Monday, October 6, 2008

Apple Picking!!

We are back from our quick little getaway and--although it was short--we packed a lot of fun in!

We had time to stop by this winery we love and stock up on our favorite wine which also happens to be Bob Hope's favorite wine. We just call it "The Bob Hope." As in "Don! I need more Bob Hope!"

We also had some nice meals out at some of our favorite restaurants and even a quick swim before the pool is closed for the season--but the best part of the trip was apple picking!

I LOVE apple picking and look forward to it every fall. We always go to a fun orchard that also has a cute little farm/petting zoo, live music, barbecues and a barn store full of delicious stuff like apple cider doughnuts.

But, of course, the best part is the apples! The extra good thing about apple picking this year is that this was apparently the best apple season in the past 53 years! Every kind of apple was available in abundance--I've never seen so many apples!

Here are some highlights (let me apologize in advance--there are a LOT!):

Here are the boys ready to start!

Pickle started eating the apples immediately!
The Gooser:
Pickle choosing a perfect apple.
A bad apple!

Pickle enjoyed picking dandelions!
Gooser and Patrick.
Gooser peeking through the apples.
And now onto the pumpkins! I tried to take a group shot amongst the pumpkins for a Christmas card idea I have--I want to do four pics of the kids in each of the seasons. This one isn't super great, but not too bad. What do you think? Should I redo?

More of The Gooser!
Gooser and Pickle:
And here is an attempt at a group shot with some mums:
And now onto the farm/zoo! There was no shortage of goats. This little brown one really bonded with Andy--I couldn't tear Andy away!

Isn't this a beautiful goat?? I would love to have one--I wish I had a farm!
Pickle really enjoys feeding goats! She kept saying "Again! Again!" when she ran out of goat food.
Oh and this is my very favorite--a newly-hatched baby chick! How cute is it?? I have been wanting to hatch a chick at home for a fun project with the kids--I bought the little incubator and everything--I think we'll do it soon!
And finally, a Siamese twin pumpkin!!
Whew!! Sorry so many! We sure had a great time. Oh-- and guess how many pounds of apples we picked? 75!! How crazy is that? I'm going to be making a lot of apple recipes in the coming weeks--including Karla's crock pot apple butter. I have an idea to make the apple butter and use the jars of it at Thanksgiving with place cards tied to them and then let the guests take them home. Good idea?

Also, Scary Mommy is having a great giveaway--a beautiful basket of coffeestuffs. Go check it out immediately!!
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21 comments:

Ronda's Rants said...

So glad you didn't let one bad apple spoil your fun! Tee Hee! I think the card idea is great! I like the one with the pumpkins or the one with the mums is cute as well! Face it...your kids are cute!!!
So glad you had a good time!

KWolfAK said...

Wow girl, you made some good looking kids! That pumpkin at the end looks a little obscene! haha

Sue Wilkey said...

You've definately got a Christmas card there. What fun!

Shannon said...

I like the pumpkin group shot over the one with the mums... but that's just my opinion!

And the apple butter /place card idea is a great one!

oº˚ Homeschool Mom˚ºo said...

Sounds wonderful! I bet the kids had a great time -- like I couldn't tell from all those smiles. Thanks for sharing -- Much Love

Anissa

Jennifer said...

Looks like ya'll had some apple pickin' fun!

Jen- I love the apple butter idea! You'll have to post pics when you make them.

I'm off to check out the apple butter recipe and the giveaway...

Jo-Jo said...

Can I come and go on fun trips with your family?

Anonymous said...

Wow....that does look like a good time!!! I agree with everyone else....I like the group shot with the pumpkins!

All the pics turned out great.....

Thanks for the shout out on the recipe.....I did add another post after my initial one one how to do it with your apples as opposed to the applesauce(which is is my lazy way of doing it).

75lbs!!!! Wow!!! Zander would help you eat those....all of a sudden he is into apples all the time! I'm telling you....he and Pickle would get along GREAT!!!

Unknown said...

Great photos !!1

I used to go apple picking with my kids ... and berry picking. Great fun!!

Aubrey said...

Look at the smiles on all the kiddos faces! You can tell you all had such a great time!

Mamahut said...

I love your card idea. MMMMM apples, I love fresh apples. Your kids get cuter every time I see them.

Heather said...

It looks like SUCH a fun trip!!

Linda S said...

Great Christmas card idea! just leave out the oddly 'hung' pumpkin at the end!lol

Anonymous said...

I love that prego pumpkin, so absolutely cool.

All the kids looked great in the pic, loved it too. What a fun getaway.

Ann Harrison said...

This looks like a great trip!
And just what kind of wine is/was Bob Hope's favorite? (I'd love to find some then maybe we could have a cyber-drink together!)

anymommy said...

Looks like a fabulous day. I adored the pictures. Those smiles are priceless!

oº˚ Homeschool Mom˚ºo said...

Stop by my blog -- I have an award for you!

Much Love
Anissa

oº˚ Homeschool Mom˚ºo said...

hey crazy me I just put the picture of the award up! Forgot all about it!


anissa

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I am LOVING these fall/pumpkin/apple posts! My favorite time of the year.
I also love goats, when I lived on a farm years ago we had three and I would love to have some again! They're pains in the butt, but so cute.

Dee said...

They are great pics, you do well to get all the kids together.

Your kids are going to have such great memories of their childhood.

My 3yo would be in heaven at an apple farm/petting zoo.

Susie said...

So cute!! I can't wait!! Our pumpkin farm visit isn't for a couple weeks.