Getting Ready for Santa

In full accordance with "getting in the Christmas spirit", Myles has learned quite a few carols/songs this year. Partly due to my playing Christmas songs since October, but whatever. He is partial to both "Jingle Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" which he has efficiently combined into one song regarding jingle bells. The best part of the following video is his "big finish" (& Ollie chiming in the background.)

And then, Papa & GG arrived, yea!!! Christmas is also about family & we were so 

excited to spend Christmas with them (esp since GG missed Thanksgiving due to a horrible case of bronchitis.)

On Christmas Eve Myles prepared some cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer!

Myles' preschool offered a "Christmas Store Shopping" Day where Myles was able to pick out gifts for the family. The school then wraps & labels the gifts to be placed under the tree. Here are the gifts…waiting for Mama, Daddy, baby Ollie, Papa & GG to open! 

And to top off Christmas Eve night, Myles had a little guitar lesson with Daddy.

And Then We Decorated Our Little Tree

Tested the lights. They work.

As Ollie-proofed as we could go. 

They have this homemade felt tree to decorate as they see fit.
By Ollie standards, that is to just rip the whole thing off the wall & walk away.

Santa 3.0 (aka The GOOD Santa)

Yes.

After visiting the tree farm, we stopped into Greg's favorite coffee shop for warm treats & lunch (& b/c he heard that Santa would be visiting.) At first Myles had no interest and all of a sudden he said he wanted to sit on Santa's lap to ask for "A Bug's Life" (the Pixar movie…b/c Myles LOVES bugs & he saw a picture from the movie of "a blue ant & funny caterpillar" and now that's all he wants.)

He still explained to Santa how airplanes fly.

He asked for "A Bug's Life"

When Santa asked what else he wanted, he said, "Nothing."

He was feeling quite proud of himself (as were we)...

When something caught his eye. He pointed it out to Santa,
saying, "That's Baby Ollie…"

"I got your bowl full o'jelly right here, fat man!
But I ain't sitting on your lap."

They were both amused.

Yea! Myles finally happily sat on Santa's lap! I'd be lying if I said that Greg & I didn't get a bit misty-eyed at the sight. I even held my breath & thought, "He did it! He did it!" 

 AND, THIS Santa had real facial hair. ;-)

Myles & Daddy Chop Down a Christmas Tree

Went to a Christmas tree farm to find our "perfect tree" this year. You walk around with a saw & saw down the one you want. You tag it & a guy in a truck drives by, picks it up 

& ties it to your car while you walk around looking at their petting zoo animals. 

Mountain Men

Mountain Baby-Man

Myles chose this one 

"Watch out, Mommy!"

Tree chopping guilt?

Brothers

When they're good, they're very very good…

kiss? or chokehold? you decide.

This is what I'm dealing with, people.

"We drove Mommy crazy! High five!"

strategically placed lovey blanket

Drove around looking at Christmas lights. Myles scored his first Dunkin Donuts
donut hole & hot chocolate! Happy kid.

Santa 2.0

So, yeah.

Well, we tried to make an official visit to Santa at a local church hosting a 

"Have Breakfast with Santa." Total bust. $20 for the weirdest "breakfast" and then the above photo op took place. 

Myles didn't want to sit on Santa's lap; however, he did explain how airplanes fly.
Maybe he should've put it in magic sleigh terms. Know your audience, Myles.

Myles is saying, "Umm, you're just gonna let this stranger make the baby cry?
I thought we were, ya know, 'against' that."

Then Myles made a sad face & tried to comfort Ollie all while looking at me disapprovingly.

In Myles & Ollie's defense, he was a weird Santa. He asked the kid in front of us if he'd "killed a squirrel and eaten it for dinner" yet. Yet? Sigh. And as my bff pointed out, "They couldn't find a Santa with a real beard in all of the North Carolina mountains?" Seriously.