Thanksgiving!

I don't know what holiday everybody else is celebrating because we're just getting around to posting pictures from Thanksgiving. I guess that's just the way we do things, a wee bit behind schedule. But if Kirsten has her way, we'll have multiple Chanukah and Christmas blog posts or at least one really long one. 

Aunt Drew came to Nashville for Thanksgiving so of course Ira took her to the Adventure Science Center.

Ira and Aunt Drew try to figure out how to change a tire.

Studying the ecology of a river habitat. 

More fun at the Science Center.

The Station Inn is quickly becoming our favorite place to take out of town guests. 

Rather than slaving over dinner all day, we spent Thanksgiving day at the Ellington Agricultural Center.

It's much cooler to act like turkeys than eat them.

Some people hang out in front of trees . . . 

and some people hang out in them.

What a kiss!

The Ag Center is where they keep the police horses. We wished a happy Thanksgiving to Officer Joe.

Kirsten and Drew did a beautiful job setting the table. 

And we had a lovely dinner together. 

What's Up, Fall?

This year we went apple picking at Pratt's Orchard with apple picking experts, Lindsay and Chris.


Ira ate most of what we picked before we made it home...


but at least he shared.






Apple picking is hard work!


We also went to Gentry's Farm to find the perfect pumpkin. Here Ira is sportin' Mommy's shades on the hay ride.


Master of the tire swing.


Playing with corn.


Being silly with Daddy.


Cutest pumpkin ever!


Ira drew a scary face as the template for our jack-o-lantern.


Even though the jack-o-lantern was scary...


Ira is still cute.


We went trick or treating with Avery the witch and Evelyn the strawberry. Unfortunately this was the best picture we could get of all three of them, but you get the idea.


The witch and pirate in action.

Ira is 4!

September has been a month long birthday celebration. Ira had a huge party in Florida at the beginning of the month. Unfortunately, we lost all of our pictures in a tragic camera syncing fiasco. If anyone has pictures, send them to us, please.

Then, at the end of the month he had a five-day birthday-fest with Big G.

Ira came with me to pick up Big G and Alfred from the airport. We were very excited to see them.



The next morning, we decided to stop by the Parthenon and ended up at an arts and crafts fair where Ira and Big G collaborated on painting a train.



They are both very focused artists.



After the park, we went honky tonkin' down on Broadway.



Big G brought Ira a pirate costume to wear at his birthday party, and Ira insisted on wearing it to his school picnic.





Capt. Ira spent a long time at the picnic hiding in a red bucket and speaking a strange language that he made up.



The real reason for the pirate costume: Ira's Pirate Birthday Party!



I don't think the cake was sea worthy, but it was delicious.



They weren't as cute as Ira, but Alfred and Big G were exceptional pirates.



Xavier says, "Don't take my picture. I'm too busy partying."



We never caught him in the act, but I think I saw a few finger prints in the icing.



Ira shows Avery the treasure chest.



Capt. Ira had to climb the riggings to unfurl the Jolly Roger.



The Capt. in action.









There was a lot for a little pirate to explore.



Every pirate has a soft side.



I'm pretty sure that's a plundered lollipop.



After all that partying, we had a nice quiet morning walking around Radnor Lake.



Ira was tickled to find an earthworm in the road.





Sunday night we went back out on the town to catch the Sunday night jam at the Station Inn. Ira and Big G cut a rug.



Seconds later, Ira completely devoured that coffee filter full of popcorn.



A toast to Ira.



Is it weird to let your child play with empty bottles?


In the waiting room at the doctor's office Ira drew a beautiful giraffe.



The restaurant where we had our farewell lunch had a beautiful garden to frolic in.





Big G and Ira enjoyed the flowers very much.

And finally a goodbye kiss.