Apple Picking 2010

This weekend we took our annual trip to the apple orchard. We usually go to Berlin Orchards, but this year we wanted to try something different so we headed to Tougas Farm in Northboro. They are rated one of the top 10 orchards in the country by USA Today so we figured we would give it a shot. I was pleased at the variety of activities they have there that are geared towards the whole family. They have a little petting zoo, playground equipment, a pumpkin patch, the orchard itself and a nice little kitchen that serves everything from hot dogs and chili to apple crisp and cider donuts.

I fully intended to start this post off with a picture of all four of us apple picking last year and a picture of us this year, but let's just say Jacob didn't have a good afternoon. There are no pictures of all four of us. He started off great and was running around for the first 30-45 minutes we were there, but I think after that first hour his leg started getting sore so he would run for a minute or two and then have a meltdown complete with tears while holding his leg. Only problem was he didn't want anyone to carry him and he refused to be buckled into the wagon. Basically, we had to let him walk and deal with his meltdowns every 50 feet or so. Other that that we had a great afternoon and finished the day off with dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Their cinnamon honey butter is to DIE for!

We had an absolutely PERFECT Fall day for apple picking. It topped out around 60 degrees and there was a nice Fall chill in the air. It was nice in the sun and there was a cool breeze in the shade so we were able to wear our hooded sweatshirts comfortably and nobody was stung by a bee this year! We snacked on apple crisp and cider donuts before we headed out with our half a bushel bags and filled them up with Cortland, MacIntosh and Jonagold apples. We also took a run through the pumpkin patch on our way out and let the kids explore. We are planning a trip to Sauchuk Farm in another week or two to pick pumpkins so we didn't buy any at Tougas, but we have plenty of apples and apple crisp and baked apples are on the menu this week.

Here are a few pictures from our adventure yesterday:












We have a busy week ahead of us. Jacob has PT this afternoon and I am headed out with my girlfriends from high school tonight for our annual get together. It used to be a monthly thing back when we were all out of college and just working full-time, but now that some of us have more job responsibilities, husbands, kids, etc. it has become an annual thing instead of monthly. I am excited to see them and catch up! On top of that, Jacob has his weekly play group for Early Intervention and I need to catch up on some housework before another busy weekend arrives!