{Apple Pickin'}

Fall is such an amazing time of year! Pumpkins, indian corn, orange leaves, and APPLES. When we were younger and lived in California, my family would go to Apple Hill EVERY year to see the beautiful orchards, see how cider is made, and most importantly eat caramel apples! :) I love looking back on old memories... even more than that, though, I LOVE making new memories! That's exactly what we got to do recently...

Two days a week Kyle wakes up extra early for Bible studies, and he is usually gone before Parker and I are even awake. On one such morning last week, I get a text saying, "Get up and get ready." Ok, I need more details than that... so I just waited until Kyle got home. I'm very compliant. Kyle proceeds to tell me that he is changing and he's picking out clothes for both Parker and me. Umm... huh? Kyle's concern for particular clothing is usually ZERO, so I knew something was up. Next thing I know, I hear him call from the closet saying, "I need your help.. is this maternity??" He picked out a plaid button-up that would currently cover just my back... poor guy, he was trying... the story proceeds with Kyle pulling shirt after shirt out of the closet and with me saying, "Are you KIDDING?? I don't want to wear that... I just want you to tell me what the heck we're doing!!" I wasn't very nice. Somewhere in there he had changed in to a plaid shirt and jeans and dressed Parker in the same.. he finally gave in and told me that we NEEDED to wear plaid shirts and jeans because we were going to pick apples! :) After I gave him SUCH a hard time.. I felt bad. BUT, I was so excited!! And we knew Parker would have a blast. So our apple picking journey began: *Warning: Too. Many. Pictures. Proceed at your own risk!*

All trips start with a necessary re-tying of the shoes.. even double-knotted they seem to just come undone!

Off we went with bucket in hand! I loved that it was a metal pail and not a bag... I felt like it was a little more authentic!

Walking to the orchards. It was a beautiful day!

Our first apple picked by Park-man! He was so proud!

He literally THREW every. single. apple. into the bucket. It was so worth it, though. Bruised apples and all!

Daddy would find the perfect apples, point them out to Parker, and then Parker would pick them for us!

Proud of another apple!

He picked almost every single one! He did a great job!

Trying to find a good one.

Daddy showing him which one to pick.

There was a tiny little "pond" by the barn at the farm we went to with a few fish in it and little creature statues all around it. Parker was absolutely FASCINATED with them!

He loved the Aggi-gator.

Petting the turtle.

Trying to reach the frog.

At the end of our visit, we enjoyed a snack together outside in the amazing weather.

Just thought this one was cute.

We can't wait to go again! This particular farm also had muscadine grapes and peaches and nectarines in the spring! We will definitely make a trip out there for peaches next year!

Now we can't wait for more fall adventures! Hopefully pumpkin pickin' will be next! :)