Temecula

Our friends needed to drive up to Temecula today to pick up wine, since they are members of a couple of winery clubs up there, and asked if we wanted to join them. I needed a distraction since we had just dropped off my dad & girlfriend at the airport so we decided to go. With the kids. Yikes.
We learned quickly that the kids fared way better outside the tasting rooms, for obvious reasons. We went to about 3 wineries and all had nice outdoor areas very suitable for picnicking and twirling around. I planned ahead well and had a mini-cooler with cheese, apples, crackers, etc...Lola was really interested in the grape-growing too.
We ate at Thorntons, where there is a large fountain that the kids loved.
I had crayons and play-doh for the kids, which entertained them for a few minutes, but proved to be no match for the fountain.
At the last stop, some nice staff gave them each a lollipop and the kids enjoyed that, plus all the hay everywhere.
It's stressful to bring kids to wineries and I wouldn't do it often, but today actually turned out very nicely. Lola said it was the best day ever and Elise fell asleep for the night on the car ride home. They were happy and exhausted.