My Kid is Almost as Cute as My Dog

I'm not a very regular blogger. But since I'm a proud new mama, and I want to see if I can embed (or upload!) a video, I am posting today. I think Nathan has learned a few tricks from Simon on treating every cloth in the house as a chew toy!

Pineapple Shrimp Kabobs

Per Merritt's request, I am sharing a favorite grilling recipe. This is easy and healthy, so enjoy!

Pineapple Shrimp Kabobs

ingredients:
1 20-oz can of pineapple chunks (or fresh pineapple in juice)
1 cup fat-free italian dressing
8 oz tomato sauce
1/8 cup brown sugar (or splenda brown sugar blend)
1 tsp prepared mustard
1 lb uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (approx. 32)
1 large sweet red bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 medium onion, cut into petals
several metal (or soaked wooden) skewers

directions:
drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup of juice; refrigerate. combine salad dressing, tomatoo sauce, brown sugar, mustard, and pineapple juice. pour 1 1/2 cups into plastic bag and add shrimp. Refigerate for 3 hours. Save remaining marinade for basting.

drain and discard marinade. Put shrimp, peppers, onions and pineapples onto skewers. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 3-5 minutes on each side or until shrimp is pink and veggies are tender. Baste occasionally. Yield: 4 servings (3 skewers each).

My Honda Civic, 1995-2007

It is with deep regret that I announce the untimely demise of my beloved Civic. It was a wonderful car, deeply appreciated, and we certainly got our money's worth (read: mom's money's worth) out of it. I have a new car already (and will share about that when I feel more ready), but it feels sort of disloyal not to take a day to honor the Civic.

Here I am with the Civic, shortly after its purchase in 1998.

And here are some of my favorite memories with the Civic (no, this is not just an excuse to make a list):

1.) going out "for ice cream" numerous times with Mark, in the Huntersville research park

2.) killing time (in the best way possible) during a tornado watch in the North Meck parking lot

3.) numerous drives between Clemson and Furman, via Easley - I think the car could have driven that route by itself.

4.) searching for a tire store open on Easter Sunday 2001, after we got a flat on I-95 somewhere in southern Georgia

5.) singing the theme song to Never Ending Story with Ryan as we entered the main gate at Furman

6.) Watching Mark and David change yet another flat tire on the way to beach weekend, 2003 (yes, David can change a flat and is otherwise excellent with tools - don't be so surprised!)

7.) Driving to Charleston with Betsy when the a/c wasn't working so well - it was so hot we had to lean the seats back all the way and sit up unsupported, so that our backs wouldn't get all sweaty

8.) teaching Mark to drive a stick shift

9.) getting a jump start from Brian on Easter Sunday 2007, on the front sidewalk of the church

10.) parking in any of the "expensive spots" (read: illegal spots where we were sure to get a ticket) with Kristy on Furman's campus.

Farewell, old friend. It's too bad you're no longer safe or street legal (in the words of our mechanic: "I wouldn't put MY son in that car"), or we could have had many more fun times. But, we'll always have the memories.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa S!

My Grandpa Schnackenberg is 89 years old today. Last year he was very proud to tell everyone that he was as many years old as there are keys on a piano. He's very proud of his age, so I don't know what analogy he will come up with this year!




Grandpa is very well known in Huntersville - he even made the newspaper for being such a local character. He brings his little poodle, Tammy, pretty much everywhere. This includes his daily lunch spot (Wendy's), where he orders a burger (with no lettuce, since one time there was a spider on the lettuce... seems like that should have kept him away altogether, huh?) and a water just for Tammy. This also includes his daily stop at Lowe's where he sits at the front of the store to people-watch, in his very own chair (which the management, after one fiasco several years ago, now knows NOT to sell to a customer, since it's already been purchased by Grandpa, to be kept at the store for his personal use every day). He also brings Tammy (on the seat of his golf cart, since the driveway is kind of steep) when he goes to check the mail or take out the trash.

Although it drives my mom nuts, my Grandpa can't part with the yellow sweater in the picture above. It used to have big holes in the elbows, and mom tore the sleeves off in the hopes that it would ruin the sweater beyond repair... but, as you can see, it didn't. Grandpa just took it to a tailor and had them fix it up for him. So now he has a short-sleeved sweater (which might be more appropriate anyway, since for him, it never seems to be out of season).

Yes, he's a character. But we do love him. Happy 89th, Grandpa!

For pictures of Nathan with his Great-Grandpa Schnackenberg and Tammy (and Great-Grandpa Bumgarner, too!), click here.

Dad of the Year

So, Mark is turning out to be pretty much the best Dad ever. There were a few rough days this week, but he handled it as well as could be expected. I know he loves his son more than anything else.



They're pretty much the two cutest guys I know.

Click here for more pictures of Nathan at home.

Here We Go Again...

I've been convinced to become a more regular blogger. Since we're embarking on a new journey (parenthood) and we hope to continue our other journeys (you know, the kind where you get into a plane or car and GO somewhere), I guess it's nice to have it documented.

We're trying to raise our three babies (two canine, one human) in Raleigh, NC, and we need all the help we can get. Offer suggestions anywhere you see appropriate!

Here are all our "children"... Simon, Nathan, and Bowden: