Christmas

Ira loves The Nutcracker. We went to Opry Mills to see the Christmas lights and he stopped to pose with every nutcracker.

Ira was excited to get a new nutcracker and tickets to The Nutcracker Ballet. 

Ira took his nutcracker to see The Nutcracker. 

Daddy and Ira at The Nutcracker Ballet.

Ira's Christmas performance at school.

This year we went to Florida for Christmas. We attended a lot of family parties. Our first party was at Aunt Jolene and Uncle Vinnie's house. Here Ira is meeting his cousin Levi for the first time.

Ira played Santa Claus and helped Poppy and Aunt Jolene open their gifts.

Nonny snuggles with Levi while everyone opens presents.

Ira got a new scooter and this awesome Angry Birds hat. He hasn't taken the hat off since.

Breaking in the new scooter.

Playing trains with his cousin, Mikey. These two played too much to get a good picture of them together.

Later that same day, we attended a party with the Holley family. Ira loved spending time with his great-grandmother Big Holley. 

Even more cousins. Ira plays with Holley, Serenity and Cheyenne.

The next day, the Pittman family came over to Nana and Papa's house. Here Ira helps his great-grandfather GP open gifts.

Cheyenne enjoys her gift from Ira.

Josh showing off his presents.

Ira and Isaiah play with Ira's new Angry Birds game.

Jack Jack helping Ira with his new toys.

Christmas Eve Ira puts oats out for the reindeer, 

and covers the porch in Grinch Repellent.

Ira writing a letter to Santa Claus.

Showing off his letter.

A blurry picture but Ira left out cookies for Santa. Santa enjoyed them very much.

Daddy reading The Night Before Christmas on the night before Christmas.

Santa came and he left a letter for Ira.

He also left presents!

Ira opened the biggest one first!

Ira and Daddy spent all day playing with Ira's new toys.

Christmas for a teenager is different than it is for a five-year-old. Ira's cousin David really enjoyed watching Ira open all his gifts.

Happy Holidays!

Ira turns 5, Plays Soccer and Goes to Charleston

Nana, Papa and Ira's cousin Cheyenne came from Pensacola to celebrate Ira's birthday. Nana and Papa gave Ira this Spiderman costume. He loved it so much he had to sleep with it on. These two were exhausted after a fun day together.

Spiderweb cupcakes!

 

Let the party begin!

 

Two of Spiderman's favorites, Kyle and Jason.

 

Papa throwing balls at children in the backyard.

 

My big five-year-old blowing out his candle.

 

Opening presents.

 

Shooting a spiderweb at his guests.

 

After the party, Ira and Cheyenne played with all of Ira's presents.

 

Soccer season has just begun. Ira is really into it this year. He is number 6.

 

Aren't they cute?

 

 

Making a throw in.

Action pose.

 

We spent our Fall Break visiting relatives in Charleston, SC. Ira enjoyed playing checkers with Poppops...

 

and reading to Big G.

 

It was a little chilly at the beach but Ira still had fun playing in the sand. Jesse and Ira took the same photo two years ago. It is amazing to see how much Ira has grown.

 

Ira and Mommy (and future baby) ate a lot this trip. We loved all the restaurants on Folly Beach.

 

Even if it was a little cold, ice cream and beach trips are a good combination.

 

Ira and Big G race to the finish line. We found a really fun playground on the beach.

 

A beautiful boat ride on the Folly River.

Big G keeps Ira warm on our ride.

 

After the boat ride, we went to dinner with Jesse's grandmother, GG. We are missing Aunt Drew in this picture but otherwise have all of GG's grandchildren and great grandchildren together. Jesse's cousin Brian has two smart and handsome little boys, Blake and Rilee. 

 

The next day Poppops treated us to lunch then took us to James Island County Park.

 

After a fun day at the park, the whole Bloodworth clan spent the evening at Poppops house.

 

We spent the next day at Charles Towne Landing, learning all about Charleston's first settlement. 

 

We took a break from exploring to pose in front of "grass mud," what Ira calls the marsh.

 

Protecting Charleston from intruders.

 

Beautiful canopy of trees at Charles Towne Landing.

 

What they do to bad little boys in Charleston.

 

Bad behavior runs in the family.

 

Pumping water off a cargo ship at Charles Towne Landing.

 

Playing in the pineapple fountain at Waterfront Park. 

 

Our final evening in Charleston was spent watching the sunset and enjoying family!