So that's what a weekend with the grandkids is like.

Met 'em at the Denver airport — so it is not going to be typical at the Grandparent's house weekend off the bat— Patt and I just in from the east, via the "old west" of Ogallala, Nebraska and Julesburg, Colorado - two cowboy, Oregon Trail settings of movies (Dances with Wolves, Lonesome Dove.)  And the seven also just in from the East - as in Asia East.  

Jet lagged they were, but full of pep and seemingly happy to see us, we were happy to see them.

The day and a half were full of playing ball in the parking lot, going on hikes in the neighborhood of airport hotels.  Fortunately our hotel backed up to the prairie and to wheat? fields and so offered the chance for wildlife sightings. Birds of course, but also a huge red ant nest, rabbits and most memorable a bull snake that was quite large if I say so myself and I will.

Of course playing cards, here 500 rummy, competitive, keep score rummy, 'card played stays' rummy.

and when the two littler boys get tired of helping at rummy, they find a wonderful less stressful game of W A R and a most forgiving and able person to conduct necessary arbitration.

The hotel - not the grandparents home- had a very nice pool, and I got tired of catching Luke who did  not tire of jumping, nor John Paul neither. Fortunately there was a hot tub to rest in.

The weekend ended and our car plus seven occupants headed back north and east to North Dakota and we fly west to Sacramento in the morning. A weekend visit like normal grandparent / grandkid visits. Well almost I guess. First one we have ever had, so we are not sure. Our visits are usually longer as they are only about once a year.  This one will resume in about two weeks and last most of the summer.