One of the very first places we ate out was at Mary's Place. This was Sean's favorite place when we lived there, because they keep a truck and trailer behind the counter for young patrons to play with. Sean was really excited, but I thought it seemed like he didn't really remember the place. I think he just remembered because we talked about it so much!
Anyway here he is with the famous truck and trailer.
They make wonderful crepes, potatoes, and salad. Yum!
Sean went for the breakfast menu instead. He loves pancakes (and will even eat my buckwheat ones), eggs, and occasionally bacon.
Driving to Sonoma one day. Sunny days are beautiful there. We did see a lot of rain, though. February is not the optimal time to "vacation" in the Bay Area, but we did have some really nice days.
This is at Cornerstone in Sonoma. Again, this was much more spectacular in the summer when everything was in full bloom (edible gardens, etc.) but it was still fun to wander around the outdoor sculptures.
Miss Smiley in the Ergo (best $100 I EVER spent).
This would be a great place to have some professional photos taken, it is so colorful. Obviously I am not a professional, I can't even get my subject's eyes in the frame half the time!
This piece of art was falling apart a little bit, so Sean attempted to fix it.
He thought this huge pipe/tunnel was really cool. I don't remember this from the last time I was there.
Playing in the hotel room - we found an Extended Stay about 20 minutes from Jeff's office. This allowed us to eat lunch at the hotel every day, and some dinners. Eating out gets old (not to mention unhealthy!) so we were glad to have a refrigerator, microwave, cooktop, plus dishes, silverware, and cups. We also lucked out and got a handicap-accessible room, which was extra spacious. It was perfect for having little ones who need floor space to play. (Check out the big girl sitting up all by herself!)
Being in Marin County in February (meaning rain/sun together often) also enlightened us on the association with rainbows here (Rainbow Tunnel on the 101, Rainbow Buses take you to the airport, etc.). We saw a lot while we were there. They were not as spectacular as the ones we saw in Hawaii, but it's fun to see them nonetheless. And speaking of Hawaii, since it was green in Marin County, it really reminded me of Hawaii. Someday, we plan to return.... anyway I digress....
'Tis a place of microclimates. Here we got caught at the playground in a downpour, just out of nowhere.
Double Rainbow....
We also revisited the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield (CA). Sean tried to entertain himself while we waited in line for the tour.
He liked the giant jelly beans hanging from the ceiling.
They have a sample bar where you can choose any flavor you like. These people were trying the gross flavors (pencil shavings, rotten egg, moldy cheese, barf, you get the idea) which was quite entertaining.
After the tour (sorry, no pictures on the tour!) we stopped to eat some treats in the little cafe. Teresa was happy after a little nap during the tour followed by a poop explosion and massive cleanup effort. I'm sure she's not the only one who has pooped in the middle of the Jelly Belly factory, but that thought did cross my mind that she might be the first.
Playing in the hotel, again. It rained a lot.
On another rainy day, I had a great idea - the mall! We never go to the mall, and supposedly this nearby mall had an indoor play area for children. When we got there we found an empty space roped off with the sign "Children's Play Area Coming Soon." Ack! After dealing with a very upset three year old, we did walk around for a while and found some of these cars that you can put a quarter in (somehow I managed to retain all change in my wallet - Sean was fine just climbing around on them without riding them).
To be continued....
