Day 107 (4/17/11) - Opening Day Parade

After the morning service, they hosted an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids at our church.  Parents were asked to stay and help their nursery-aged children.  So, I have pictures of Gavin, but wasn't able to get any pictures of Ryan hunting for eggs.  Gavin didn't get as many eggs as some of the other children because after he found an egg, he'd stop to eat the candy inside before looking for more eggs! 

After the church egg hunt, we raced home, quickly changed our clothes, and headed to City Park for Ryan's tee ball opening day parade.  The grass and field were a sloppy, muddy mess.  Ryan tried hard to keep his uniform clean.  Despite his best efforts, I'm not sure his pants will ever be truly white again!  The players were organized by team and each team marched about 300 yards and circled the baseball diamond.  Then they listened to introductions and the Star Spangled Banner, recited the Little League Oath, and cheered as the first pitch was thrown.  After the ceremony, Ryan came running up to me and said, "Mommy, I was one of the only ones who took off my baseball hat and put my hand over my heart for the national anthem."  I told him that I was proud of how respectful he was and that I had noticed and had even gotten a picture of it!  In hindsight, if I was snapping pictures of him, I suppose I wasn't showing the deference we have taught him to show.  But, it was so humbling and heartwarming to see his innocent reverence, even though not everyone around him was doing the same.  We are so proud of the person he's becoming.  It's important to us that he's a man of honor, integrity, and faith and I think he embodies all those traits and more!