Helen Putnam Regional Park...

We met some friends at Helen Putnam Regional Park this morning in Petaluma. This is a great location for a walk, it has a nice 2.8 mile loop which is stroller friendly and offers some breathtaking views of Chileno Valley and Petaluma. Next to the Parking Lot there is a great playground with a gazebo and picnic tables. There are also decent restroom facilities here as well. If you plan to park in the lot make sure you bring $6 with you to pay. You can also park outside the park for free on the road, but there are not many spots available. I would highly recommend a trip to Helen Putnam Park!!

Rose and Thorn - Sebastopol

Today we took a quick trip to the Rose and Thorn in Sebastopol. What a delightful location!!! Not only is there a beautiful gift shop with tons of treasures to explore, the outdoor setting is outstanding. There are several picnic tables and chairs set amongst the eclectic gardens where one can sit and visit with the many happy animals or even enjoy a private picnic. It is a wonderful place for children to walk around and visit with the many goats and chickens or explore the beautiful gardens. I would have to say the gift shop is not appropriate for little ones to run through, and should be closely watched, but the outside can be all theirs!!! If you want to pickup food before visiting Rose and Thorn, Bills Farm Basket is very close and offers excellent produce, food, and coffees. This is the perfect quick trip in West Sonoma County!!

California Academy of Sciences...

We had a wonderful day at the San Francisco California Academy of Sciences. It truly lived up to all our expectations. There are certainly things to be aware of though, if you want to plan a visit here. I would HIGHLY recommend a weekday visit. We were there on a Monday and it was packed, I can't even imagine what a Saturday and Sunday must be like. The other great thing about being there on a weekday is that the restaurant and cafes were not too crowded. There were plenty of places to sit and the wait for food was not long. We decided to try the Moss Room, which is more of a fine dining experience downstairs from the cafe. This was a great choice! The food was excellent and the location is like a little sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of upstairs. You can grab a glass of wine and enjoy a relaxing meal. It was very kid friendly, but does have a quieter setting for adults. The other positive thing about a weekday visit to the Academy is that there is ample room to let your toddler down to run around and walk beside you. On a busy day I am sure small children must stay in their strollers because they would be easily lost in the crowds. Our favorite exhibits were the Steinhart Aquarium downstairs and the African Hall(where the Penguins are!!) on the main level. The only exhibit that we were not able to visit was the Planetarium as children younger than 7yrs old are not allowed in. We highly recommend this location for your next day trip! It is set in a beautiful location in Golden Gate Park, so after the Academy you can wonder around its beautiful surroundings as well. Also, parking was easy, well at least on a weekday it was. You park underground and take an elevator right upstairs to the Academy's entrance. You can also park outside in the street free for 4 hours, but spots are hard to find and will require a little walking. I hope you enjoy your trip to the Academy as much as we did!!!

What to do this weekend in NORCAL???

Here are some great ideas of things to do this weekend with your family:

1) Precita Valley Arts Festival, San Francisco. Live music, mural painting, tasty food, and groovy music from DJ Special K, DJ La Rumorosa, and Two Milli. Precita Park. Sat., May 15, 1-5 p.m. Free. Info: click here.

2) Asian Heritage Street Celebration, San Francisco. Two stages of nonstop live performances, a wine garden, mah jong tournament, Anime area, children's center with games and activities, great shopping and, of course, great Asian food. City Hall and Little Saigon, Larkin and McAllister Streets. Sat., May 15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Info: asianfairsf.com.

3) Greek Festival, Oakland. Listen to live Greek bandswith and then munch on Souvlaki on a stick, check out the Agora and the Greek vase replicas, tour the Cathedral then the nearby Calamari booth, and learn to Greek dance and sip Retsina on the rocks. Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Ave. May 14-16. $6. Info: oaklandgreekfestival.com.

4) Inner Sunset Street Fair, San Francisco. Art, craft, dance, music and food at this hood's first-ever street fair. Don't miss Dianne Nola with The 7 Against 8 Swing Band at 6:30 p.m. 9th and Irving. Sat., May 15, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Info: sfpix.com/fair.

5) Kids 'n Kites Festival & Aqua Adventure, Fremont. Live music, play area for kids, and lots of kite-flying. Also, the nearby Aqua Adventure Park offers special one-time entrance price of $5 per person. Enjoy the 40-foot waterslides, 700-foot lazy river, and little squirt play area. Central Park. Sat., May 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Info: click here.

6). Take a Hike Snoopy, Santa Rosa.This exhibit explores Charles Schulz's many connections to local scouting troops and is receipt of the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America. On display will be 20 Beagle Scout Peanuts strips and camping-themed objects. click here

7). Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco. The Walt Disney Family Museum is a brand new museum in the heart of San Francisco dedicated to the history of Walt Disney and all his beloved characters. It opened October 1st, 2009 and has quickly become a must-see spot in the city by the bay. click here

Being a SAHM is worth a lot......

I found this article this morning and loved it, I often wonder how much I should be paid for being a Stay at Home Mom! Don't get me wrong, the hugs and kisses are pretty good pay, but a little cash now and then would be rather nice too!!!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/detail?blogid=46&entry_id=63196

HOWARTH PARK - Santa Rosa

We enjoyed a great morning at Howarth Park today, what an amazing set up they have there. There is so much for toddler and preschool aged children to do; an Old West Town to explore with multiple jungle-gyms and a sand area with toys and water fountains to splash in as well as a lovely large grass area with lots of shade. This Park even has a train and petting zoo on the weekends!!! Howarth Park is right next to Spring Lake so there are tons of trails to walk as well and ducks and geese to feed!! Lots of fun to be had here, you could easily pack a picnic lunch and spend a whole day!!

Child Care and Farm Experience in Santa Rosa...

My Little Farm is a very special place and very dear to our hearts. Before I stopped working this is where Baby G spent everyday Monday - Thursday!! It is not only a wonderful place to consider for Child Care, but it is a great location to plan a DAY TRIP!! My Little Farm is offering farm visits now for Parents and Children to enjoy. For a scheduled time of 2 hours, My Little Farm will provide an opportunity for children to explore nature, animals and farm life. They have 4 acres filled with beautiful gardens, animals and more!!!! Contact them today: 707.396.7738