Chattanooga Vacation: Part Three

We did manage to take some time out of our vacation for formal portraits. On the Southern Belle:

Underground, at Ruby Falls:

Chattanooga Vacation: Part Two

Chattanooga is also known for its aquarium. We explored both the freshwater and the saltwater buildings. I think it's a sturgeon that he's petting here:

Watch out for giant crabs!

More river-boat piloting. This time at the children's museum.

Chattanooga Vacation: Part One

A recent trip to Chattanooga (31 July to 2 August 2008) was dominated by modes of transportation. The most exciting for Ian was the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. He just about lost his mind when a genuine antique steam engine (which Ian much favors over diesel engines) pulled up to the depot.

We rode it six miles down the track to a turntable where we got to see the big locomotive turn around.

The next day we moved on to river transportation and hopped on the Southern Belle river boat. Ian spent most of the time with the captain, learning how to steer the boat (note hat from the Tennesse Valley Railroad Museum.

Ian's FIFTH Birthday

On 27 September 2008, Ian celebrated his fifth birthday.

The celebration began on the Friday before the actual date. At school he treated his classmates to donuts and chocolate milk. His teachers, Ms. Allison and Ms. Gail, managed to stick a lit candle in Ian's donut.

Saturday was the actual birthday and we elected to take a relatively low-key approach. Ian invited three of his best buds to meet at Chuck E. Cheese's. And so Penelope, Haven, and Marko assembled at that anarchic locale that is C. E. Cheese's. The parents suffered through the din, but the kids had a great time.

But we didn't go for the birthday package provided by Mr. Cheese, because we figured we could get better cake from Mary's Cakes and Pastries. And we did (see above)!

Ian received some swell presents from generous friends and family (and has written about half of his thank-you notes). Many pictures were taken--too many for Blog Ian. You'll have to browse over to

http://picasaweb.google.com/jgbutler/20080927IanSFifthBirthday?authkey=2_RDpE2tcoA

to see them!

Sorry for the loooong URL, but this is not a fully public online album.

Ian in a Big Polish Head

While in Poland, Ian was able to experience many local artworks. In the Rynek Główny (market square) in Kraków he particularly enjoyed Eros spętany (Eros Bound) a piece of sculpture by Igor Mitoraj.

According to Wikipedia, "Mitoraj's sculptural style is rooted in the classical tradition with its focus on the well modelled torso. However, Mitoraj introduces a post-modern twist with ostentatiously truncated limbs, emphasising the damage sustained by most genuine classical sculptures."

Two Faces of Ian

Several months ago, Ian's spring 2008 school pictures were taken. The ones we selected show two faces of Ian...

The Pensive Ian

The Happy Ian

Ian Returns to Poland

Marysia and Ian zipped off to Poland last month, leaving 27 May after a quick visit to Long Island first. They've spent a week in Kraków, but now are off to the Bieszczady mountains for several weeks -- first in the farming/holiday village of Zawóz and, starting on Tuesday, in Lesko.

Marysia sent these first pics.

On the plane, seemingly having a great time, and wearing his Alabama colors.

With Babcia Wala, Ian's babysitter when he first visited (age 1.5). They had a great reunion!

Marysia writes, "Ian and I went to the park yesterday afternoon [29 May]. There's a wonderful new playground with a climbing structure like a pirate ship, and large sand toys (One like a water chute and water wheel, others that are diggers with levers). Ian loved it."

No surprise: Ian loves riding the Kraków tram!

Also, Marysia reported on their battle with jet lag:

Ian and I had a more restless night last night. I stayed up past the point when I felt tired, finally got into bed at 12:30, but couldn't fall asleep. By 1 AM, Ian had waken up and couldn't fall back asleep until 2:30. He called out to me, "Mommy, I don't feel good. I can't fall asleep properly." He's been sleeping in his own bed---the bedroom has two smaller-than-twin beds and he wanted one to himself--he said he wouldn't fall out of bed. It's low to the ground, so I just set up some pillows on the floor. The first night he rolled out just once so I picked him up and put him back in. Last night, when he couldn't sleep, I moved the two beds together so I could be with him, which he wanted when he couldn't sleep. Eventually, we both drifted off. I expect this will be the worst of it.

My Mom Is Funny...

Ian says, "My mom is funny when she does her funny dance."

Ian at the Mayor's Cup 5K

Recently, the City of Tuscaloosa sponsored the "Mayor's Cup 5K Race." Marysia ran and had a very good race -- third overall woman and a time that almost beat her personal best. Plus, as this photo shows, she was this close to edging out the mayor, Walt Maddox. He's the young guy in black. She's a couple of runners behind him, in blue.

Ian and I were there, too, urging Marysia on. A Tuscaloosa News photographer caught him. He didn't make the print edition, but the online slideshow features him. The caption reads:

04-26-08 -- Tuscaloosa, Ala -- Ian Butler, 4, waits with his father, not pictured, in the rain as his mother runs in the Mayor's Cup 5K race in downtown Tuscaloosa Saturday, April 26, 2008. (Dusty Compton / Tuscaloosa News)

So, I'm the only one in our family who is "not pictured"! Well, at least my legs made the cut.

(Please note the Brown crest on the umbrella. In deo speramus, man! Ian is also wearing a "Bama" t-shirt so he's also representing for UA.)

Easter at Camp McDowell

Last month, for the last weekend of spring break, the Butler-Galbraiths headed to Camp McDowell, a summer camp/adult retreat center. It's about 90 minutes north of Tuscaloosa, but we actually drove there from Birmingham. Marysia and Ian had been in New York, visiting her folks. I picked them up at the airport and off we went.

We had a fine time canoing and hiking and hanging out with three or four other families in a lodge (visible at the rear of this photo). Plus, that Sunday was Easter Sunday and to our surprise the Easter Bunny came to Camp McDowell and deposited a couple hundred eggs near our lodge. All the kids had a great time hunting for them.

There's a bunch of pictures from the weekend posted over here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jgbutler/CampMcDowell

I used it as an opportunity to try out my new fancy camera. Even got some artistic shots!