We went to Napa! This trip was so many things and it was all such a wonderful time. Hannah and Josh floated it to us about a year ago as a way to celebrate both of our 10 year anniversaries and then we were lucky enough to have Josh and Fletcher join us as our resident California-dwelling, world-traveling, Napa-familiar tour guides. It was the first time we’d left both kids behind while we went on vacation, so I was actively trying not to worry too much about that. I think I did okay and so did they! I didn’t take as many pictures as I should’ve but truly and honestly it was because we were having too much fun and I was caught up in all of it 🤍😊

Those cute babies took Joey and I to the airport and when I told Dempsey to have fun, he told me “YOU have fun, Mommy!” Truly strange to walk through the airport with nothing and only myself to keep track of but it was nice. We flew into San Francisco, met up with Josh and Fletcher, then picked up our rental car and drove straight to lunch at Oxbow Public Market. I’m so in the bag for a food hall so no surprise that I loved this one and it was cool to see Downtown Napa right off the bat. I didn’t even know they had one! Back at our villa, our host gave us an extensive in-person tour (that’s an Airbnb first!) and we hung out and grocery shopped before having dinner at The Lincoln. What can I say except totchos!

We had a bike tour in Sonoma booked the next day and it was so fun! Hit up Journey Coffee beforehand then got situated with our bikes and tour guide and headed out. I had no idea how many cute neighborhoods there were in Sonoma/Napa but we biked through several, plus down a nice shady path and alongside some vineyards. Truly idyllic. So while we all agreed that this bike tour was one of our favorite parts of the trip, we also agreed that the two tour/tastings weren’t the most informative. The wine was good though! First stop Honrama and second stop Buena Vista. Very different but both fun. Oh and our tour guide, Stella, was a Sonoma native with lots of knowledge to share. She also took us to a cheese shop before returning our bikes and I really loved that delicious surprise. We went to a cocktail bar then grabbed tapas for dinner in Downtown Napa and get this, we saw BOTH of the gentlemen who had poured our wine during the tours we went on earlier in the day 😂

Joey and I were definitely the early risers of the group so we stole the rental and took ourselves to get coffee and breakfast at Naysayer. I thought it was so cute in there! Josh and Fletcher had organized this day for us as a celebration of our anniversaries and I love that so much 🤍 We had a private car come pick us up and take us to three different wineries! The first specialized in sparkling wine and the cave tour and following cheese and wine tasting was a highlight of the trip for sure! The other two stops were very cool too and I love how all of the facilities at these wineries are so different. Poolside cocktail service took place back at the villa and then we went to Wildred’s for tiki drinks and dinner. We were all surprised that Napa basically shuts down at 9 on Sundays but we made do.

Our last full day in Napa and I think we made the very best of it. The four Coloradoans grabbed breakfast at the famed Model Bakery and those English muffin sandwiches really were worth the hype. We had Cake Bread Cellars recommended to us and while they were fully booked online, Hannah called and got us a tour! This was the most modern of the wineries we visited and it was really cool to see their methods of making and storing wine, especially the “wine eggs” they use 😂 Our tour guide had A LOT to say. I thought it was all pretty interesting and informative, if not only slightly exhausting as well. Afterward, we did one last tasting at Gundlach Bundschu and I lost track of how many wines they poured us 😂 For our final vacation dinner, we decided to do it up at Bottega. Everything was amazing! They also heard we were celebrating two anniversaries and brought us some comically large wine glasses to drink from. The next morning, we packed up and headed back to San Fran to fly home. I was so sad to leave California and our friends and all day wine drinking but very very excited to see my babies. Now we’re left wondering where the six of us should go next year 😉

Hello and Happy July! It feels like it’s been a minute since I last posted and a lot has happened. We took our first kid-free vacation since Lydia was born, celebrated the 4th of July, went to the Rockies game, attended Dempsey’s last soccer game, visited the museum, saw a movie and ate a million meals out. It was all the very best and I’m feeling ready to jump back into normal (but it’s still summer, so maybe not so normal) life 😄 Now bear with me as I try to piece together our weekend 😂

We had a pretty chill 4th of July. It is always so weird to me that we have the entire day off but no one get together until later because we want to time it close enough to nighttime for fireworks. At 3:30, I was so ready for everyone to come over at 5 😂 We started the day with waffles and then Joey took the kids on a run/to the park while I cleaned up the house and then we just hung out/played until BBQ time. We had quite the spread! Dempsey and Landon rode around in his car for sooooo long and it was the cutest. And we took a picture of the cousins and could not believe how much they’ve changed since last 4th of July!!!! We set off our little pack of fireworks around 8:30 and Dempsey was in his happy place. Lydi was NOT but she survived 😅 Such a happy time with our family!

Joey went golfing Saturday morning, so the kids and I had breakfast then walked to the coffee shop/park. I let Dempsey bring his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza van to the park but did not think about how busy the park would be or how it would be a kid magnet. They were all drawn to it! Then we had 5th of July tickets to the Rockies game/fireworks show. I don’t think we’ve been on the field for fireworks in something like 15 years!!! And turns out, it’s a lot harder with kids but we had fun! Can’t say the same for the rest of our group who got pushed to Lot B parking 😣 Lydia was not a fan again but she seemed to do okay. It was a late night for all of us!

Needless to say, we were all extra tired and slept in on Saturday. Once we were up, we made pancakes then headed to soccer. I guess we could technically still show up for the beginning of Dempsey’s game next week (the actual last week) but maybe we’ll also just skip it 😂 It’s been a grind keeping this kid on the field and participating. They had to share their favorite animals and act them out on the field and he said “a sloth,” which seems right for how slow he was moving 😂😂😂

After Lydia’s nap, we hit up the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Joey suggested it and I’m so glad because it’s the perfect “too hot outside” activity and the kids had a great time (until Dempsey literally punched me when I wouldn’t let him open the cover over the emergency stop button on the escalator “just to look, MOM!” 😑). My favorite part was when Dempsey was pretending a rock-shaped pillow fell on him? This kid! Since we were in the area, we headed to Vine Street Pub for dinner. It’s finally re-opened after closing down in 2020! My beloved tempeh Rueben was missing from the menu but the beer and fries and BLT I had were amazing, so I guess I’ll live 😋 Back at home, baths and bedtime for the kids and then Joey and I watched the sixth and seventh episodes of Ripley before going to bed ourselves.

Sunday, finally! Joey was up and at em early and then he and Dempsey headed out to go fishing. Sissy and I had a slower morning of breakfast, Bluey and playing before we walked over to the farmers’ market. Got peaches, popcorn, zucchini, corn, blueberries, coffee beans, and sunflowers then headed back home. Joey sent me that photo of the fish they caught and I guess Dempsey wasn’t too thrilled about it this time 😂 They came home in time for us all to have lunch together and then Lydi went down for her nap and Grandma Lori came over so Joey and I could go see The Bikeriders. Lot of voicework being done there! I felt like the whole thing was more vibes than plot, but I did like the vibes. Jodie Comer IS the movie but Austin Butler and Tom Hardy are pretty good too. Back at home, salads, toy rotation and dinner. Felt slightly chaotic but oh well. We finally had a normal bedtime with the kids then finished our show. I thought it was really good! Shot beautifully and Andrew Scott was just incredible as Tom Ripley. Would recommend!

Wishing everyone a good week!