Apple Picking 2014

We LOVE apple picking! It is just one of those things that we look forward to every fall. We normally go to Garwood in LaPorte, but this year I was working on the south side of Elkhart on a Sunday morning, so we decided that the family would come with me for work, and then we would pick apples at Kercher's in Goshen this year. We had gone here once in the past with friends years ago, and really liked it. There was a storm heading our way, so we tried to head out before it got too bad. Sure enough as soon as we got there it started to drizzle, and would periodically the entire rest of the day, but that didn't deter us from picking over 11lbs. of Jonathan and Cortland apples!

There was a small corn maze to run through, and these silly picture op pumpkins. The hay rides started the weekend after we went, but we are planning on going back again for more apples next month.

After we were done picking, we headed into the farm stand where the amazing scent of cinnamon, baked goods, and cider were wafting about. We did pick up a box of Rise n' Roll cinnamon donut holes, and boy were they amazing! This picture just cracks me up!!!! L has a cheek stuffed with donut holes, and D is making a crazy smiling face.

Apple Picking past years!

2008
2010
2011
2012
 

Fall Library Fun! September

As many of you know, either by talking to me in real life or reading the blog over the years, we LOVE the library!!!! We are so very lucky to have 2 amazing library systems. They are always hosting free functions for the entire family, monthly book sales, free meeting rooms, and a huge selection of books, movies, music, and magazines. We did tons of fun activities over the summer through the summer reading program, and now they have some amazing fall age appropriate events as well. This year, since the kids are older, we have been able to sign up for the Magic Tree House Reading Club, a Science Club, and L gets to go to a Lego Club. All these are free and occur just 1 per month!

The month of September we read Midnight On the Moon. They got to watch the youtube video of the first man on the moon, and then they made craters. The librarians had 2 tubs full of flour. The kids each got to pick a ball of various sizes and materials, and drop straight down into the flour.

What they were left with looked just like craters on the moon!!

L had his first Lego club in September. He was very excited to see some old friends, and meet some new friends. They were split into groups, and allowed to build whatever it was they wanted. They also had some Lego themed books out for check out, and taught them the rules to follow that spelled out the word LEGO.

We also have signed up for a fun Science Club. In September we explored how and why leaves change colors. The librarians had tons of different leaves laid out on the table. They started out by having each kid tear up a leaf into tiny pieces and then grind it up in a mortar and pestle. They added it to some rubbing alcohol and put it in a water bath. Later they added some litmus paper to see the colors make their way up.

They also had a microscope set up with various leaves on slides for them to explore. They also did a fun craft that we had done in the past. They painted a tree with a brush, and then using a q-tip, painted leaves in fall colors on the trees.

And last but not least, a Fancy Nancy Tea Party!

Apple Picking 2012

Yesterday was our annual trip out to Garwood Orchards to do our apple picking! This year's crop, pretty much all over Indiana and Michigan was either totally destroyed or almost all destroyed by a late frost in April. Garwood had 70% of their crop wiped out, so there are only a few more weeks to go apple picking. We headed out and of course it was the coldest day we have had yet this year! When we got up at 8am, it was only 31 degrees! And it didn't warm up much from that through the day. On top of that it had been raining the day before and the night before, so we planned on it being sort of muddy. Armed with rain boots, jeans, warm coats, hats, and wrist warmers we headed out. Luckily it wasn't as muddy or cold once we got out there. We picked 27lbs. (the smallest batch yet) of Rome and Golden Delicious apples. Adam has already made a crumb top apple pie last night at his parent's house, and boy was that good! I can't wait to get the apple butter, and apple sauce going tomorrow.

The first apples picked!

 L giving the bunny ears to his sister. It's hard to get him to take a picture without doing that these days.

Adam rubbed this apple on his coat and got it nice and shiny. We thought it looked like the apple from Snow White. So I took his best wicked witch apple picture.

 And then silly me, I thought, hey I like this really red apple, I want a picture of me with it in my hands. Only later did it dawn on me that it was just like the Twilight Book Cover. Now see, I do need to declare that I have never read the books or watched the movies, so it was the last thing on my mind.

 We thought this tree had an odd shape to it. The branches were long and somewhat droopy, the apples and leaves were all at the ends in clumps. Not what a normal apple tree looks like!

 Heading back to the car for lunch with apple in hand!

Check out past year's fun!
http://kellyheet.blogspot.com/2011/10/apple-picking-2011.html

Apple recipes we have tried and love!
http://kellyheet.blogspot.com/2010/10/apple-recipes.html

Fall Bucket List

We had so much fun with our Summer Bucket List, that we decided to do a fall one as well. We limited the number of activities do to our normally busy calendar, plus with L in school it really limits most things to the weekends. I picked up a few months back some pre-cut fall shapes at Dollar Tree in their school stuff section. There were pumpkins, leaves, and corucopias, so I wrote our list on these, and taped them to the front door. I figured I could whip up a fun title with scrap construction paper. I got this done just in time, since we are planning on going apple picking tomorrow and that is on the list! And since we do these things every year, I can re-use the shapes again next year.

Our Fall Bucket List:
-pick apples
-play in a leaf pile
-go trick or treating
-make a thankful tree
-make pies
-carve pumpkins
-make homemade applesauce
-roast pumpkin seeds
-attend our local zoo boo (2008)
-make leaf rubbings
-attend the local fall festive
-make pumpkin pie playdough
-make a 4 season poster
-drink caramel apple cider
-make fall cookies (found this one and this one that sound great!)