Playing with the Parnells

We're so glad my cousin, Heath, and his wife Caitlin stopped by for a few days on their way home to Arkansas. It's always great visiting and catching up with them. They brought their sweet dog, Chloe, too. We took her to the dog park for a little bit one day. Enoch really enjoyed watching the dogs run around. Heath and Caitlin are so good playing with the children. We were all sad to see them go and look forward to their next visit.

Helping With Dinner

Abby's been enjoying helping with dinner lately. She especially enjoys helping me snap green beans. The smell of fresh green beans brings back memories of snapping beans with my Granny in the summertime. She doesn't really care to eat cooked green beans, but she's been more willing to try them lately since she's helped prepare them. She's also been known to sneak a few bites of the raw ones. She's also helped prepare a chicken to roast a few times. I know, you look at the picture and wonder how we could let a little person touch raw meat like that. I figure let her do it so she won't be grossed out by it when she's a grown up like I am. We're VERY careful that she doesn't put her hands in her mouth and I wash her hands very well afterwards. I even get the nail brush out. So, not to worry, no salmonella sickness around here.

Abby's 4th Birthday

This is Abby's 4th birthday. Last year Abby had an Ariel themed pool party and she had such a good time that she wanted another one this year!

Friends and family came to celebrate with Abby. Andrea enjoyed making the Ariel birthday cake. I think she did a great job.

The kids played several games in the pool and we all enjoyed the cake!

Abby's New Closet

Abby's been asking for a new closet every since Enoch got his. Pops and Nana did a beautiful job making a new shelving system for Abby's closet. She's able to be much more independent now that she can reach her hanging clothes. She can neatly put away her own clean clothes and pick out her clothes for the next day the night before. It's so nice to see her taking on more responsibility. Thanks, Pops and Nana, you did a great job! Are you starting on the master bedroom closet next?

Strolling Around Radner Lake

Radnor Lake is such a beautiful place! Even on a hot day, it's nice and cool on the road that is mostly covered by trees. We had grand ideas of enjoying a family day here. Unfortunately, children don't always act the way we want them to. Abby was having a pretty rough time. There are trails that go up into the woods. We parked her bike and went up on the trails, it was amazing, her attitude completely changed when we were in the woods and she decided to pretend she was Goldilocks. We were looking for the three bears house. She was perfectly fine the whole time we were in the woods, as soon as we got back down to the road, though, she went back into meltdown mode. Maybe next time will be better. :)