Yesterday, our little Petey Pie turned six whole months old. (By the way, a few days earlier his Michigan State University roommate was born. Declan and Peter should be great roommates -- their daddies had a terrific time rooming together at MSU last century!) He is such a smiley little dude that everyone he meets comments on his gorgeous grin and blue eyes.
We celebrated the milestone by going swimming with Zoey and Demetri at their neighborhood pool. Buddy boy loved floating in the pool and watching Charlie Jo and Zozo running around all over the place. It won't be long before he's crawling after them. He has been getting up a little on his knees lately during tummy time, but I'm actually guessing that crawling will be at least a month off. CJ started crawling after she turned seven months old, and Peter will probably do the same.
We have a lot of travel coming up -- a week in Michigan and almost two weeks in California. Lots of new experiences for the little guy, and lots of cuddle time for the grandmothers.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Together again!
Thank GOODNESS Joslyne and Zoey came back to Tennessee for a couple of weeks before the official move to Boston. I'm not sure how we have been surviving without them. Today, CJ and Zozo were back in action together playing in the water in the front yard. They are so stinkin' cute together. It's a crime to separate them. Did you hear me Joslyne? A CRIME!
Contrast these photos to the ones from their first swimming playdate last summer. It's so much fun to watch those nutburgers grow up!
Contrast these photos to the ones from their first swimming playdate last summer. It's so much fun to watch those nutburgers grow up!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
First time on the swings!
Peter loved the swing, but only if he was sitting all the way forward and hanging over the front.
He also loved chilling in his stroller and chewing on his toys. Now that he can sit up just about all on his own, it's a whole new world!
He also loved chilling in his stroller and chewing on his toys. Now that he can sit up just about all on his own, it's a whole new world!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, June 4, 2010
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!
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.
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!
Friday, May 28, 2010
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...
Monday, May 24, 2010
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?
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?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
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!
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!
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