Hanging out in ATL

Here are the last of my pictures I'll post from the kids spring break in Atlanta. Lots of fun time with family! Avery and 2nd cousin Brett enjoying the pool

hanging out while the big kids swim

time with Big Daddy

under the trampoline and loving it!

jumping with cousins (and uncle P)!

avery assisted in Uncle P's daily workouts!!

Easter Day

We had a busy Easter Day at Nina and Big Daddy's house. We went to church on Saturday night so Sunday was a "home" day. The kids got their Easter baskets in the morning and then played hard until the Hereths and Jim/Kay came over around 1. We had a big, delicious feast, an egg hunt, and lots of swimming. Avery even tried her hand at tennis with cousin Brooke. Everyone was absolutely exhausted by bedtime!

CANDY!

the Easter bunny!

finally, they got their OWN umbrellas! no more fighting over who holds mommy's!

Graham wasn't too into the whole basket idea

off to hunt eggs....sorry to big daddy for any damage to all his new landscaping!

shake shake shake!

devouring his loot!

little princess loves the camera!

Thanks Aunt Hailes for entertaining the little man so I could watch the older 2 hunt eggs!

Easter Pictures

I think it is impossible to get a good picture of all the kids! No one smiles at the same time or looks the same direction. So after many attempts, here is the best I got!!

Graham Charles, 1 year old

Griffin Patrick, 3 1/2 years old

Avery Brooke, almost 5 years old

Nature Center

On Saturday, Peyton/Ann, Joel, and I took the kids to the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Both Peyton and I remember taking field trips there around the 4th grade and haven't been back since!

The kids enjoyed the outing and loved seeing all the birds/owls/fish/etc.

loving some honeysuckle

three amigos

looking at a hawk

the girls, carefully looking at bird wings and feet

These 3 played remarkable well all weekend. And the girls did a really good job including Griffin in their games!

Playing with Friends

One of my lifelong best friends (Lauren) came into town while the kids and I were in ATL. Lauren and Jason just had their 3rd little girl 2 months ago. We took all the kids to a gymnastics place and they played hard! And then later that afternoon, they came over and we spent the evening swimming and eating pizza!

It is so fun to see our kids playing together and brings back so many memories from when Lauren and I were little!

jumping on the trampoline

about to jump into the "pit"

cheese!

this is the only pool picture I have...will post more when i get them!

Getting Spoiled

Since the kids are on spring break this week, we are spending the week at my parents house. Avery and Griffin get so excited when we come. Within an hour of arriving, they had gone room to room to pull out every toy, book, and dress up item!

Between the swimming pool and just playing outside on the trampoline and the little tractor, the entertainment is limitless! But Nina and Big Daddy added a few surprises for the grand kids to find.

BIG WHEELS!

I smiled watching the kids ride these around in the same driveway where my brothers and I spent hours on end doing the same thing...

Last spring when the padres were staying with us waiting on Graham's arrival, Big Daddy made the kids bowls of strawberries and whipped cream. They remember this from time to time and even had daddy make them some once...so Big Daddy hooked them up!

one of my brown eyed boys!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Happy first birthday to our little Graham Charles Parnell!

I just watched the video of Avery and Griffin coming to "meet" Graham for the first time the day he was born. All 3 of them looked so little! The video brought back many a memory from Graham's big day...hard to believe that it was 1 year ago!

The kids and I are spending their spring break in Georgia with my family so we celebrated Graham's birthday with Brent a few days early.

Graham didn't hesitate to dig in! He sucked/licked most of the frosting off first...and then ate a little cake. He seemed to enjoy it!

Avery devoured hers!

and Griffin only ate the frosting!

Graham loved his new ride! And had to fight for a turn with his own birthday present!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Duke Gardens

The kids and I spent the morning at Duke Gardens with some friends. The weather is absolutely perfect out and the flowers are in full bloom. Lots of good photo ops! We walked/ran/jumped through the gardens and then spread out our blankets in a big grassy field and let the kids run wild. A few jump ropes, balls, and a climbing tree made for great entertainment. We ended the morning at the duck pond...need I mention that Griffin ended up wet?!

our big kids

Shane and Graham, completely occupied by drinkable yogurt containers!

our almost 1 year old - how can it be?

climbing a tree

enjoying the tulips

SCORE!!

Griffin had 2 soccer games last weekend. During one game, he "scored" 3 times - once in his goal and twice in the opponents goal!

here he goes...

about to shoot...

SCORE!

his victory dance!