Hanging Out at the General Store...

There's a new hot spot in Dubberly. It's where all the cool kids are hanging out. At least, it's where all the hungry kids are hanging out because there are good eats to be had at the Dubberly General Store, now under new management. Grandpa, Stella, and I breakfasted there a couple of times this week already. Here is Stella, checking out the merchandise. "Wanna go for a ride with me?" And here she is showing off one the coolest barstools in Dubberly...

We had a great time with the sweet folks at the Dubberly General Store. If you find yourself in Webster Parish, stop on by for some tasty grub in a down-home, family-friendly atmosphere.

Our 7th Annual Turkey Trot

This year Stella participated in her first Sportspectrum Turkey Trot since birth. Her daddy and I have been trotting with the turkeys for seven years now, but last year Daddy thought it was too cold for Stella, so this was her first chance to test herself against the rest of the toddler trail running community of North Louisiana. Here Stella is at Sportspectrum for packet pick-up. She is making this face because she is looking down her snobby nose at an inferior jog stroller. Pre-race strategy meeting with her coach...check out her game face...

Visualizing the finish line together...

Post-race cuddling...(race video coming soon!)

The thrill of victory...

Showing off her hard-earned hardware to Grandpa Crane...

Make New Friends, but Keep the Old...

One is silver and the other is gold. This week while we were visiting Grandpa Crane for Thanksgiving, we had the opportunity to visit with an old friend and meet a new one at the same time. Linda Gantt, my former teacher and high school principal, and her granddaughter Jasey came over for a little playdate. Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I went to school with Jasey's dad, aunt, uncle, and pretty much about 99.9% of the rest of her family. I was taught, coached, and directed by Gantts for the majority of my childhood, and didn't they do a fabulous job, because look how great I turned out! Here are some pictures from our day of fun. First up, Jasey and Stella rock and roll on the porch. This picture was taken when they were still in the "eyeing each other warily" stage... Later Jasey did some artwork as Stella looked on...

This is their "over it" look...

Finally warming up to each other...awwwww...

When Linda Gantt speaks, kids still listen! (Note the fear/awe on Stella's face. I imagine this is a lot how I looked in high school when I got caught misbehaving.)

The closest thing I could get to two smiles...

They had such a good time they even gave each other a sweet hug bye-bye...

Stella had a great time playing with Jasey. It was nice to catch up with an old friend and make such a sweet new one at the same time. We hope the girls can play together again soon.

Officer Stella

First of all, we apologize that it has been so long since we posted. We will attempt to remedy that during this week of vacation. Even though we have not been posting much, we have still been having lots of fun. Here are a couple of pictures of Officer Stella at a demonstration the Sheriff's Department was putting on at Home Depot... Trying out a "News On Wheels"-type pose...

More to come soon!

I Love Counting!