Happy Birthday, Ira!

Ira won't technically turn two for a few more weeks, but we celebrate Labor Day weekend so all the out-of-towners can join us. Kirsten has always been a believer in the month-long birthday celebration, and it looks like Ira is starting to think September is the Month of Ira. So what I'm saying is that these are pictures of what is probably just the first of our Happy Birthday, Ira posts.



Big G kicked off the Month of Ira with the first present.



I predict one month after this picture goes online the sweater vest/no pants look shows up at fashion forward swimming pools all over the world.



The first official It's Ira's Birthday Celebration took place at my favorite restaurant in Opry Mills Mall with animatronic endangered species: the Rainforest Cafe. Ira and a small portion of the Holley clan wait for our table.



Ira and Jacob check out the tropical fish.



Daddy, Ira, and Big G getting ready for an indoor thunderstorm.



The first official It's Ira's Birthday Dessert: the Chocolate Volcano. When you order one of these, twelve waiters-who-thought-they-would-be-country-music-stars-by-now shout "VOLCANO!!!!" as they parade to your table.



After so many birthday desserts, Ira now thinks cake is a valid answer to the question "What do you want for dinner?"



Ira's extremely happy because he's with his Nana and also this is the first food he's had in months that wasn't made from tofu or black beans.



Ira was asleep before we made it out of the mall parking lot. He didn't sleep well, though. He kept waking up shouting, "VOLCANO!!!!"



We had Ira's party in our backyard. Click on the picture for a larger version so you can appreciate the awesome dinosaurs I made.



We bought this Jumpoline especially for the party. Ira's so excited he can hardly contain it.



Papa and Holley in the Jumpoline. They weren't allowed to jump. I was sort of a Jumpoline tyrant because I didn't want it to pop.



We turned our kiddie pool into a sandbox with crazy blue sand. That's me lounging in the background, monitoring the Jumpoline.



Pizza time.

The party started outside, and the weather looked fine despite the weather man's warning of rain.



But after twenty minutes or so the rain started. We brought the Jumpoline into our living room and everybody got very cozy. Ira, Darren, and Eric didn't seem to mind.



Ira preferred having the sandbox in the kitchen.



Fortunately the rain stopped as quickly as it started, and we were soon back outside again.



Eric is Ira's favorite kid at school. "Ira what'd you do at school today?" "I hug Eric."

Happy Birthday, Ira! from Jesse Morros on Vimeo.

The beautiful dinosaur cake. Kirsten, Nana, and Holley put this thing together. Very impressive.



Ira's first piece of cake. I think he ended up eating three pieces. Don't tell his mommy.



Who wants some dinosaur cake?



Ira's moved to plate number two while Uncle Anthony just watches.



Ira thinks about how to get some more cake. You should probably ask Papa.



The present opening begins. Like cake, Ira can't understand why we haven't been doing this everyday.









Ira has no idea how his life is about to change. Little does he know that inside that yellow paper is . . .



a motorcycle! This Harley has been the highlight of Ira's short life.



Ira's second favorite present were these cars. At least that's what we tell Kyle and Jason, who gave them to him.



A couple of grandmas making an Ira sandwich.



Cruising down the street on his hog.



If you ask him, Ira will tell you that he wears the helmet for safety.

The first weekend of Ira is over, but there is surely more to come. We went to the fair today, and I'll get those pictures up soon. As always, there are many more Ira pictures in the Picasa albums.