April was SO fun! We got to spend lots of time with friends and family and we loved every minute of it.
Near the beginning of the month, we welcomed spring with a spring celebration garden party. We had a few friends over and Hank’s cousins, James and Paul were visiting us while Aunt Nancy was out of town defending her thesis (she did it!). The children had a great time making stepping stones, creating treats for the birds, planting seeds, eating snacks (for people) and decorating their own take-away boxes. It was a very full and very lovely morning in our back yard. Spring in Texas is so wonderful (and short), we try to take advantage of every outdoor play opportunity we can before the heat of summer settles in. Tyler and Caesar (our dog) ran a 5K together in April – it was a perfect day for running. They made good time and had a lot of fun.
Hank’s cousin, Paul, celebrated his third birthday and we loved getting to play with so many cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Aunt Laura and her family were there Hank was thrilled to get to play with his cousins! Hank started getting into golf in April and wanted to go to the driving range fairly often with Tyler (the summer heat has slowed that down for a bit recently). One of the outings included Grandad, James and Christopher, very fun!
Hank worked hard on violin in April. He loved playing his violin and preparing for his recital. He also moved up a size in his violin. We said good-bye to the 1/16 size he began on last July and welcomed a 1/10 size. His teacher (and god-mother), Alexis, was so awesome in the transition, helping to make sure he chose the right violin for him and helping him adjust to playing the new one in time for his recital. Hank played beautifully at his recital and was very proud of himself. He says he really likes when people applaud after he plays because it lets him know they like his music.
In April, we welcomed the return of baseball season. We had a great time going to games in April. Hank asked for his very own glove so on opening day of the Express (our local AAA team), Tyler took Hank shopping for his very own baseball glove. Hank thoroughly enjoyed the experience and once we were in the car and he had his glove on his hand, he informed Tyler that it was the wrong kind of glove because you’re supposed to catch with the hand the glove is on and throw with the other one, but the hand Hank likes to throw with was all covered up with the new glove. Tyler was very excited to learn that Hank is a lefty in baseball (we already knew he was in golf). The store didn’t have a left-handed glove so Tyler had to order one. Hank was thrilled to get it in the mail and has been having a great time playing catch with Dad ever since.
The company Tyler works for celebrated its 35th anniversary this year with a great party in April. It was fun to celebrate the success of a company (and the people who founded it) that has influenced our lives in such an enormously positive way. We are truly grateful for Tyler’s job and he is so blessed to work with such wonderul people. It was a good time. GG and Grandad came to visit that same weekend – it was a great one.
Also in April, our good friend (and Sarah’s sound engineer), John, got married. Tyler was a groomsman and Sarah sang in John and Laurie’s wedding. It was a beautiful weekend in a small Texas town and we could not be happier for John! April was a really good month, full of good times, and all the optimism, joy and promise of spring. Here are some photos in no particular order.
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