all about apples

Here's something I've discovered this year.  The apples from the orchard are so much better than the ones from the store.  I don't know why this year has been so different.  Usually, I'm not insistent on fresh apples but man, the ones that we've gotten from the store this season just don't compare to the ones we picked a few weeks ago.  So, we made another trip.  

 

The first excursion was with my Bible Study gals which was loads of fun.  I also considered it a field trip to go with our apple unit.  The second trip was made with another couple ladies whose husbands were in some way busy with their doctoring work.  We packed a little picnic and met up under the apple trees on a Saturday afternoon.  

thanks Erin, for our field trip picture. :)

On our first trip, I took the boys through the corn maze.  We slowly meandered through exploring every possible option.  I am ashamed to say that on this second trip (with grown up help) I managed to lose one child in the corn maze... and worse, didn't even notice until someone said "Aren't we missing one?"  Oh yes, that one was mine and where was I?  On the tractor about to head back to the main area.   

Just a little bit panicked, the three remaining boys and I quickly scrambled off the tractor.  Nathaniel and Jude ran through the corn maze crying out for Ethan.  They were definitely on a mission!  Nathaniel eventually found him all the way at the back of the corn maze.  It seems he wanted to try to get out on his own and abandoned the pack of other children.  Thankfully, he wasn't too frightened ... but I know I was saying some prayers as I bumbled through the maze.

The kittens and puppies were out and about this past weekend.  Is it obvious that they want a pet?  Nathaniel asked me today if he could be a dog walker so he could have time with dogs without us having to own one.  I've told them that we'll consider pets once we figure out where to next.  That's sooner than I think.

The boys saw caramel apples at the orchard and really wanted to have some.  I promised we would make it at home (including the m&m's just like at the orchard).  I was brave enough to take them all to the store and get the caramel that very day.  But then it took me two days to get motivated to melt the caramel.  :)  And wouldn't you know, I should have bought a lot more caramel.

Surprise, surprise... daddy came home early!  Just in time to enjoy the caramel apples.  These silly boys ran out of the house to get daddy to taste their apples.

I have more to post on our apple unit... later.  For now, here are my goobers (again).

St. Paul

Where has the month gone?  We have been thoroughly spoiled out here in Minnesota with such a pleasant and mild fall season.  We've even had days in the seventies!  And, no real snowfall to speak of... although as I write this, a wintry mix is falling.

We've tried to take advantage of these moderate temperatures before the blistery winter winds blow in. And let me tell you, it get oh sooo cold out here in the midwest.  One afternoon, we took the boys up north to the Cities.  We enjoyed a somewhat ad hoc picnic outside of St. Paul Cathedral before we visited the Children's Museum. 



st. paul's cathedral

leaf angels

out & about: the zoo

Not too long ago, on a sunny, windy, glorious, midwest kind of day...

...we took three three little monkeys...

...and a monkey-in-training to the zoo

They were delighted with the animals and spent a great deal of time in particular watching tigers and bears with only a sheet of glass separating them.  Fascinating but unfortunately our camera had run out of juice by then.  So, here's a picture of a moose.  What a funny creature with it's top-heavy and dainty legs structure. 

 

Oh, and I took the kids in to visit the goats.  Having done this before, I don't know why I forgot how eager they can be to find get a hold of their grub.  I danced with a few and left with the extra adornment of hoof marks on my sweater.  However, that did not deter me from asking the mister if one day when I grow up, I could have my very own goat.  He didn't answer, but I'm holding out hope.  Perhaps, I should start with chickens.

All in all, a good day.