Father's Day Weekend

We had one goal in mind this weekend.  We wanted to have one heck of a weekend!  We planned to go up early to Healdsburg to spend some time with E and Papa while also prepping a fun party for all of the Swendsen Family Dads.  We finished swim lessons this morning and headed straight to the halfway point between San Jose and Headsburg.  Damien was in San Francisco for a business meeting today so I drove the kids up to meet him, have some lunch, and then head north for a great weekend!

We decided to take the kids to Rainforest Cafe in the city.  Michael and Claire had been there, Matthew and Emily had not.  We approached the door to the restaurant and Emily immediately tensed up.  Normally, she is really outgoing and not scared of anything but she was giving us a clear signal that she was freaked out!  Throughout the whole lunch, she hunched down in our booth for fear of seeing any animals.  We made it through the experience but we had to do a lot of over explaining about how things weren't real, were make believe, weren't going to hurt anyone!

We walked up and down the San Francisco waterfront taking in all of the sights, sounds, and smells (some good, some bad).  It was awesome.  The kids were most captivated by the 'Bush Man' who sat on the sidewalk with shrubs in front of him- waiting to jump out at any unsuspecting passerby.  It really was funny to watch.  Matthew got the biggest kick out of it.  He was laughing uncontrollably which Damine and I loved.  We got the kids ice cream, looked in a lot of the little shops and as a bonus, got to see a lady throw up on the sidewalk.  It's the small things that my kids enjoy.

We then headed up to Healdsburg and almost immediately turned around and headed to the Francis Ford Coppola winery just north of Healdsburg.  It was such a sight.  We have been there before when it was called Chateau Souverain but it has since changed ownership and its facade and is simply breathtaking.  The food was amazing.  Some of the best pasta I have ever had!  The kids loved walking the property, I got my Dad some great gifts for his birthday, and we just enjoyed the beauty that was surrounding us. 

What a great day.  We are looking forward to a really fun weekend full of plenty of swimming, yummy bakery treats every morning and lots of planning for a great Father's Day celebration!