Wai-Kiu and Hanh are our closest friends from our residency days and have lived in a lovely part (Montclair) of the Oakland Hills since graduation. We've stayed with them so many times over the years. At first, it was just Kelvin and me driving down from Humboldt (often when flying out of Bay Area airports); however, in the last decade, we've added a dog, and then two kids, which (along with a pandemic!) has made our trips to the Bay Area far more infrequent (I think we last saw them in 2018); however, they still always greet us with open arms and a comfortable guest bed, and we were so thankful to spend a night with them and their two kids (Mason [just shy of twelve], whose birth I attended as a resident, and Sophia, age nine).
Iver was super enthusiastic about playing board games with the "older" kids, including chess and Monopoly.
They also did "art." Niall was enthralled with their huge library of loft books and toys.
Group lunch
We enjoyed dinner with some of our residency buds, Serena and Sonia (Sonia and her husband Jim had visited us a few weeks ago and live in SF).
The kids were happy to eat ice cream and watch a movie while we adults caught up, one and a half years (and counting) into the pandemic which has worn us doctors all out thoroughly.
Katherine had gotten K these matching shirts for his birthday and, for my day, added mine (in slightly different font and shading but still very cute).
Wai-Kiu and Hanh are Oakland Zoo members and took us along on Saturday during a timed entry.
"Niall the Navigator"
The gondola ride to the "Native California" area was a hit.
Gray wolves were Niall's favorite
Black Bear
Lovely views over the city
Beloved bison
Grassland beasts
(Iver was thrilled to see an elephant urinate and defecate)
We then headed the five hours home after a lovely time reconnecting with our friends. When I asked the kids what their favorite part of the Thanksgiving week road trip was, they both replied unequivocally, "Playing with Mason and Sophia. When can we go back?!"
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