You can pick your friends…

You can pick apples, but you can’t pick apples out of your friend’s nose?? Silly Emily!

Last Saturday, after the Oktoberfest parade, we headed to the orchard to pick some apples. We went last year with Emily and had such an amazing time that we knew we had to go back again this year. I am glad we were finally able to go! It kept getting put farther down our “to-do list”. Either something would come up during the weekend or it would just be too darn hot! We really pushed it late in the season and there were many, many apples on the ground. The smell of rotten apples was enough to make you gag every once in a while.  Despite the smell, it was a great time.

Had a “kids say what is on their minds even if it isn’t appropriate” moment while standing in line waiting for the wagon to take us to the orchard. There was  family near us with three boys, the youngest being 2 or 3. Emily says, really loudly, “Mommy!! That boy has a binkie!!! Why does he have a binkie?? He’s too old!!” Really must work on teaching her that there is a time and a place for everything. Also that we don’t always say what is on our minds, loudly. Thank goodness we weren’t sitting next to them on the wagon ride!

We took the wagon over to the orchard, found an apple picker and started the hunt for the perfect apples. Emily and Stephen did most of the picking while I took pictures and chased Zachary. They got some really good apples. 18 pounds to be exact! We then headed back to the main part of the orchard. To the play area we went! Emily had a blast. She got to jump in the bounce house, ride the swings and even rode a little carnival ride all by herself! I didn’t know how she would do on “The Cyclone” but luckily another little girl rode with her. All we could hear was giggling so I think it was a success.

Another year at the orchard. Another success. Have I mentioned that I love fall?

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Oktoberfest 2010

We love parades if you haven’t gathered. I love living where we do because there is always so much to do. Our town is always a happening place. Festivals, parades, events. Plenty of stuff to do. This past weekend was Oktoberfest. Guess what? There was a parade!

The four of us headed down to Main Street to watch the parade. And get candy according to Emily. That’s what parades are all about, right? Candy! It was the first time that we hauled the wagon down for both kids. I must admit that I got a little lump in my throat looking at the two of them being pulled by their daddy. It wasn’t very long ago that I got a different kind of lump in regards to that wagon. I was sad that Emily wouldn’t have a sibling to fill it up. And now she does. Thank you, God. Emily and Zachary were loving the ride.

The parade was short and sweet. Enough time for Emily to get way too much candy and Zachary to enjoy. We then put the kids back in the wagon and walked through the festival part. Food, beer, junk. What more could you ask for? Got to love Oktoberfest! Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay too long. Our Saturday was pretty jam-packed. More on that later. But first, some photos to enjoy!

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Pumpkin Muffins

I found this recipe yesterday in my inbox. I love all things pumpkin and fall. The bonus was that the muffins are low-calorie too so they won’t ruin the diet. And an even bigger bonus is that they are Tasty- with a capital “T”!

Pumpkin Muffins Recipe

Ingredients:
– 1 18oz box of spice cake mix
– 1 15oz can of pure pumpkin
– ½ cup applesauce
– ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Spoon into muffin tins, either lightly sprayed or lined with muffin cups. You’ll use about 1/4 cup of batter per cup. Bake as directed on cake box.

Entire recipe makes 24 muffins
Serving size is 1 muffin
Each serving = 3 Point Total

Note- I obviously didn’t get the batter measured right because I only came up with 22 muffins. Go figure. With 22 muffins, the calories were about 94 per muffin. Not bad really.

Wordless Wednesday

Favorite room in the house

Zachary’s favorite room in the house is the elusive room that he is not supposed to be in. Emily’s room. It is the room that he makes a bee line for when he notices that the door is open. The room that he will find anything and everything that he can shove into his mouth. The choking hazard room. Maybe that’s why it’s his favorite.

Love my babies!

I love that my babies love each other so much. I love that have each other to grow up with.

Go Tigers!!!

Waking the beast…

can be dangerous to your health!

Herman’s Farm

Last week, the kids and I went to Herman’s Farm with our playgroup. It was a lot of fun! They have a greenhouse that has toys, tractor trikes and much fun. Emily had a blast riding around on the John Deer trike. Zachary had to get down and get dirty by crawling on the floor. I think they could have just played in there and been pretty content. The greenhouse wasn’t the main reason we went though.

Apples. The whole reason for the trip. Everyone loaded up into the wagons that were pulled by a tractor and took a ride around the farm. We got to see the little pumpkin patch, jalapeno plants and the little apple orchard. Each child got to pick four apples to take home. Emily quickly picked her four and promptly asked to eat one. I was able to hold her off until I could clean one off.

After our ride back to the main part of the farm, the kids got to play some more before we headed home. Emily ended up eating 3 of her 4 apples before we got home. Shortly before we got home, I heard “Mommy, my tummy hurts.” I couldn’t imagine why! It was a real fun trip. We will definitely be going back next month to pick pumpkins!

Butt up in the air! Like you just don’t care!

Nothing better than a sleeping baby. The funny thing about this picture his the way he is sleeping. I used to sleep like that when I was little as well.