Long-distance Nana

Here's the thing.

I know that I am extremely lucky to be Nana to eleven adorable kiddos. But four of them live in faraway lands and I only get to see them a couple of times a year. This constitutes a serious impediment to my grandmotherly bonding, so when the opportunity presents itself, I lay hold of it with gusto.

I spent the past week in Texas with not just the incomparable London, daughter of Charlie and Sam, but also the North Carolina babes, who were in Texas with their mommy and daddy to pick up Edwin's two boys. 

I will now inundate you with photos of the occasion.

Victoria and London are only a month apart in age, and it was more adorable than words can describe to see them interact.

Note: for some reason, Annie managed to get in more than her fair share of photo-bombs during the week. Not my fault.

Luke, Edwin's older son, is on the left. He is the spittin' image of Edwin and it cracked me up every time I saw the same expression on their faces.

It was stinking hot the whole time we were there, so we weren't outside very often. Elsie, London and I braved the afternoon heat for a few minutes to take some photos.

On Saturday night, we again tackled the heat to visit downtown Wylie for the Bluegrass festival. We do love us some bluegrass music!

Bryce, son #2, is second from right.

The icy concoctions were ridiculously expensive but very necessary.

We all headed to the HOA splash pad when we arrived back at the house. Jeff stayed home with the dog, so he missed all the fun.

There is very little that is more perfect than a warm evening, lots of water, and a happy family.

Charlie did his famous thing, tossing the kids into the air. 

The littles just chilled on the edge of the pool.

This photo makes me more happy than words can say.

Edwin and Charlie tossed the younger kids back and forth like a ball. 

It was pretty hilarious.

That face.

Everyone was quite exhausted by the end of the day, so bedtime was not traumatic. I was all set to read a Dr. Seuss book to the kids and Luke said, I can read it to them.
And so he did.
Right then and there, I fell in love with him.

Wrangler is no longer allowed to put his whole body on the couch, so somehow he figured out that if he only planted his bottom on the edge of the couch, he could get away with it.

Silly dog. 

It worked for him for a few days, but then he started to settle further and further back on the couch, so he lost the privilege altogether.

Poor baby. He thinks he is sneaky, but he is so obvious when he tries to get around the system!

Charlie gettin' all domesticated and cutting Edwin's hair.

And that was my first day in Dallas.