VBS

This week our church had VBS. It was every evening 5:30-8:30!  I volunteered this year so I had all 4 kids at church late every night....so it was an interesting week in the Parnell household!

It was a fun week of meeting new friends and starting to feel "at home" in a new church. I enjoyed getting to know what kids belong to what adults and start learning names. 

This was one of Avery's new friends this week. Pretty sure they stuck together all week. Avery is a little quiet so its always reassuring to watch her meet friends and enjoy it! 

 I was a 2nd grade leader and our character was "Pat the Bat." 

The kids collected about $700 dollars to make lunches to feed kids who are in need of it. They also got to decorate the lunch bags and fill each one with a lunch.

We had a science experiment each night that went along with our theme. Here Griffin is getting to be "inside" a bubble!

 listening to the Bible story..we learned all about trusting God this week....

 Showing all of their new worship songs to their parents...Each class got to sing 2 songs on stage...Avery was so excited - when we were getting ready for VBS she said, " Mom, this is the first time I get to sing on stage, can I wear some of your makeup for it?" Of course I gave her just enough to make her feel extra beautiful for her debut!

another experiment...alka seltzer and water exploding!

My fellow leaders - Tammy and Amy - here we have a blob of vaseline on the ends of our noses...we had to race down the tarp and "pick up" a cotton ball with our noses! 

I am officially tired but it was a great week for all of the Parnells!

Nina and Big Daddy's

Brent spent the last week hunting birds in Argentina with one of my brothers, an uncle, and a cousin. To help the days pass a little quicker, the kids and I  headed to my parents for a few days. A change of scenery, different toys, and some extra hands are always nice!

 This girl LOVED the trampoline!  She would bob her head up and down and tried to make herself bounce!

 a few cousins came on Thursday afternoon so we got to hang out with them for a bit. 

 my little fishy

 Kale, Griff, Clayton, and Avery with Big Daddy

 The boys always love being with Big Daddy - they get to work on things, help with projects, and this time, they got to catch chipmunks!

 The park in the neighborhood next to mom/mikes has been redone and was surprisingly really nice!  

 we brought bread for the ducks and waited for them but none came close enough to feed...so the kids each ate their piece of bread!!

We met some of my friends from high school and their kids at a splash park on Friday morning before we headed home. It was a little chilly for Avery and my little 2 were crabby but Griffin enjoyed it!  (the boys are all sitting on a fountain - can you say water enema?!)

American Girl Birthday

This year we celebrated Avery's 7th birthday at the American Girl Store.  We let her choose a doll for her birthday present and we invited Nina and a few cousins to join us for lunch. Avery has been studying the American Girl catalog for months trying to decide which doll she wanted! 

 After months of deliberation, Avery decided on getting Julie, a hippie doll born in the 70's! Both she and her doll got to wear Happy Birthday stickers while shopping and dining.   As gifts from Nina, Gammy, and Addison, Avery also picked out a bed, pajamas, and a "feel better" kit for Julie. 

 Joining us for lunch at the American Girl doll Bistro - were Aunt Ann, Cousins Brieanna, Addison, and Brooke. (plus Nina who was busy occupying Carsyn!)

 The girls got to put their dolls in little high chairs to join us for lunch, with their own mini plates and cups. Nina made the girls laugh by putting fries on the dolls plates and asking them to eat their lunch.

 Singing Happy Birthday!

 Avery loves her big cousins so I am so thankful they took time to come indulge our 7 year old!

 feeling fancy - shirley temples, cake, and ice-cream with a flower!

although she is all smiles here, this little one was a fuss-pot the entire time. she no longer is happy being confined!

School's Out!!

As of yesterday, school is out and summer has officially begun!!  And oddly enough, I am actually excited about summer this year. Last year, I dreaded - and I do mean dreaded - it! (Maybe it was having a newborn, a 2 year old, and 2 kids that needed entertaining!) 

I love the slower pace of summer - not having to be out the door every morning by 8:15...no scheduled extracurricular evening activities...letting the swimming pool or sprinklers count as baths...playing outside all evening...

I try to have enough things "scheduled" that the kids don't drive me or each other crazy but enough down time to enjoy each other!  Graham is going to summer school on tues/thur and Carysyn is going on Thursdays. This will allow me some time with the big kids, primarily time at the pool.  The older 2 will do a week of soccer camp in June and Griffin will do a lego camp and Avery an art camp in July. Throw in a week of vacation to the beach and Mobile and that will be our summer!

 Here is my little 3 year old on the last day of school!  

 brothers gotta hug!

 and my big 5 1/2 year old!

 and my almost 7 year old!

Happy Last Day of School!

Preschool Graduation

Griffin's school year ended with a very informal preschool graduation.  All of the parents were invited to attend the kids "circle time." They each took a turn to lead an activity or answer questions. We saw them count in several different ways, heard them sing songs about the fruit of the Spirit, watched as they recited days of the week/months of the year, and heard them answer questions about the calendar...they ended by calling each student to the front to receive a diploma and take a picture with the teachers. 

Griffin's "job" during circle time was to count by 10's using bundles of popsicle sticks. 

Mrs Dekle and Mrs Sandi were wonderful this year!

Jackson was Griff's best bud at school this year. 

and Luke was another great friend!

mommy and her proud pre-k graduate!

Tee-Ball!

Avery and Griffin played Upward tee-ball this spring. We had them put on the same team - that way they both could play but we weren't doing double duty!  This was Griffin's second season playing and Avery's first. 

Griff likes to wind up and swing really hard...(and normally takes several swings to hit the ball!)

Their coach was really good about rotating them thru each of the positions so they got to play everywhere. 

this one made me smile

Griffin's Splash Day

 sofia, griffin, elena

Griffin's class had a splash day today - they had a picnic and then played in the sprinklers and baby pool. I took the little 2 - Graham thought he was big stuff getting to play with the big kids and Carsyn enjoyed digging thru the diaper bag and playing on the quilt. And I had so much fun watching Griffin!  He loves people and loves his friends and plays with pure joy! Just watching the expressions on his face made me smile!