Adventures with four

Daniel and I must be getting more sleep for we set upon an adventurous weekend. Miraculously on Saturday, we put our two kids and a canoe along with Sylvan and Ben in Ben's aging yet awesome minivan. We drove the hour north to Healdsburg where we put our boat in the water and canoed down the lazy Russian river. The day went as smoothly as could be hoped for. I didn't get to swim because I had to hold Cata, but I did a turn at paddling. The only hitch is what we are calling the Great Rock Incident which consisted of Sylvan throwing a river rock at Joaquin's head. Joaquin cried but the incident passed and was forgotten. At one point, both boys fell asleep in the canoe and Daniel and I paddled quietly down the Russian River.

Sunday I planned a day of resting, father's day breakfast, cleanup and dinner at friends' house in San Francisco. A Facebook status posted alerted me that Sharon Jones and the Dapkings where going to play a free concert in San Francisco's lovely Stern Grove. She is a recent favorite of mine and like no other. Our little family had spent the sunny morning together eating homemade breakfast and enjoying a lazy trip to a little park. I hemmed and hawed about whether to brave the Bay Bridge, the hour drive and the parking with Cata. Daniel encouraged me to go. So Cata and I hopped into the car and set out. We arrived just before Sharon Jones was set to go on. The day was sunny and perfect and I remembered how easy it was to have a teeny infant strapped to my chest. Cata loved the music. Her eyes were wide and clear for much of the time. I was worried it was too loud and I had forgotten earplugs but I checked the noise level with my iphone decibel meter and it registered reasonable. Iphones are a most handy mother tool. I sang along to the 'baby I love you' style songs wooing my little Cata.

After the hour show, I drove to the dinner party. The party was in part a send off for one of my closest friends who is moving three hours south to San Luis Obispo. Joaquin got the thrill of taking BART with Daniel to join us. He was slightly shy so very well behaved and gobbled down a helping of eggplant parmesan topped off with blackberry ice cream.
My policy is go for the adventures while the kids are good. So we did.

Father's Day morning visit to the park. Joaquin displays his lawnmower trophy.