We're packing our bags and heading up to the Bay Area. Starting next week Otterhop.com's base of editorial operations will be in beautiful San Francisco, Ca. Stay tuned for more Otterhop-goodness and additional Bay Area specific goings-ons for you and your wee ones. No worries, we'll still be covering Los Angeles and beyond (including exclusive access at Comic-Con 2009).

This entire last week of school my 9 year old son has been asking "So...What are we doing on vacation?" Which I exhaustingly answer "I don't know." With only a few getaways here and there and me not wanting to cave into hours wasted playing the Wii I desperately need ideas to fill those times when there's nothing TO DO.

If, like a husband buying a panty rose from the 7-11 at 7pm on Valentine's Day, you and your spawn have procrastinated figuring out how to honor the patriarch of your family don't sweat you still have time. Dads also love receiving homemade goodies manufactured by his precious little ones. Here are a few places to find some quick and easy projects for your sentimental big guy:

For Younger children:

"Hot Chocolate" is the third video released off the super-rocking new album "Field Trip" from Recess Monkey.

It was an afternoon made in movie-going heaven for me last Sunday at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. My 3 year old daughter cozied up in my lap...a bucket of popcorn nestled in hers...her best friend strategically situated between us and her mommy constantly peeping sideways at my daughter to catch her eye and share a giddy giggle or two...and me, heart-skipping beats...sobbing in silence behind my 3D glasses.

The kids are home for the summer begging to pull out the paints. As a good parent you understand the importance of self-expression through creating art yet you yearn to keep your house clean for at least one whole day. Why not go elsewhere to get your kids' artistic juices flowing? You won't have to deal with the mess, the kids will get out of the house and around other kids for a while giving their imaginations a workout and they might actually learn something wonderful about art.

"Haven't Got a Pet Yet" is the second video released off of the new album "Field Trip" from Seattle's kindie rock band Recess Monkey. The song laments the common childhood dilemma of convincing one's parents he responsible enough for pet ownership.

"Marshmallow Farm" is the first video from Recess Monkey's newly released CD "Field Trip". It will also be included on their upcoming DVD for "Field Trip" set to release sometime this summer.

Released on June 9th, "Field Trip" is the fifth album from Seattle's own kindie rock gods Recess Monkey.

I lived in a rose covered world when I was a kid. Thanks to my mom's mad gardening skills we always had rose bushes bursting with colorful blossoms yielding heavenly smells. I loved the soft feel of the petals when I rubbed them between my fingers and often would spend an entire day in my front yard trying to concoct rose petal perfume from roses and water. Turns out the key ingredient I was missing was vodka. I was desperate to do something with this wonderful flower.

As you know Father's Day is just around the corner. If the father of your children happens to be a gizmo man then this tutorial for repurposing a tie into a gadget case is a quick and cool gift for you to make with your kids.

If your little cape crusaders are anything like mine they arrive back to headquarters each night, after a long day of crime fighting, covered head-to-toe in filth. Leslie from The Pink Toque just might have found a nice tool for serious grime-fighting. Using a basic soap making recipe she's posted a tutorial for whipping up some Batman soap.

Rhyming is a crucial early childhood skills all kids must develop as a precursor to reading. And one of the first ways kids begin to acquire this essential ability is through the practicing and learning of traditional nursery rhymes.

My girlie-girl 3 year old daughter, despite her need to show the world her princess panties, feels most comfortable in skirts and dresses...If it twirls, it's a must. And I feed her addiction and my need to sew by whipping up beginner-level skirts at a rapid pace. Now that summertime is here my self-dressing daughter is sure to cloth herself in nothing but skirts, skirts and more skirts.

Summer days equal long sunny days. Enjoy all these delicious days and get the kids outside. However, when it reaches surface of the sun temperatures outside you might seem less than motivated to take the fun outdoors.