23-27 Apr: Week in Norfolk with Bill

I had to attend a school at Commander Naval Air Forces Atlantic in Norfolk.  After the Tropaia I rode down to Norfolk with Bill and Jen.  Lots of hanging out and great sushi.  Class didn't start until Tuesday so we hit up the nearby Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach.  This is one of the finest private collections of warbirds in the US.  Bill and I were lame enough to not even get a picture of ourselves together the entire week, but here's some of the day at the museum.

 1944 de Havilland Dragon Rapide.  I think I would fancy this as my Sunday afternoon, "take for a stroll" equipment. 

Recent addition to the museum is this B-17 just acquired from an estate in Texas.  Who knew you still could find flying B-17s "around"?

Flying Fortress beside a grass strip on a cool overcast day.  The same setting it made history in.

Flying reproduction of the 1911 Curtis Pusher which made the first landing aboard a ship, the USS Pennsylvania, in 1918.  The reproduction was built by a retired S-3 pilot in commemoration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation last year.

25 April - Andy is an Ant

20-22 Apr: Uncle Stick's Georgetown Tropaia

The whole family went to Washington DC to attend Uncle Stick's Tropaia for completion of the Georgetown McDonough School of Business Executive MBA program.

Save when Andy was a baby, the boys had never been to DC before.  We had a few hours Saturday morning before the ceremony so we made a metro trip over to the Mall and hit up a couple of the Smithsonians real quick.  Zach couldn't get enough.  He ran exhibit to exhibit. 

Andy's not so much one to look at stuff, but he'll eat up an experiment

 Zach's brain on overdrive in the Museum of Natural History's great hall

 Boys getting ready with the graduate

Pictures of everyone in front of John Carroll, founder of Georgetown

Congrats Uncle Stick!!!

15 Apr - Standup Paddle Boarding

On the way home from Christmas in SC I purchased a used Standup Paddle Board (SUP) on the assumption that I would like the sport.  I declared that I loved it.  I then bought Kim one and declared she would love it as well.  It was a stretch since she hadn't even tried it.  We managed to get the boards out on nearby Julington Creek and she gave it up a thumbs up.  Shew!  

The kids fit nicely on the front of the boards and I've only dunked Andy once.  Of course he rides with Kim now.  Memory like an elephant on that boy. 

14 Apr - Celebrating Zach's Birthday

The Little Guy turns six!  

Cupcakes at school

Little gathering at the neighborhood park with work and school friends

Angry Birds theme this year

  

The Big Boy's cake

  And then home to open family presents.  Zach gets pretty excited anytime there is a pile of presents.  Brings out his exceptional inner rhythm.

Zach has become quite the naturalist since moving to Florida.  He is a serious student of the Florida Field Guide and loves to go on nature walks to check off as much fauna, especially birds, as he can.  He needed some new gear.

5-8 Apr: Easter Weekend

Aunt Jackie got engaged recently and ventured back to Greenville to shop wedding dresses and the like.  Kim was to join on Friday.  She and the boys headed to Chapin Thursday morning.  I finished up some things at work and followed that afternoon.  On Friday I hung with the boys, Grandmother and Granddaddy on the lake while Kim was participating in the Upstate shopping fest.  Kim came back Friday night for the Good Friday service at St. Francis.  

  Helping Granddaddy launch the boat

 Catching lots of fish.  Yep, I'm rockin' my high school cross-country jacket.

  Next day we all went to Greenville for the rest of the weekend.  The whole clan was there.  We attended service at St. Peter's and came home to a huge Easter Egg and scavenger hunt for the boys. 

  Easter morning

After the Easter festivities Zach got an early birthday party birthday and then everyone (except me, I had to go home) ate a huge Easter spread.

02 Apr - The Cast Comes Off

Cast came off with no issues.  Took another X-ray and doc said everything was good to go.  Just no playgrounds or bikes for another three weeks.  As soon as it was off, Zach was pretty unhappy since his arm was really stiff and he actually asked for it back on.