June 4-7, 2019 Tuesday through Friday Days 16-19
This part of the trip reflected the foundation for our journey. Our oldest son was having a week long celebration of his wedding that took place the prior year. In deference to their friends around the world, the celebration was going to take place in France. Our second son and his wife, with two very young boys were understandably wary about taking their two youngsters on two trans Atlantic flights, so we volunteered to take one of the on the planes. Hence we wanted to spent some time with and reacquaint ourselves with the two and a half year old grandson before the long airplane trip to France.
All went well and by the end of the week we were able to embark on the airplane trip with minimum fuss. But leading up to that there were many activities, but one enduring theme, construction equipment. The small, residential street outside my son's house was being torn up to install new gas lines. Hence it was being swarmed by small construction vehicles: front loader, bulldozer, dump truck, grader and back hoe. Most days after his parents left we started the day with our grandson watching the equipment operate either by watching from the front stoop or walking down the block to observe whatever was operating. In the late afternoon on several occasions when the employees had left we climbed onto the parked equipment. Endless fascination with the equipment which replicated the behavior of his dad and uncles when they were young children.
Tuesday
By mid morning I pulled the grandson away from construction viewing and we walked down to Lake Nokomis Triangle Park, a .4 mile journey that proceeded very slowly. We have been to this park with the grandson several times during prior trips and it has been interesting watching him get bigger and moving up on the hierarchy of playground equipment. His first stop was a back hoe that he could not operate the last time we visited. Then he did a tour of the swings, climbing equipment and slides. He also liked the zip line but could not hold on by himself. he weather was nice, but there were not many people there. Virtually all of the adults there seemed to be moms, few dads or nannies. We forgot to bring any snacks, so after about two hours we had to leave. The grandson was pretty tired so we had to wheel him back. Lunch and then a nap that was way later than his normal schedule and took a long time to go down.
Spouse took her ring, purchased in India, into the repair shop to insure that the stone, which had popped out in Cheyenne remained in the setting.
In the late afternoon we went on the equipment that was parked on the street. Dinner with the parents (son and wife) and then an early evening.
Wednesday
Following the construction equipment viewing habit, we left in mid morning for the Lake Harriet neighborhood to visit the Wild Rumpus bookstore, in part to get some relief from the heat but also because the store was strongly recommended. It was in a small neighborhood commercial zone and lived up to expectations. It had a large collection of children's books, as well as those for adults, but also had a large fish tank, other animals and a very creatively decorated bathroom. We purchased a book for the grandson for the trip and after about 2 hours we walked a short distance to the Great Harvest Bread Company for lunch. This is a chain, it has outlets in SLC and we also saw some in Wyoming, but it is very good. Fresh delicious bread samples and good sandwiches. The grandson is a good eater and he consumed a full grilled cheese sandwich and drink. Then we walked back across the street to Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream Shop. Very good, but expensive ice cream that we ate out on the covered patio. It had a turtle themed playground. We then drove home and frantically tried to keep the grandson awake so he would take a nap at home. Only partially successful.
After the nap in the late afternoon we went with the grandson, his mom and the younger grandson to McRea Park and recreation center for some time in the wading pool.
In the early evening we went on the equipment that was parked on the street. Dinner with the parents (son and wife), her mother and other daughter and then an early evening.
Thursday
Another morning construction equipment day, but this time we had to walk a bit since most of the equipment had moved down the block. About 9:30 we drove to Lake Nokomis beach. It is only a mile and a half away but I still got lost going there. The grandson went in the water and I took a swim. Nice temperature and uncrowded beach. We left after 2 hours to avoid the mid day sun and had lunch at home. Followed by grandson's nap and wife's trip to retrieve her ring.
After dinner we took a walk through Minnehaha Creek Park and bumped into my son's mother-in-law who lives nearby. She gave us a tour of her new and newly remodeled house. When we got back home about 9:30 all were asleep.
Friday
Packing day. The grandson and we were leaving on a 7:20 flight to Paris on Icelandic Air via Reykjavik. We packed in the morning, repositioned the cars, took a walk in the park and left for the airport about 4. Our daughter-in-law packed two bags for us with all we could need: diapers, extra clothes, food, toys, videos and books. The grandson seemed to understand that he was going on the plane with his grandparents and that his parents would meet him the following day in France. However after we had checked in and checked our luggage and it was time to go through Security and leave his dad, he grabbed on to his dad's leg and cried for him to not leave. The dad left and he promptly recovered. We passed through security without incident and found a playground in the airport which helped to pass some of the time. We boarded and took off on time.
This part of the trip reflected the foundation for our journey. Our oldest son was having a week long celebration of his wedding that took place the prior year. In deference to their friends around the world, the celebration was going to take place in France. Our second son and his wife, with two very young boys were understandably wary about taking their two youngsters on two trans Atlantic flights, so we volunteered to take one of the on the planes. Hence we wanted to spent some time with and reacquaint ourselves with the two and a half year old grandson before the long airplane trip to France.
All went well and by the end of the week we were able to embark on the airplane trip with minimum fuss. But leading up to that there were many activities, but one enduring theme, construction equipment. The small, residential street outside my son's house was being torn up to install new gas lines. Hence it was being swarmed by small construction vehicles: front loader, bulldozer, dump truck, grader and back hoe. Most days after his parents left we started the day with our grandson watching the equipment operate either by watching from the front stoop or walking down the block to observe whatever was operating. In the late afternoon on several occasions when the employees had left we climbed onto the parked equipment. Endless fascination with the equipment which replicated the behavior of his dad and uncles when they were young children.
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| Driving |
Tuesday
By mid morning I pulled the grandson away from construction viewing and we walked down to Lake Nokomis Triangle Park, a .4 mile journey that proceeded very slowly. We have been to this park with the grandson several times during prior trips and it has been interesting watching him get bigger and moving up on the hierarchy of playground equipment. His first stop was a back hoe that he could not operate the last time we visited. Then he did a tour of the swings, climbing equipment and slides. He also liked the zip line but could not hold on by himself. he weather was nice, but there were not many people there. Virtually all of the adults there seemed to be moms, few dads or nannies. We forgot to bring any snacks, so after about two hours we had to leave. The grandson was pretty tired so we had to wheel him back. Lunch and then a nap that was way later than his normal schedule and took a long time to go down.
 |
| Working |
Spouse took her ring, purchased in India, into the repair shop to insure that the stone, which had popped out in Cheyenne remained in the setting.
In the late afternoon we went on the equipment that was parked on the street. Dinner with the parents (son and wife) and then an early evening.
Wednesday
Following the construction equipment viewing habit, we left in mid morning for the Lake Harriet neighborhood to visit the Wild Rumpus bookstore, in part to get some relief from the heat but also because the store was strongly recommended. It was in a small neighborhood commercial zone and lived up to expectations. It had a large collection of children's books, as well as those for adults, but also had a large fish tank, other animals and a very creatively decorated bathroom. We purchased a book for the grandson for the trip and after about 2 hours we walked a short distance to the Great Harvest Bread Company for lunch. This is a chain, it has outlets in SLC and we also saw some in Wyoming, but it is very good. Fresh delicious bread samples and good sandwiches. The grandson is a good eater and he consumed a full grilled cheese sandwich and drink. Then we walked back across the street to Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream Shop. Very good, but expensive ice cream that we ate out on the covered patio. It had a turtle themed playground. We then drove home and frantically tried to keep the grandson awake so he would take a nap at home. Only partially successful.
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| Post ice cream turtle ride |
After the nap in the late afternoon we went with the grandson, his mom and the younger grandson to McRea Park and recreation center for some time in the wading pool.
In the early evening we went on the equipment that was parked on the street. Dinner with the parents (son and wife), her mother and other daughter and then an early evening.
Thursday
Another morning construction equipment day, but this time we had to walk a bit since most of the equipment had moved down the block. About 9:30 we drove to Lake Nokomis beach. It is only a mile and a half away but I still got lost going there. The grandson went in the water and I took a swim. Nice temperature and uncrowded beach. We left after 2 hours to avoid the mid day sun and had lunch at home. Followed by grandson's nap and wife's trip to retrieve her ring.
After dinner we took a walk through Minnehaha Creek Park and bumped into my son's mother-in-law who lives nearby. She gave us a tour of her new and newly remodeled house. When we got back home about 9:30 all were asleep.
Friday
Packing day. The grandson and we were leaving on a 7:20 flight to Paris on Icelandic Air via Reykjavik. We packed in the morning, repositioned the cars, took a walk in the park and left for the airport about 4. Our daughter-in-law packed two bags for us with all we could need: diapers, extra clothes, food, toys, videos and books. The grandson seemed to understand that he was going on the plane with his grandparents and that his parents would meet him the following day in France. However after we had checked in and checked our luggage and it was time to go through Security and leave his dad, he grabbed on to his dad's leg and cried for him to not leave. The dad left and he promptly recovered. We passed through security without incident and found a playground in the airport which helped to pass some of the time. We boarded and took off on time.
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Ready to travel
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