Swanton Farm Organic Strawberry Picking

Yesterday we made our way to Swanton Berry Farm along the coast right outside Santa Cruz. A friend informed me to call ahead before we made the trek down since the weekend crowd can clear out the strawberries pretty fast. Swanton had an updated voice message explaining exactly what the crop was like, how many were ripe, etc. Since we were only planning to gather a few pints before the babies got tired it turned out to be a perfect day for us to go. The farm was easy to miss since my GPS directions took us in the back-way, and it didn’t look like much from the outside...just a little farm building amidst a big barn surrounded by tractors and backhoes. But the kids and the moms all had TONS of fun! We went on a Tuesday so there was next to no one there (not even a person to man the cash register!). The bigger kids (5 and 7) had a lot of fun hunting, and the little ones had a lot of fun eating. The whole farm runs on the honor system...and Alexander had evidence all over him. We left a few extra dollars to compensate for our ill gotten gains, and then we headed to Zachary’s for brunch.

I’ve been to Zachary’s Restaurant a few times, and it is an awesome diner to take kids. Friendly staff, inexpensive kid-friendly meals, and lots of character. We bustled in with 5 kids and 3 strollers, were promptly seated, and the waitress was very sweet and helpful. All in all...it was a great day!

Pirate Paradise

During the summer Stanford University Varsity Fencing Team and Sailing Club get together and host a week long “Pirates Camp” for kids, ages 6-10. The camp offers a bunch of scheduled events and games (treasure hunts, dress up, pirate talk 101), and an hour long fencing lesson to boot! This is probably one of the most creative camps out there! The team has also started offering birthday party packages as well!

Registration starts in the beginning of the year, and usually fills up fast - too fast for us this time :0(

Diaper Days

This is a totally awesome idea! You get to go to a grown up movie WITH your kid(s), and no one is going to complain if they eat, whine, yowl, or show off an exorcist-style vomit session (well...maybe the latter). Strollers are not allowed in the auditorium, so it’s probably a good idea to do the baby wearing thing. I tried this out with Alexander awhile back, and most of the kids were downright angelic! I must admit, I also enjoyed seeing a movie that didn’t have a lovable cartoon character as the lead role for once. This is also, hands down, the best way to see all those chick-flicks that your husband would rather eat glass than sit through.

The movies are shown at Camera 7 Pruneyard in Campbell (at 12:30) on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Additionally, Diaper Date Night is now offered twice a month if you and the hubby are feeling particularly ambitious.

Details can be found here or you can join the Diaper Days Yahoo Group for more info!

Mountain View Summer Concert Series

Math dancing with his cat

Last night we went to a concert at Cuesta Park. It was a cover-band of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We packed some blankets and a picnic dinner, and the kids had a blast dancing and playing in the nearby park next to the stage. Only drawback was no alcohol allowed in Mountain View public parks. In all, though, it was a pretty fun night.

Caldrea Sweet Pea Laundry Products

I first heard about Caldrea Laundry Products from my sister-in-law who was working at a fancy boutique during her summer break from college. She went back to school taking with her a bottle of Caldrea stain remover since she liked the smell. While finishing up a pen and ink project for an art class she knocked over an entire bottle of black ink onto her dorm room carpet. Ewe. Anyway, she promptly squirt a bunch of the stuff on the nasty blackness that was now sure to be her lost deposit, and 10 minutes later the stain was gone. She got that deposit back in full at the end of the year, too!

So after hearing the rave reviews of this miracle stain remover I had to try it for myself. I’ve got two kids, and a husband after all... I absolutely love the stuff. We have the whole “Sweet Pea” line from the laundry soap to the diaper Surface wipes....it smells incredible, and it does a great job of cleaning up after the mess that is my family’s wearables.

My mother-in-law is still trafficking it down to me from Oregon (no sales tax!), but I do know Giggle in SF and Walnut Creek both carry a complete line.