tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62826902008-10-27T10:02:18.470-06:00The triumphs and tribulations of young Jeremy Ian Galbraith Butler as he makes his way through this world.Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-51705103658509338082008-10-17T12:15:00.003-06:002008-10-27T10:02:18.485-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-53408425792353981442008-10-17T12:14:00.005-06:002008-10-27T10:01:06.414-06:00

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.

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-16475919937797258302008-10-17T12:09:00.004-06:002008-10-27T09:59:56.651-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-25144479469208766702008-10-11T19:30:00.001-06:002008-10-11T19:59:33.657-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-50150662682832928482008-07-24T06:19:00.001-06:002008-07-24T06:28:15.603-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-45111111042117483352008-07-20T18:35:00.001-06:002008-07-20T18:39:15.779-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-89140491090362618002008-06-08T09:38:00.003-06:002008-06-08T10:06:54.555-06:00

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.

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-50103209431170398342008-05-11T18:44:00.001-06:002008-07-20T18:46:35.188-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-92101806984162438542008-04-28T15:49:00.002-06:002008-04-28T16:01:57.125-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-88715278222291059602008-04-12T06:43:00.002-06:002008-04-20T09:27:05.343-06:00

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

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-45703769716721149852008-02-28T09:54:00.001-06:002008-02-28T10:06:43.283-06:00

Marysia addressed valentines cards that Ian made, and then he signed some of them. This one is for his friend and classmate, Penelope (not his grandmother, Penelope)! At this point, his signature is more legible than that of either of his parents!

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-68681919781182157472008-02-10T19:37:00.000-06:002008-02-10T19:37:46.786-06:00

Sorry... another new-camera image that's too adorable not to share. Ian recently received a subscription to The National Geographic. It fascinates him. Here, he's reading it under the living-room coffee table. Oh, and that's Brent Davis's big toe in the lower left corner. He was in-state for a writers conference and buzzed down to Northport for a too-short visit.

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-54916039913368728302008-02-10T14:52:00.000-06:002008-02-10T19:34:06.514-06:00

I'm still testing out my new camera and Ian is still eating cereal for breakfast. Put those two things together and you get a breakfast montage, including this image: The montage was shot without a flash, using only natural light and a slow shutter speed. Hence the blurring effect...

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-76911108322276028622008-01-12T10:06:00.000-06:002008-01-12T10:18:38.057-06:00

For Christmas, I gave myself one expensive new electronic gadget: a digital SLR still camera. Specifically, I bought a Nikon D80 camera. I'm really liking it. It reminds me of my first SLR camera, a Minolta SRT101 that was a combination birthday and high-school graduation present in 1972. Come to think of it, that was also my last SLR camera as it's survived all this time. 36 years! I shot

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-8956039913261332112007-12-25T21:05:00.000-06:002007-12-25T21:10:51.751-06:00

We have had a most happy Christmas, due in large part to the generosity of family and friends. Ian, as you might imagine, cleaned up. Many thanks to all "and to all a good night"! And now... pictorial proof of the merriment: View the gallery online over here.

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-90506909288785587082007-12-21T13:32:00.000-06:002007-12-21T13:50:33.801-06:00

Our friends Loti and Don send us a gingerbread casita from Tucson. Last night (and this morning) we built it. Ian was fascinated. Me, too. Pez makes perfect little bricks!

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-87737487317523783682007-12-21T10:23:00.000-06:002007-12-21T10:57:01.461-06:00

Just in time for Christmas, here's a little recording of Ian singing "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." It was recorded as we were driving to the Tuscaloosa Library last week. (You may hear some car noise in the background.) I'm going to try embedding an MP3 file of Ian's singing into this post, but I've never done that before and I'm not sure how well it'll work. I guess I won't find out until

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-71326695042215875502007-11-03T19:36:00.000-06:002007-11-03T20:59:28.972-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, Marysia asked Ian what he wanted to be for Halloween. "An airplane," he replied without hesitation. A few days later, she asked him again. Same answer. So, we set about building an airplane costume for Ian. We found a cardboard box and transformed it into a fuselage. Wings and the tail assembly were similarly fashioned. I made a trip to Anders Hardware, in what is

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-52535806628192312712007-10-28T19:09:00.000-06:002007-10-28T19:16:01.832-06:00

The latest school portrait is here! The smile is not completely "natural," but, still, it is a sweet shot of our little dude.

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-33425469614579889182007-10-08T05:51:00.000-06:002007-10-08T05:55:59.916-06:00

We just sent around an email -- which some readers of Blog Ian may have already seen -- inviting folks to view Ian's birthday pix. Then I discovered this cool way to embed a slideshow in Blog Ian: Pretty neat!

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-44705199824414421962007-10-07T18:57:00.001-06:002007-10-07T19:15:00.862-06:00

August 16th and 17th we took advantage of Ian's daycare being closed for a teachers' work day and we headed northeast to Chattanooga -- an easy three-hour drive up I59. We had a fine time staying at the Country Inn & Suites (two rooms -- one for Ian to go to sleep in at 8:00!) and exploring the TN Aquarium, the Chattanooga Choo Choo, Raccoon Mountain Caverns, Creative Discovery Museum Science,

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-13535118112237355452007-09-15T19:40:00.000-06:002007-09-15T19:54:23.781-06:00

Ian has graduated! As of 1 August 2007, he's no longer in the UA Children's Program's (as they prefer to call the UCCS) "multi-age" room 006 with Ms. Sara and Mr. Mike. Now he's next door, in the multi-age room 005 with Ms. Alison and Ms. Gale! Ian really liked Ms. Sara and Mr. Mike and learned a lot from them. He misses them, but he still gets to see them out on the playground as the two

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-74818586090917307072007-07-14T07:53:00.000-06:002007-07-14T07:55:02.350-06:00

Every once in a very long while a company's customer service surprises you in a good way. Radio Flyer, the maker of "little red wagons" since 1917, recently proved this to me. We bought Ian one of their Deluxe Steer & Stroll Trikes. These are pretty cool as they allow the parent to "co-pilot" the trike, steering it from behind. This feature has helped us steer Ian out of traffic and away

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-75003656346591421452007-07-05T15:30:00.000-06:002007-07-05T15:30:32.442-06:00

Ian's best friend at his daycare is Micah. The two are inseparable partners in crime. Here they are working on an art project: Also, on Father's Day last month, Ian came home with, shall we say, a unique objet d'art:

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6282690.post-29562624765497252192007-06-23T13:35:00.000-06:002007-06-23T13:35:38.082-06:00

On the first Thursday of each month, the City of Northport sponsors Art Night, where galleries stay open late and various activities occur. Basically, it's just an excuse for folks to meet and greet one another. On the 7 June 2007 Art Night, Henri's Notions (a local Celtic-music band) was debuting their new CD, Trip to the Cottage. Ian enjoyed himself, as always, by running around the Kentuck

Jeremy Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04488066941735851778noreply@blogger.com