Apple Pickin'

After the great success of our day trip to the farm, I was itching to recreate the outdoorsy family fun.  A Facebook query for good apple orchards led us to Homestead Farm in Poolesville, Maryland.  It was another weekend for the books blog.

 First up: the petting farm.

 Where everybody got together the guts to do a little petting.  Even me!

And where this lovely sheep so very kindly performed for us.

Then, it was on to the orchard!

It being the end of apple season, all the trees were bare--except the Pink Ladies.  Those apples being my absolute favorite, I was pleased as punch!

No ladder needed.

 Just a He-Man Daddy.

This sweet child was so proud of his apple picking system, and followed it quite precisely.

1. Spot an apple with a sufficient amount of pink.

2. Point it out to Mama and Daddy.

3. Check for brown spots, holes, or splits.

4. Twist and PULL!

And that's how you end up with 10 pounds of delicious apples!

After picking our apples, we enjoyed a picnic lunch, and then a hayride out to the pumpkin patch.

 Buddy Boy chose our pumpkin.

 And then I smuggled it home for us.  {Whoa!  The baby bump has arrived!}

Sunshine, crisp air, exercise, fun, the four of us all together.  It was a truly perfect day.