Our New Chrysler

Back in April, we sold our beloved Mazda6 SportWagon and bought a Chrysler Town & Country. It was a hard decision. We really liked the Mazda - it was fun to drive, looked fantastic, and was very useful. In addition, we had been all over in that car - we had taken it on vacation to Northern Minnesota, out to Williamsburg, Virginia, all over Tennessee, and back and forth to Detroit and Chicago multiple times.

But, our family has grown, and we decided that we would like a bigger car for our long-distance drives. Although I flirted with the idea of a conversion van, we decided to get a Swagger-Wagon.

Our new rig is Inferno Red, with a gray interior, has swivel seats, dual DVD players, power doors, and a fairly responsive 3.8L V6 mated to a 6-speed auto. By comparison, my parents' first minivan, a 1986 Dodge Caravan LE, had wood-grain siding, three doors, two bench seats, a carburated 2.6L I4, and a 3-speed automatic.


It joins a fleet of (mostly red) Town & Country and Grand Caravans owned by our friends, and continues the vaunted Stringer line of red Chrysler minivans.


We have already driven it to Destin on vacation and found that its swivel seats delight grandparents and kids riding in the back around town, and that its multimedia capabilities make long drives on the freeway with kids easy as pie!
We have also taken it camping and found that its rear deck makes a perfect kitchen/closet/staging area/changing table/etc.!

We can't wait to see where it takes us next!

Happy Birthday, Niki (and Erin)!

Happy Birthday, Niki (and Erin)!

Niki - we love you!

Camping with Charlie

Over Memorial Day, while Peter and Niki flew to Chicago to visit Aunt Erin and Cousin Sosi, Charlie and I headed into the Tennessee woods to go camping with the Hancock family.
We actually spent the night in a tent at Rock Island State Park, and did a little hiking the next day.
Beautiful gorge on the Caney Fork River.
We were a little inexperienced to make it all the way to the falls. We'll try when Charlie is a little older!

The Kids Visit the Office

Today, Niki brought Peter and Charlotte down to Nashville to meet me for lunch. They stopped in my office before we headed out.
While Peter hung out in my office and flirted with the ladies (Peter gives a shout out to Brenda, Dominique, Rose Marie, Melissa, Lauren, Laura, Caroline, Myra, Dana, Brandi, Teresa, Judy, Kim, and Casey),

Charlotte scurried behind my desk and got right to work. First, she checked the title commitment.

Then, she pulled up the survey.

Then, she explained the error she found in the chain of title.

After that, she got on the phone and negotiated a new cross-access easement.

When we left for lunch, she stayed in the office to close the deal.

Just along for the ride

I put Peter in the shopping cart seat for the first time the day we flew to Illinois. I had to stuff a few towels around him to help him keep upright, but he really seemed to enjoy it! He munched on toys and didn't protest when his sister got a free cookie at the bakery and he didn't. Life before teeth is rough, youknowwhatImean? He looks so proud of himself sitting up like a big boy, just like his sister did when she first sat like that.

Peter's meeting with the Great Sosini

When Peter and I flew up to Illinois to introduce him to Sonia (aka the Great Sosini), I had no idea just how much fun it was going to be! Sonia loved Peter (as described in this post over on my sister's blog), and Peter thought Sonia was hilarious. He treated her just like a sister -- he pulled her hair and tried to chew on her just like he does to Charlie Jo. Erin's post gives the low-down on all of our activities, but here are some photos she didn't post. They're such good buddies now!

Peter takes to the skies

Peter is boarding his first airplane this evening when he and I fly to Illinois to hang out with Auntie Erin and the Great Sosini. Corey and Charlotte are staying behind for a daddy/daughter camping catastrophe, oops I mean adventure. There should be some interesting stories at the end of the weekend...

It's like pulling teeth

Getting Charlotte to smile for the camera is ridiculously hard. She really is a happy little kid, but I have thousands of photos of the girl looking dour. Lately, she has gotten the concept of saying "cheese" for the camera, but she can do it without looking even remotely happy. Witness:



Sometimes, her "cheese" almost looks like a smile, but she has to be super excited and on a boat for something like that to happen.



Other times, accessories thwart her attempts at posing for the camera.



Any suggestions?

Destin Details

Two details to point out from our Destin trip:

Quinn - this one's for you!

David Marshall and Don - check out the outboards on this boat. Take a closer look by clicking on the picture below.

Those are 3 Yamaha outboards - each is a 5.3L V8 producing 350 hp. You do the math. Wow!

Boating, Pooltime, and Sunsets

We had an easy drive back to Nashville, a wonderful Cannonwood homecoming, and dinner at Blue Coast Burrito. The kids are asleep, so we thought we'd post pictures from Thursday and Friday.

Thursday morning, we rented a pontoon boat again. Charlie took up her favorite spot at the rail behind the wheelsman's chair.

After cruising around Choctawhatchee Bay and wading in the East Pass, we took one last spin around Destin Harbor. Charlie Jo and Corey sat up front and watched the water.

Big smile!

On Friday morning, we met at the Donut Hole. Both kids were fussy, but NanaB and GrandDad had fun anyway.

After breakfast, we headed over to the Bay Club pool at Sandestin. It's right on the Bay.

Charlotte waded in the wading pool, and Peter took a turn in the Turtle.

Peter and Mama.

After swimming, Peter lounged at poolside and charmed all the pretty girls with his smile.

Palm trees and the Florida sky.

Friday evening, we had dinner at Fisherman's Wharf, overlooking an oyster-shucking contest. The tables are being set up right at dockside.

Niki and GrandDad at dinner.

After dinner, Corey fed Peter dinner. Serious stuff.

Charlie's beloved moon shone on us in Destin.

We enjoyed the sunset at Harbor Walk Village. Well, some of us watched the sunset while some of us took pictures and some of us played.

What fun in Destin! We can't wait to return!

Blue Angels and Beach Pix

Today, Dad and I headed to Pensacola to watch the Blue Angels practice. Utterly amazing.

Delta formation.

Check out the vapor as the F-18 banked.

Dad and I went through a retired Fat Albert, a C-130, which Dad worked on in Vietnam.

I got to sit in an F-18. Wow.

This evening, we tried taking pictures on the beach. It was harder than it looked. Here I am tackling Niki. (I was trying to slide into position - and missed.)

Nope. That's not gonna work.


There we go - much better.

NanaB, GrandDad, and grandkids.

Niki, me, and kids.

Peter and I watched the waves.

Brother and sister, looking serious.

NanaB, Charlie, and I checked out the water.