Thanksgiving Break

I was excited to see that iTunes is offering Carol of the Bells by The Bird and the Bee as the single of the week. So hurry over to iTunes to get yours for free. I have just finished uploading the entire set of photos from our Thanksgiving trip. As usual I've chosen a few to post, for the complete set click onto the 'Day' heading. I promised myself that I would scribble notes to elaborate on later for the blog, but didn't, so I'm relying soley on my bad memory.

We were going to drive up Saturday, but instead had our preThanksgiving Dinner at my parents house along with my brother Ben and his family (Jamie, Dominic and Alyssa). The next day we attended a belated birthday gathering for Ethan's 5th BDay. We ended up leaving Monday afternoon arriving in St. Helena about 10:30ish. All in all it was not a terribly unpleasant trip. Both boys were actually behaving very well. I only broke out the DVD after an early dinner. They watched "Meet the Robinsons" which Henry ranked as 'just okay'.

This trip is one that we've taken every Thanksgiving since we've been married, and each year it just gets better. This year Jodie and her husband Diron, as well as Tim and Ben's younger brother Jack added to the festivities. We're very excited and looking forward to a new baby for Esther & Mike (and a baby brother for Christopher), and Katey & Jeb's wedding shower and wedding next year.

Day One

The next day we woke up and after a hour or so of socializing headed off on our own to explore the grounds. Tim, Ben and Jack were due in sometime in the early afternoon. The plans were laid out that we would all meet them in town and have a celebratory birthday lunch for Tim.


Unfortunately their plane from Chicago got held up by mechanical problems and things just snowballed. They in fact did not get in until the early evening, thus turning the birthday lunch into a dinner fiesta.

Day Two

Wednesday we all gathered at a park up the road for a hike. It's really very beautiful this time of year in the Napa Valley. Although much of the harvest is over you can still smell the strong aroma of grapes as you drive up and down the 29. After working up an appetite we headed off to lunch in Calistoga.


It was here while perusing the shops that Rhys found his replacement pair of Crocs in red. He's developed a fondness for the color red and will not wear anything other than his pair of red Crocs. His original pair is completely falling apart, there is a tear at the top of the right shoe where Kenny had hand sewn with fishing wire. So when we walked into that boutique and he saw the wall of Crocs he was in heaven. He headed straight for the red ones and amazingly grabbed a pair in his size.


With a few hours to spare before dinner Hilary, Emily and I decided to go explore our favorite shops on Main Street, St. Helena. Our first stop was at Model Bakery for coffee and then it was off to Woodhouse, a proverbial favorite for obvious reasons. I asked Hilary to take a picture of me in front of the store. She took several and this is the one I thought looked least like I was doing an ad for local tourism. Don't you think the caption should read, 'Why don't you take the load off and come visit our town for a cup of delicious coffee?' If you click on the shot you might get a glimpse of their spectacular Thanksgiving display. For a clearer picture go to the Woodhouse website.


Traditionally we do not eat dinner at the house the night before Thanksgiving. We usually go out for pizza in St. Helena, but this year to be different we all gathered at Taylor's Refresher.


I love Taylor's. They have really yummy food. So yummy in fact that there is a Taylor's Automatic Refresher in San Francisco and another in Napa is in the works. I ordered their Spicy Tomato Soup, a special of the day. This time of the year they have another seasonal specialty, Pumpkin Shake. I have yet to try it. We hung around Taylors for a bit, the air was brisk and we were happy to have monopolized the tables under the heating lamps.


Once everyone finished filling their tummies, we headed in different directions. Angele offered to babysit while the youngsters decided to go to the Billcos in Napa for billiards.


Day Three
Thanksgiving Day. When it eventually arrived it felt like it had come too soon. Here are pictures of the family boys


and girls


Day Four
This year we all decided to take the ferry into San Francisco.






Day Five
Our last day. We went to visit Uncle Patrick new office to check out an electric bike and then had breakfast with Mike before we headed back home.



PS Immediate plumbing problem has been resolved. Visit from plumber having to snake the pipes in from the top of the house: $185. Being able to take a shower tonight: Priceless.