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.