Mothers Day from Avery

Avery made this "flower" at school for me as a mother's day gift. Per her instructions, I am supposed to pull off a petal and give it to her - and each petal contains a different "job" for her to do for me...things like: wash the dishes, set the table, water the flowers, give me a hug. Within 10 minutes of handing it to me, she had asked to do every job possible!


Today, she was so excited to WASH DISHES! She asked me all morning when it would be time...so she spent about 15 minutes washing dishes after we ate lunch. She said, "This is so fun. I want to do this all the time." I told her that when she's 15 I would remind her she had said that!

Seis De Mayo

On Friday night, we celebrated the Cinco de Mayo a day late. Thanks you Crochets for the delicious fajitas and festive evening! As our time in Durham is drawing to a close, it makes times like that even more special!

Brooklyn and Jonathan

Ms Rian with Bailey, Kinleigh, Ethan, and Avery

The kids had a pinata and they loved it. It was a hoot watching them attempt to break it open. After 10 minutes of wild kiddie swings, Dr Matt busted it open so the kids could get the loot.

Tinkerbell, about to hit the pinata

wild man's turn

Griffin and Kinleigh

Graham's first haircut

Following in the footsteps of the first 2 Parnell children, Graham doesn't have a ton of hair...however, he has had these long, wispy pieces around his ears and the back of his head for quite a while now. Brent hates them and has been complaining about them for months. But, I am notorious for delaying first haircuts - I hate losing that "baby look" and making them look older than they are. Also, when Graham gets sleepy, he rubs/pulls the long hair right behind his ears - and I didn't want him to lose that!

I finally gave in on Friday night and let Brent give Graham his first haircut. Graham did not hold still, even though we gave him his first sucker in hopes of keeping him still.

I was really nervous as Brent was cutting because Graham was SOOO wiggly and Brent was saying thing like "This is such a hack job!"

Talk about a moving target!

All in all, the cut turned out well! Graham does look older though!

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!