fun, fun, fun

   This past weekend was a great fun filled way to kick off fall around here.  The weather has finally decided to cooperate and get out of the 90-100 degree range.  So nice to finally not be sweating the moment you walk out the door!  We had a couple of soccer games Saturday and then a we took off to the bay for my beautiful godmother's 60th birthday extravaganza!  I haven't seen my godmother in too many years to remember and it was so nice to catch up and see her family.  She was glowing with happiness and surrounded by a great group of friends and family.  We had a great time and my boys made a new friend to play with, which was great! 
   Sunday morning we got moving and headed to breakfast with my parents.  After completely filling up on waffles and eggs benedict, we headed up to Apple Hill.  The weather was gorgeous for apple picking.  My boys LOVED running through the orchard picking apples and dropping them in their buckets.  My oldest picked a total of 5 apples.  That's right, 5.  Not because he doesn't like apples but because that's all he wanted to pick.  5 different kinds that he remembered the names to each and told me about them.  He makes me smile with his precise and exacting manner at times.  So logical and thoughtful in so many things.  He wandered the entire orchard and met back up with us to tell us which apples he picked and why.  My middle boy remembered the spiral apples that they core and cut right in front of you and stick on your thumb.  It was his first order of business when we arrived.  Walked up, stuck his thumb out, and waited for his turn.  He took his apple and bucket and headed off to the orchard one happy dude.  He picked apples at random.  He loved the fact that you could eat the apples right off the tree while you were picking!  He was happy to trot around the orchard kicking up dirt and picking apples and probably would have continued all day if we let him.  The youngest alternated between following grandma and papa around the orchard trying to reach apples that were just a hair to high for him and running pell mell yelling at you to come check out this tree or that tree.  We are going to make some homemade apple butter, some turnovers or pies and perhaps some applesauce.  Of course this is provided we don't eat all the apples before we cook them!
   After picking, we headed to another farm to play in the hay maze, check out some beautiful crafts, walk a nature trail, have a little treat and enjoy it being fall.  On the way back down the hill we stopped for a little wine tasting and it was the perfect way to end our day.  All in all we came home with 12 pounds of apples, quite a bit of dirt, lots of laughter, and some really fantastic memories.  We can't wait to do it again!

Here are the farms we visited yesterday.  Check them out!
Denver Dan's Apple Patch
 Apple Ridge Farms

Here is the winery.  It was good wine and absolutely beautiful scenery!
Fenton Herriott Vineyards