Construction Worker Friends

A couple of weeks ago Jeff and Sarah moved in here with their family for a few days so they could get new carpet in their house. Turns out it took several more days than anticipated, so she was stuck here that many days longer than she expected.

But, it couldn't have been a better week for three little boys to be here because our road was being resurfaced and there was a lot of activity going on outside all throughout the week.

The constructions workers were soon getting as big a kick out of the little boys as the little boys were getting from them. The boys would run outside whenever they heard a big truck going up or down the street. Sarah told the workers they were super heroes in her sons' eyes.

Pretty soon one of the workers presented Eli and Carson with their own hardhats and safety vests to wear in the "construction zone" of our front yard.

The little boys loved it when the drivers honked at them. They also really got into "directing traffic" with hand signals as the trucks drove by.

It sprinkled rain a little bit during the day, so the boys grabbed the umbrellas which kept them entertained when there was a lull in truck traffic.

I loved how they turned their helmets around as they became storm troopers.

Lincoln loved watching the big trucks just as much as his older brothers. I have to admit I also thought it was interesting to watch the street resurfacing process going on.

I was sad when the boys weren't around a few days later when the workers came back to cut out the sewer holes, but I made videos of the process which I sent to Sarah to show the boys.

That was also the day we had excitement going on in our very own yard. We had two big dump loads of dirt dumped in our driveway and four workers hauling it and spreading it all around the yard.

I was talking with one of our yard workers and missed documenting the cement truck in the middle of the road. Our new street is sure smooth and nice to drive upon.

Inside the house we have had some home improvement projects going on--like cleaning all the light fixtures, putting in carbon monoxide detectors and putting in a new disposal.

We took advantage of Jeff's expertise since he had just installed a new disposal in their house. Thanks, Jeff, for your help on that one!!

Speaking of Jeff and Sarah's house... They have been working like crazy painting every paintable surface, finishing the bathroom in the basement and having new carpet installed so they would be ready to sell their home. Immediately upon listing, the realtor held an open house and they received five offers that very day. CRAZY!!

Rebecca insisted we go see Sarah's "show-ready" home so we could admire all the work they have done. I was really admiring their wonderful, kid-friendly, fenced-in back yard.

It will definitely be an adjustment for their family to move to our home in this neighborhood. But, it has given us a sense of peace knowing one of our children will be living here in our 3-year absence.

I just have one bone to pick with them--they are moving in before the end of the month. That is a week earlier than I preferred. But, bring it on! It will mean a little more family togetherness before we move to California.

Quotes of the Week

"The secrets of success are a good wife and a steady job. My wife told me." 
-- Howard Nemerov 

"If you want to see the true measure of a man, watch how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." 
-- J. K. Rowling 

"Life is like a camera. Just focus on what's important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't turn out - take another shot." 
-- Author Unknown 

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." 
-- Khalil Gibran 

Quotes of the Week

"If we want to avoid the suffering of someone leaving us, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking." 
-- Henri J.M. Nouwen 

"The answers you seek never come when the mind is busy, they come when the mind is still, when silence speaks loudest." 
-- Leon Brown 

"I am a father, I am very aware of the things that I'm putting out in the world knowing that one day my children will watch the work that I've done. I want to be able to stand by it." 
-- David Oyelowo 

"The things you say about others, also say a lot about you." 
-- Mark Amend 

Quotes of the Week

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit." 
-- William J. Clinton

"Satisfaction is not always the fulfillment of what you want; it is the realization of how blessed you are for what you have."
-- Author Unknown

"Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come." 
-- Henri Nouwen   

"When you get little, you want more. When you get more, you desire even more. But when you lose everything, you realize little was enough." 
-- Author Unknown 

Quotes of the Week

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." 
-- C. S. Lewis 

"Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short." 
-- Al Lopez 

"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." 
-- Confucius 

"The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change." 
-- Carl Rogers 

Wine Country, Park, Library, Dining Out

Abe had a work outing in Napa on Friday. Since it consisted of going to different wineries for wine tasting and then dinner, he was anxious to cut out of there as soon as possible.

After we went to the temple that morning, we met up with Abe's family in Napa. Abe had gone with his work group and then after Wynne's morning nap, Klarissa drove their car and picked up Abe.

Newland was happy to get out of his car and join me in our car while Abe and Glen were talking.

We found a park close by where we could walk around while Newland rode his bike.

Wynne loved being outside in the beautiful weather. We were also enjoying the beautiful weather knowing our area in Utah was expecting hurricane force winds that weekend.

Newland had to check out the horse statue and anything and everything else that caught his eye along the way.

Our path took us right past a vineyard.

Here are the beginnings of some bunches of grapes growing on the vine.

Time for a rest after all that walking.

Newland was hungry and was happy with his two pieces of chocolate

Back through the vineyard we went to get to our cars, stopping long enough to take a few photos.

Newland picked up a couple of sticks in the vineyard and they instantly became swords which called for an immediate sword fight with his grandpa.

We all were glad Abe chose to have dinner with us over his work people. He seemed super happy with that plate of assorted salami meats. I thought about how much Laurie would have enjoyed that sampler plate as she has always loved salami--which is not to my liking at all. Glen loved it.

I much preferred my gluten-free fava bean pasta dish. It was delicious!!

Just outside the restaurant, Newland wanted to help Wynne fully enjoy the fountain water.

The next day, after Abe and Klarissa had returned home from the temple, we went to the park. Newland is the scooter master now as he zooms off on that thing. Every once in a while he would stop and look back to see if we were following.

We loved seeing the new park located just a block away from Abe and Klarissa's home. Newland wanted to swing for a while and then he spent the rest of his time scootering all around the sport court.

Before we knew it, he was off like a rocket scootering across the street to the library. Apparently books weren't the thing that drew him in. It was these magnetic shape toys.

The only way to break him away from his enjoyment with the magnetic shapes was to lure him over to the self check-out station where he got busy checking out the movies they had chosen.

Abe and Wynne were waiting for us back at the park. It was time to play bocce ball. I'm no athlete, but I do enjoy playing bocce ball.

After getting the babysitter settled at home with the children, we adults were off to enjoy a delicious meal at Park Tavern.

They ordered two desserts and when I saw the candle in the lemon cake, I thought it was so sweet of Klarissa to tell them it was Glen's birthday (at least close to his birthday). We noticed other people around us were having birthdays as well...

...until Abe and Klarissa pointed out the item was listed on the menu as April "birthday" cake. Anybody who ordered the lemon cake also got the burning candle. A different flavor birthday cake is offered every month on the dessert menu.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY anyway, Glen!!!

We sure had a nice time visiting this cute family.

 And we get to see them again next month when they fly into town for our big setting apart/speaking in church Father's Day weekend. FUN!!

Abe and Klarissa's New Home

We have been making the rounds visiting our three out-of-state sons and their families before we leave on our mission. Abe's turn was this past weekend, so off we went to San Francisco. Glen flew there from Minnesota and we met in the airport.

Abe and Klarissa had moved to a new home and we were excited to see it. Theirs is the green three-story. They live on the first level, the one with the yellow flower in the window, and can now park their car in their own garage--the one to the left of the door.

They added crown molding and decorative molding strips on the walls. Klarissa has been busy decorating the house to their liking.

Abe made for the perfect kitchen model as he was plating up our dinner.

The meal sure tasted good to us hungry travelers.

The living room is in the front of the house. There is a raised area in the bay window which made for the perfect place for Glen to help Newland put together a puzzle. It turned out to be very therapeutic for Glen to work on that puzzle a little that evening and then he spent a chunk of time on it another day getting it completed.

This is a look down the hallway. The kitchen is on the right and the dining room is on the left. The first door to the left is the bathroom, which also has a washer/dryer unit. The next door on the left is a closet.

They had just gotten a Costco delivery, so right beyond that stuff on the right is the door leading out to the stairs which go down a flight to the ground/garage level. The stairs also go up more flights to the other two tenants and then to the roof where there is an outside deck available for use by all the occupants of the building.

The open door on the left at the end of the hallway is Abe and Klarissa's bedroom. It has a walk-in closet and a master bathroom.

The door at the end of the hallway is Newland and Wynne's bedroom. Both bedrooms have sliding glass doors that open up onto their own personal outdoor deck space along the back of the building.

We went to the Oakland Temple on Friday.

 Then we watched the grandchildren while Abe and Klarissa went to the temple on Saturday.

That was the day Glen completed the puzzle--having Newland put in the last piece so he felt like he had finished the puzzle himself.

The handyman has been taking a long time getting all the fix-it projects completed. He had recently been there applying some more wood molding to the fireplace which necessitated the use of the lovely green tape strips and the tools precariously perched putting pressure against the fireplace.

Abe and Klarissa had a toy/storage closet built into the space to the left of the fireplace and a closet for the computer built into the space to the right of the fireplace.

Notice the yellow flower in the windowsill.

They have the perfect view out that window of a San Francisco historical landmark--Coit Tower.

I really enjoyed looking out their front window at all the activity going on at street level. This was a great sight--Glen found an available parking space right across the street. Hurrah!!

Abe took advantage of Glen's carpentry skills and had him change out all the old hinges and replace them with new dark hinges on every door. He started with the pantry door. Slowly, but surely their home improvement projects are getting completed.

After church, Klarissa cooked us up a delicious gourmet Sunday dinner which we ate up on the rooftop.

Newland made sure to tell us we are not to climb on this fire escape ladder. 

 It wouldn't be Sunday without Glen making popcorn with the grandchildren!

 It had apparently been a tiring day for Wynne, who fell asleep that night on the living room carpet.

 Stay tuned for the outside adventures we had with the San Franciscan family.