We love the game, Kids On Stage!

Xanna planned some excursions with the kids in Calistoga while we were there, no parents allowed! Frank and I helped jump start apple picking at the vineyard so that they could go feed them to the rescue horses in town! They’ve gotten to feast on our Franz Valley apple harvest this year:) So fun! (And, as of today, we have not added a horse and burrow paddock to the vineyard.)

Turns out, Xanna’s chocolate protein drinks are the preferred adventure snack:)

Next stop, fixing the bridge! The heavy rains washed out our bridge footings…good thing we have a construction vehicle expert on hand to help drive the digger!

Xanna also had the great idea to make graham cracker houses…except the frosting didn’t harden:) But, we somehow found ourselves completely capable of eating the building materials and sweet decorations otherwise. Holmes proved to be exceptionally capable.

Gosh it was great to be together. Really great. It’s hard to not see Grandpa in this picture, and it’s incredibly wonderful to see us all otherwise. A lot of wine, a lot of butter, and a lot of love:)

Three carts full!

Everybody in! And espresso martinis to jump start the day!

Though, I will say, I went back for the green beans and frisée salad! The kids? Yeeeaaah.

For some reason, the leaves needed to be washed (hence the Ziploc of water), so we achieved…a wonderfully brown beautiful bounty in a bowl. If Holmes had his way, it would have been a dirt pile:)