Apple Picking 2014!

Today was a beautiful day for our
yearly family apple picking trip!

 

We've been going apple picking ever since I was a little girl.
( Check out last year's trip here!  )

 

Now that our family has grown to
3 households and 12 people in 2 cities,
it takes a little more planning
to make it all happen!

 

Luckily, both weather and children
cooperated to make it a perfect day!

 

The kids were VERY excited....

all smiles before we left!

 

 

Elizabeth was very excited about wearing her brothers' old boots...

She kept saying "My boots, my boots!!"

Soooooooo ready to pick apples!

"Let's go, guys!!!"

 

A lot of orchards are already picked clean,

so we tried out a new orchard this year...

Justus Orchard.

  

The apple trees were a little smaller,

but it was a very quaint little orchard!

We were able to get some Mutsu,

Arkansas Black, and Pink Lady apples,

(not to mention the fresh donuts,

cider, and our own little picnic!)

 

Justus Orchard

 

 

Here goes the photo overload!
So many great memories!

 

 

Starting the day with yummy, yummy donuts!

 

Lizzy loved the donuts, too!

Cousins!

 

Ready to climb trees!

 

I told Christopher he was big enough

to climb the trees this year....

He was SO excited!!!

 

Up, up in an apple tree!

 

Elizabeth was a hoot!

She kept tripping over the fallen apples,

and dropping the clean apples we gave her.

 

She definitely enjoyed walking around and exploring.

Not to mention her favorite alphabet song starts with,

"Apple, apple, a a a... Apple, apple, a a a"

so she had no trouble telling us about the apples!

 

Check out the binoculars!!! 

Enjoying some apples!

 

24 Weeks pregnant with baby #4! 

 

Pick apples, eat apple, repeat!

 

Everybody's having fun!

Snack time!

 

Me and my bro and sis!

 

Lookin' good together!

 

Is he really 6 years old?

Sweet cousins hugging!

 

Daddy and Steven, the pro apple pickers!

 

"helping" pull the wagon... all by herself, of course

 

We'll be a family of 6 next year!

 

Cousins holding hands...on their way to our picnic!

 

The weather really was perfect -

cool, but warmed by the sun!

 

And look at that sky!

 

Fun in the sun!

 

I just  L O V E  these 3 little smiles!

 

My back was acting up a bit, so I sat down

while the boys ran ahead to see a horse.

 

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

 

 

I was fighting a migraine and sciatica today,
but it couldn't have been more worth it!

 

We are learning a hymn at Co-op that seems

quite appropriate for a beautiful day like today.

 

This is My Father's World

(verse 1)

 

This is my Father's world,

and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

 

This is my Father's world:

I rest me in the thought,

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hands the wonders wrought.

 

 

I am thankful for my family and beautiful moments such as these!

 

<>< Stacy