Fourth of July in Michigan

On July 3, the TN Stringers loaded up Charlotte's Big Red Van and pointed it north to Michigan.

After 9 hours on the road through Kentucky and Ohio, we crossed into Michigan, and found a playground at the first rest area. Charlie was delighted!

Right by the swings, Peter found a map of Michigan and plunked himself right in the middle to watch the action.

Even Niki had fun on the swings!

After about another hour on the road, we pulled up to Camp NanaB!

On the Fourth, Niki and I visited our friends Brad and Amanda and their new son. He's a beautiful little boy, and we can't wait to spend more time getting to know him. He fell asleep in my arms - I could have held him all morning. Brad and Amanda look great, and seem to be getting into the swing of being parents very well.

That afternoon, we were invited to a party with NanaB and GrandDad's Dance Group. Charlie found a little friend Josiah, and had a ball!

Peter wiggled around in the grass on his belly.

When we got home from the party, GrandDad lit some sparklers for Charlie and Peter.

For some odd reason, Charlie declared that she liked the smell of the sparklers. Toddlers are weird.

Happy Fourth of July!

Charlotte's audition for America's Next Top Model

Can someone please forward these shots to Tyra? CLEARLY, Charlotte is a modeling prodigy.






Okay, maybe not. But isn't that a beautiful dress that Charlotte's Greatest Aunt Janet made for her?

PUPPIES!

Some of our neighbors breed a litter of Great Danes every few years, and four weeks ago a litter of six puppies was born. I packed the kids up in the stroller and headed down the street so CJ (who fancies herself an animal rescuer/adventurer) and PJ could meet them.



Lee said this was only the second day the puppies had been staying outside in their little kennel. Their momma, Bella, was inside escaping the constant onslaught of sharp little teeth and nails.



CJ kept exclaiming about how cute the puppies were, but she kept her distance for a few moments while she checked them out.



They are RIDICULOUSLY cute!



I was trying to hold a wiggly PJ while taking photos, so this is the only one I got of CJ with her new buddies.



Here's a shot I stole from an e-mail Lee sent. They are the sweetest little pups! It's hard to imagine that they will soon grow as large as small horses.

Thar she blows!

I spotted a tiny fleck of white on Peter's lower gums tonight. I tried to wipe it away, but it didn't budge. Looks like Petey Pie's first tooth has erupted! I think it's the lower front left tooth. Now for the nearly impossible task of getting a photograph of it...

Let the mess begin!

Now that Peter qualifies as a "steady sitter", he is ready to try some self-feeding. So far, he is not able to put things like puffs in his mouth (they get lost in his chubby little fists), so I decided to try the net feeder with a little bit of avocado inside. He actually "got it" a little more than his sister did the first time she tried it, but then he realized that it was a whole lot more fun to use it as a paintbrush and gavel. The mess he made was phenomenal.

Charlotte, of course, couldn't let Peter have all the fun. She insisted on using a feeder herself (good thing I have two), but wanted me to put pieces of her quesadilla in it instead. Let's just say that quesadilla is NOT the best food for a net feeder. After a while, she requested some avocado, but then she informed me it was "yucky" and gave it to Peter. Peter gleefully seized the opportunity to make double the mess. Oh my.

Cheesy McCheesersons

Strange days

Odd things happen in the summer when the thermometer reaches triple digits. For instance, Peter somehow ends up in his exersaucer with no clothes on. (Yes, he was wearing a diaper. I may not be the best mother, but I'm not stupid.) Well, I'm pretty sure this was after a blowout diaper and I was too lazy to obtain a new outfit at that particular moment. Regardless, Peter did his "work" on the farm sans clothing.



Charlotte thought this was HIGH-larious and stationed herself right next to him while repeating over and over "Peter's NAKED! Peter's NAKED!"

The next day, we were upstairs in the bonus room and I took off Charlotte's one-piece romper (yes, she does experience consternation while wearing this since she can't reach her bellybutton, but she can stand it for a few hours at a time) to change her diaper. Again, sloth got the best of me and I didn't put the romper on right away. One thing led to another, and Charlotte's dress-up bin came out. She asked for my help in putting on not one, not two, but THREE skirts, a pair of kid gloves, and a fabulous hat. I added the lei and snapped a photo of her saying "cheese".



I swear my children do not normally run around in the nude, but when it's so hot outside I seem to be a little slower dressing them once the clothes come off.

Then, Peter somehow wound up tangled up in a discarded Tinkerbell outfit. Didn't he look fabulous in it though?

Where's that margarita I ordered?

Peter had his first experience sitting in a restaurant high chair last weekend. Coincidentally, he did it at the same restaurant where Charlotte first sat in a restaurant high chair. It was even at the same table -- they must always put the families with teeny tiny kids who look like trouble at that table. Peter did a pretty good job in the high chair, but he reached his limit after 20 minutes or so.

Cannonwood Cares 2010 Motorcycle Run

Our neighborhood non-profit, Cannonwood Cares, Inc., held its first charity motorcycle ride on Saturday. Our President and Mayor of Cannonwood, Ronnie organized it, and Dusty, of Southern Cruisers, planned and led the ride itself. We wound up having 22 bikes join us, and we raised over $1,700!

Sarah and Lee organized a lunch for the riders at Henry Horton State Park, Alicia and John provided magnificent logistical support, and Faith Carol handmade and wrapped 57 cookie bars.

The bikes are all lined up.

Dusty and Ronnie conduct the pre-ride briefing.

The bikers not just listened, but joined in a lively and very serious discussion about the rules of the ride.

Alicia and Sarah unfurled the Make A Wish Foundation banner . . .

. . .and the riders took off!

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.