Father's Day 2010

Niki and the kids treated me to a great Father's Day today! We started out the day at Pinkerton Park. We've learned to go early in the morning on summer days before the swings and slides hit 140 degrees.

As the Father, on Father's Day, I decided to swing Charlie as high as she wanted.

Okay. That's pretty high.

Peter's turn.

I took this picture from the ground. Peter is not swinging as high as it looks.

Niki got into the act, too.

Stringer Swingers!

Charlie took a break from the swings to pound out a melody on the bongo drums.

Niki chatted with Grandpa Spike on the phone while Peter sat on the picnic table and chomped on things.

The remainder of our day was magnificent. I'm a pretty lucky dad to have these kids and Niki as my family. I am equally lucky that they treat me like it's Father's Day every day!

Just your typical summer afternoon

I love these little mugwumps.

Strap her in!

I was putting together and adjusting Charlotte's new carseat, so I needed her to sit in it. She was surprisingly entertained by the experience. In fact, when I unbuckled her and told her she could get up, she refused and asked to be buckled in again. I complied, and then I seized the opportunity to take a few photos of the captive subject. She was obviously in a pretty goofy mood.

A love that runs deep and true

I cannot describe just how sincere and intense Charlotte's love for Top Ramen, aka "noonles", has become. No, I didn't spell that wrong. She says "noonles" instead of "noodles". Anyone quick to criticize the lack of nutrition in Top Ramen has clearly never had to deal with feeding an extremely picky 2-year-old. (I don't know why I'm so defensive about this, but I just am.)

ANYWAY, Charlotte got her grubby little mitts on a recently purchased economy-sized package of her noonles today. I have no idea what she had planned for them, but there was a mysterious gleam in her eye. I confiscated the prize, but then thought better of it and handed it back for a photo op. In the first photo, she is saying "cheese", but as previously discussed, her attempt to smile for the camera fell a little short. In the second photo, she is giving the package a big smooch. Can you feel the love?

Heart and soul

I look at this cell phone shot I took of CJ and Zozo playing the piano over at Alicia's house and I pretend they were playing something fun like "Heart and Soul". In reality, CJ was walloping on the keys and tunelessly wailing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" while Zozo delicately pressed the keys and giggled when she made a sound.

Peter at 6 Months

Peter had his 6-month check-up today and according to the doctor, he is doing great! But we knew that already, so I don't know what our doctor went to all that med school for. Peter is a bouncy, happy, baby boy. His bright blue eyes sparkle and he smiles like it is his job. When he wakes up in the morning, he wiggles as hard as he possibly can. But he has his serious side, too. He is sitting on his own now, and will concentrate on a toy for long periods of time, grunting and cooing happily. He loves holding things and manipulating toys with this fingers. Before he tires of a toy, he will have turned it over, clicked it, tapped it, twirled it, gummed on it, swung it, and done everything he can possibly do with it. He likes pulling Connie's ears, and Connie tolerates it. He loves watching Charlie and she loves poking him in the face. He is a good, happy little boy - he truly is a joy to have in our lives.

Okay - here is Peter by the numbers. He weighs 16lbs, 13 oz. He is 26.5 inches long. That puts him in the 25th-50th percentile for weight and in the 50th percentile for height. What was Charlie like at 6 months? Check it out.

6 MONTHS OLD!

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.

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!

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!

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!