Pool Time

We are enjoying a low-key weekend. Brent doesn't have to go in to work or to round on patients this weekend and we didn't have any "real" plans, so we've just been enjoying some down time. We took the kids to the pool this morning (thanks zerden's for lending us your pool pass!). It was really overcast and even sprinkled on us a time or two but we enjoyed it none-the-less!

Avery learned a lot in swim lessons this summer but I just haven't been able to get the kids to the pool for her to practice as much as I'd like this summer. It is soooo much work to get everyone greased and suited up...and then I feel like a pack mule with floats, towels, dry clothes, lunch, etc...so I was glad we could all go while Brent was free!

here is avery - already holding her breath - and about to launch herself into the water!

and here she is arriving at her goal - daddy!

this is griffin's favorite "trick" in the pool!

and of course mr graham was chillin' poolside!

lets be honest. one of the major goals of taking the kids to the pool is to wear them out! brent had the kids racing back and forth across the pool for about 10 minutes! great exercise and great energy burner!

Park Playdate

I'm not sure about you guys, but we have had some mega HOT weather. We're talking 95+ degrees - with a heat index of 108-110!!! Insane! Being outdoors after about 10 AM has been unbearable unless you are swimming....so needless to say, the Parnell clan has been a little restless.

But today, we met some friends at the playground at 8:30 AM!!! Way early but worth it. It was already 80 degrees but overcast so not too hot. The kids had a blast - and I'm thankful that they could run, yell, and burn their energy! The kids played well and entertained themselves so Keri, Alice, and I actually got to talk!

here are all the girls - avery, kaylee, maddox, katelyn - "roasting marshmallows" in their "fire"

all the big kids

Griffin and Bryce were so glad that they finally had another BOY to play with! They had a blast together and enjoyed a break from playing princesses or tea party!

Pizza Time!

Brent and I really enjoy having time to spend with friends these days. During residency, we rarely did this as a couple - it was normally just me or just me and the kids...but now that Brent's schedule is so much better, we've been able to do more of this as a family. Its so much more relaxing (its all relative, right?) to spend time at someone's house as opposed to a restaurant. That way the kids can run and be loud and entertain themselves so the adults can have a conversation.

We had the Runkles over on Sunday night for a very low-key dinner. We ordered pizza and made brownies and they brought watermelon and canteloupe. We are blessed to have such good friends here in durham and really enjoyed some catch-up time with them.

here are the big kids!

and my smiley baby boy!

and precious jack jack!

A Summer Recipe

Here is a recipe from my friend Lisa. We had this tonight - halved the recipe, left out the pine nuts, and put grilled chicken on it. It was delicious! She adds broccoli, leaves out the basil, and serves over lettuce. Either way, its a great summer meal.

Orzo with Tomatoes, Feta, and Green Onions

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 TBSP lemon juice
1 tsp honey
1/2 cup olive oil
6 cups chicken broth
1 lb orzo

2 cups red and/or yellow grape or teardrop tomatoes, halved
7 oz feta, crumbled or cubed
1 cup fresh chopped basil
1 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts

Whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and oil. Season with salt/pepper.

Bring broth to a boil. Stir in orzo, reduce heat to medium, cover partially, and boil until tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Transfer to a large, wide bowl, tossing frequently until cool.

Mix tomatoes, feta, basil, green onions, and orzo. Add vinaigrette. Toss to coat. Serve at room temperature.

3 months old, already?

Graham turns 3 months old today. Wow. It doesn't seem possible!

He is a very content and laid back baby thus far. Rarely has a major crying fit. He peeps a little when he's ready for a nap, but other than that, he's mainly smiles. He smiles and laughs a lot. Maybe we just offer him good material to smile about!

He seems to be getting the hang of sleeping just this week. Saturday night, he ate at 9 and then slept until 4:45; sunday night he ate at 9 and then slept until 5:15; and last night he ate at 9 and not again until 7 this morning (he woke up once but a pacy was all he needed).Praise the Lord!

He loves his play mat and smiles at the star as soon as it starts singing. We've also started using the bumbo seat - and unlike the other 2 - he loves it! He has always preferred to be upright so it works great for him. It also allows him to watch the other kids whom he finds very entertaining.

Happy 3 months old little man!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Okay, since I hope to have this blog printed and used as a keep-sake and a baby book for the kids, I figured I need to include the good, the bad, and the ugly. Most days I blog about the good...but today I'll include some of the bad and the ugly!!!

Its only 12:30, and today I am wishing that I worked full time -- at somewhere other than the home! Thankfully, these days aren't too frequent!

This morning while I was in the shower, Griffin found some super glue. (Yes, it should have never been within his reach, I know.) When I turned off the hair dryer, I heard him making spitting noises downstairs. So I assumed he had been in the fridge and was eating something he didn't like...but when I came around the corner to the kitchen, he had the super glue in hand, painting his face with it. I grabbed his hand as he was about to make another pass over his eye. He had the glue all over is lips, nose, one eye, and an entire hand. Apparently, the spitting noise from earlier was him trying to get the superglue off his lip!

This picture doesn't do justice to the damage at all - lots of the glue was clear so didn't show up in the picture. I ended up using finger nail polish remover and lots of scrubbing/peeling to get most of it off, but he still has some in his eyelashes and around his eye. What a great way to start the day, right?

We somehow made it to story time by 10:30, even with our morning delay....story time was way over packed and resulted in complete chaos. Needless to say, I was a hot, sweaty, exhausted mess when we got home.

Well, I sent the kids upstairs to play for a little bit while I recovered. About 10 minutes later, Avery is calling down that "Griffin pooped in the potty for the first time!" We have started potty training so I wasn't completely surprised, even though Griffin currently had a diaper on. When I got to the bathroom, he had actually pooped (good job griff!) and then added a whole roll of toilet paper to it....not to mention that their was poop all over the seat and that Avery said "he even got some on the floor but just picked it up!" ARGH! So I tried to be upbeat and congratulate his accomplishment while including some instruction on how to use toilet paper! Then I preceded to put on my cleaning gloves, and scoop all the freakin paper out of the toilet! NASTY! (was this in my job description?) Next I scrubbed his hands, the bathroom, and am currently washing the rug. Have I mentioned that its only 12:30?!

One redeeming factor is that Griffin is absolutely adorable - check him out in his big boy pants!

Time with Gammy

Gammy came up from Mobile this week and stayed with the kids while Brent and I went to Roanoke. She stayed a full week and we wore her out! Gammy endured hot afternoons while playing outside with kids. She played "makeup" with Avery multiple times a day. They went on their usual outings - dunkin donuts and chic-fil-a. They played cars, water-colored, read books, and just played hard!

THANKS GAMMY!

Let the Games Begin!

This week, Brent and I took a step toward the next phase of our life... he had his first interview for a REAL job!!! Wowzers! Exciting and scary all at once. Our desire is to find a job somewhere in the southeast, within driving distance of home...we are scouring that area and are waiting for God to reveal our next destination to us.

This is the Hotel Roanoke, the old, historic, fancy hotel that we stayed in. We enjoyed an expense free weekend - valet parking, room service, great food, etc. I even got to lay out by the pool for a few hours! (now when was the last time I got to do that???) Brent's mom came in town and stayed with Avery and Griffin...so we only had Graham to tend to...and he's way easy!!

We spent Tuesday-Thursday in Roanoke, Virginia interviewing at the Carilion Clinic. This is a large not for profit hospital system which would allow Brent to have a mixture of a community based practice and academics (working with residents, students, and doing some research). He was really impressed with the department itself and enjoyed getting a glimpse into their world.

Here he is getting ready to go to the interview...all dressed up and looking snazzy!

While he interviewed, I was taken on a tour of the city by 2 real estate agents who consider themselves "transition consultants." We toured the downtown, looking at museums, landmarks, restaurants, an open-air city market, the hospital area, etc. We drove up to the Mill Mountain Star, a spot off of the Blueridge Parkway that overlooks the city of Roanoke. The above picture is taken from up there (but not by me!). Next, we drove through multiple residential areas so that I could get a glimpse of some of the areas we would possibly live in.

Here is a picture that Brent took from the heli-pad on top of the hospital.

Please pray for us over the next few months as we work to make contacts, schedule interviews, and search for the perfect job in the perfect location. I am confident that God will lead us to the place He has in store - but pray for patience, wisdom, and guidance as we wait for Him to lead us there. We'll keep you updated along the way!

"Shishing" TIme!

Instead of saying Fishing, the G-man says "SHishing." Last night we went back and forth - me accentuating the F sound, and him repeating after me with the SH sound. He can't quite get it yet and it sounds so cute that I'm not really sure I want him too! (goldshish, shishing pole, going shishing, etc...)

All that to say, we did some fishing in Jasper this weekend. We had just bought Griffin his first fishing pole a few weeks ago so he'd been eager to use it. And Avery got to use Addie's pole some and then Big Daddy made her an old school "pole" with just string and a hook.

looks like she's really concentrating!

very proud of her fish!


Uncle P and Addie; Daddy and Griffy

paying close attention

Griffin's fish!

More pictures from Jasper

brotherly love

griffy and mommy

snacks on the dock

ready for a ride

riding with nina

July Fourth

We spent a long July 4th weekend at the cabin and enjoyed every minute of it! Mom/Mike, Peyton/Ann, and Haley/Joel joined us for part of the time as well. The guys played golf twice and made it to 2 Braves games while we were there. Brent ate it up!!

We did lots of swimming in the lake, riding four wheelers, playing on the playground, and just enjoying the outdoors. It was crazy to have 75 degree weather in Georgia during July! Avery and Addison are at such a fun age - they now play their own games and can pretend together. They even got to share a room together this time!

The kids had their first experience picking blackberries. We ended up with a ton of them and then made a cobbler.

Other than a few extra night awakenings, Graham enjoyed his visit as well!

they were patiently waiting for a ride on the tractor with big daddy (here is a LOVE moment in their love-hate relationship!)

wide eyed and smiley

the kids had what I think was their first homemade ice cream. griffin and addison helped big daddy keep the machine full of ice. and they were thrilled when he opened the lid to see there was ice cream. however, griffin did not like the "chunks" of peaches in it so he only ate a few bites!