This year we did our annual outing to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch with the Lundquists at the end of September. Thanks to Jen's forward thinking (I think she texted me dates back in June!), we had a weekend at the end of September planned. Last year we waited too long and went in mid-October, when the apples were almost all gone and it was freezing. Since this is the 5th year we have done this, we have learned a few things. But of course when we finally plan ahead, it ends up being a year with a late spring and therefore the apples weren't really ready until mid-October this year! Ugh--but it gives you a good reminder of what farmers deal with all the time--trying to plan around the weather and seasons and temperatures!
But we had a great time anyways and although we did have some rain to deal with, the temperatures were perfect!!
Blake found the goats hilarious! Some kids get scared by their aggressiveness but not Blake!
Ellie and Sadie
Kael and Wyatt
This happens ever year, but with the little boys getting bigger, it's getting harder and harder for the girls to really run with them! But they did a great job--check out Blake's face!
Meanwhile, Wyatt and Kael played football almost the entire time prior to picking apples
He's so anxious to get to 5'----I, however, am not!
There were some lovely families there at the same time as us who offered to take a group picture--I think this may be the first group picture we've ever gotten!
And of course, the kiddos (not sure what's up with Blake lately in pictures, but he loves to stick his tongue out)
Off to pick apples....these boys always seem to work out a system that allows them to sit in the wagons the entire time!
And these guys seem to mysteriously disappear down the aisle, off in their world
And what would a trip to the orchard be without some sampling?!
Gotta inspect them well to make sure we get the best
Quite the setup
The rain came right about the time we got back from apple picking and were waiting for the wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, but we were prepared and the kids had a great time with it!
What better place to play in the rain than on top of the hay stack?!
I would have loved to hear what these girls were discussing, because of course they were deep in conversation up there!
The boys' turn, however I doubt the conversation was near as entertaining--if there was any at all!
The wagon arrived and we attempted to find a dry seat....
I had to include this next series of pictures, although the quality isn't great. I was attempting to keep my camera somewhat dry while capturing what was going on. While I was taking a picture of Drew and Jen, their umbrella ended up blocking Jen's face from hitting several tree branches, which initially looked very planned (on Drew's part) and so considerate of him.
However, the umbrella wasn't prepared for the force and buckled under the weight of the tree branches, breaking the umbrella handle right off and then leaving several branches to smack Jen right on the side of the head!
Oh man...we were all dying laughing!!
Suffice it to say that we were the only ones at the pumpkin patch and got first dibs!
Blake and Sadie found theirs relatively quickly, but Wyatt and Kael wanted to find the biggest pumpkins out there.
Those are some great pumpkins, aren't they?
The crew (based on the look on their faces, this was probably picture #5 or #6 that I had taken in this pose--the smiles were getting a bit stale and annoyed)
Man, this kid is such a cutie!
Drew and Jen had a rule that their kids had to be able to carry their own pumpkins (to limit the size of pumpkin they'd have to pay for/carve/etc) so Kael went for the biggest he could carry--and he made it!
Beckham went for it too!
And although we didn't have the same rule, the boys worked together to get Wyatt's pumpkin over to the wagon--what a great friend!
But it was getting pretty heavy pretty quick!
The lovely Lundquists (doesn't Beckham just crack you up?)
And our crew
I love this picture of Blake...Mr. Independent...he wanted to sit up closer to the tractor driver, despite the seats being all wet and no one else wanting to sit up near the front. But that didn't stop him--he was completely content to head up by himself, rain and all!
You gotta love Kael's smile here, as the farmer stepped in to help him load his pumpkin into the wagon so he didn't have to carry it by himself!
And this was how Elli and Sadie cared for their pumpkins....they made nice, warm little beds of hay and covered them with an umbrella to keep them dry!
Sadie proudly carrying hers!
It was another great year in the books and, like every other year, was definitely memorable! Thanks for making the trip up Lundquists and for hanging out with us for the day!
