tried again, family photo

..and this was the best of the bunch.....thwarted at every attempt.

apple picking 2012

This year we actually made it apple picking while there were still apples. We went back to Fishkill Farms with Penn, Lukas and Maya. Like last year, it was an awesome day. Made more awesome by the awesome (still warm) doughnuts, which Jon and I couldn't stop talking about. It's actually a pretty far drive for a day trip (2 hours) but probably worth it for the doughnuts alone.

apple picking 2011

Apple picking this year. We went to Fishkill Farms, on a perfect fall day. Well, it was a little humid, but no rain. Jackson and Cade had a blast with Maya, Lukas and Penn. We rode the tractor, picked bushels of apples, ate burgers and hot dogs, found a perfect little pumpkin, celebrated Ruth's birthday, and bounced in the bouncy house.

Boys were B E A T at the end of the day. We decided that we should not take such long day trips on Sundays anymore.

But still, totally worth it.

{apple picking 2010 and 2008 - we didn't make it the year Cade was born}

apple picking

This year we went to Alstede Farms in Chester, New Jersey.

There were no apples! But plenty of other fun things to do - we walked in the fields, climbed on the giant haystack, sat on the pumpkins, ate apple cider doughnuts, picnicked with little burros, & fed the horses. It was a great day.