"Speed-Spoiling"

We had so much fun on our trip to Dallas last weekend to visit our daughter Amy and her family! When you are long distance grandparents, you make up for lost time spoiling.... we call it "Speed-Spoiling!" It's an art, you don't want to scare them with too many kisses and hugs but we did have that time constraint of 5 days so we didn't waste anytime! We shopped, we bought, we played. Ewan is 5 now and understands the whole Nana/Papa thing!

 A fun game of checkers proved Ewan has inherited his jumping skills from his Great Grandpa Keeling, who was Master of the game! See the big stack of Papa's orange checkers on Ewan's side? Piece of cake!!!

While it was snowing on Granny Mountain in Arkansas, it was rainy and cool in Texas so we decided a trip to Cabela's was a better idea than the zoo.

  You wouldn't believe the animals on display... we spent a big chunk of Saturday afternoon here!

 Ewan did a little boat shopping...

Papa and Ewan both have fishing fever, guess it was catching!

Amy and Derek with a rare moment alone... look at her face, she was giddy with excitement!

 It was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. Ewan starts Kindergarten this fall, he makes friends easily and plays well with others, two things that are key to having a successful life!

It's amazing what they learn in a short 5 years. He can read about anything and knows how to count dangerously well. Amy said he knows his "point system" for rewards at home and keeps a total in his head! I'm not ready for him to go to school this fall, how can he be old enough to start Kindergarten? He'll be riding the bus (yikes) carrying his lunchbox and making friends left and right. All we can do is stand back and watch, cause putting a brick on their head doesn't work... didn't work with his Mom either!

Have a great weekend...