April Recap

April was a full month around here!  Here's a peek at some of what we did in April:

Henry got to spend the day at Kinkaid, shadowing a current sixth grade student.  It was a pretty fun experience and he's excited to begin his middle school journey in a few short months!

Henry also picked his birthday book at school -- he chose Inkling by Kenneth Oppel, which gets a big thumbs up from both my boys.  

Henry is working diligently each week at art class. This is one of his favorite pieces of late!

The boys enjoyed boys' night while a friend and I went to an author event.  

We said goodbye to Gramma and Grampa, who set off on another adventure.

And I had an adventure of my own, fueled by coffee from Buc-ee's.  

I spent three days in Austin at the TLA (Texas Library Association) conference.  It was a phenomenal experience! I met so many authors, attended informative sessions, met reps from different companies, met one of my professors from UNT, and spent time with my favorite librarians.  

I had a couple of hours on my first day to do some school work in the hotel room, and then after that, I was on the go at the conference the whole time.  

I was walking down the main corridor in the exhibit hall when someone shouted my name.  It was a classmate of mine from UNT, who of course I had never met in person because our classes are all online.  She recognized me by my name, which ended up being a point of conversation for the next three days.  Anyway, I joined my new friend in the signing line for Adam Gidwitz's newest book (see below) and then spent the next two hours exploring the exhibit hall and having lunch with Stephanie.  

The Alvin ISD librarians and I met Derrick Barnes, author of Crown, which is a Caldecott and Newbery honor book.  

One of the best parts of TLA is the free books. I came home with a ton of galleys as well as brand new hardbacks.  This is my book haul after day 2:

I met so many authors!!  Lynda Mullaly Hunt is one of my favorites, and her new book, Shouting at the Rain, is phenomenal!

I also met Dan Gemeinhart, another of my all-time favorites.  I just started his newest novel, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, and I am hooked after just a couple of pages.  That man can write!

More books -- and I didn't get a lot, compared to some people!

Meanwhile, back at home, Gene was having the busiest week of his life and trying to manage two different school schedules.  We made it!

A highlight of the month was the delicious sweet break that Nana delivered right before Easter.  

The boys were off school for Good Friday, so Henry, Ruby and I spent the morning exploring the newly renovated Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum.  It was gorgeous! 

Henry found lots of centipedes.  

Wildflowers in bloom everywhere

We also found some blackberries!

The arboretum is one of my favorite spots in Houston.  

After our hike, we stopped back at home to pick up Will and go to lunch at Kura.  We got there a few minutes before they opened, so took a mini tour of some nearby murals.   

We also enjoyed Will's spring orchestra concert at Kinkaid.  

Our month ended with a trip to the doctor for a nosebleed that lasted over an hour. 

Whew! April was busy, but now we're well into May and have begun the countdown to the end of the school year.  Summer is just around the corner!