apples

After missing peach-picking season, and neglecting to pick cherries now two years in a row, we knew we had to make good on our promise to take the kids for apples before the season ended- which we did, early in October.

We meandered around Cherry Hill Orchards for about an hour, grabbed lunch at George's, then went home where we spent the afternoon transforming our pickings into this

applesauce

and this

apple butter

with plenty of fresh apple snacking while we worked.  Evyn alone ate four apples, in just the first afternoon!

photo odds and ends

Here are a few pictures from the last couple months that have been sitting around collecting proverbial dust:

Andrew getting a lesson from Grandpa, on eating chicken off the bone

his favorite way to bathe - a shower and bath, in one

New Holland Farmer's Fair - 2011

on his beloved carousel - no idea what the face is about!

rain, schmain - Evyn & a friend were determined to enjoy the fair rides

Baltimore 2011 - day 3

Day 3 - we slept in again!  The Hampton offers a late check-out (noon) which gave us plenty of time to raid the breakfast buffet and pack, before checking out and driving to the zoo.  We lucked out with fantastic weather- it felt a lot like summer!

Sorry for the poor picture quality - I forgot to change the camera settings back after the aquarium the day before.  You might have to click "read more" below to see the rest of the pictures.

Candy Crane

leopard?  jaguar?  cheetah?

train ride!

the carousel, Andrew's most favorite thing

flying bananas!

 

our little birdies

Andrew LOVED being a turtle..... he could have played all day there

turtle twins

Both kids loved the zoo, but we were burned out and more than ready to go home by 4pm.

Baltimore 2011 - days 1 & 2

A couple weeks ago we took a much-anticipated trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor - something we try to do every year.  Evyn had a half day of school, so as soon as she came home we hit the road- getting to the hotel just before dinner. We stay at the same place each year - the Hampton Inner Harbor.  It's become one of Evyn's favorite traditions.  There is a small indoor pool that, apparently, nobody but us uses- a real treat for the kids!  So after arriving, unpacking, and grabbing some sandwiches in lieu of dinner, we went for a swim. 

Getting the kids to sleep that night was a challenge!  They opted to share the sofa-bed, but when I got up around 1am both kids were snoozing on the floor.  I later learned that they were "camping" - ??  Crazy kids.

Day 2 - we all slept in!  After raiding the breakfast buffet we walked to the aquarium.  Evyn loved it, as usual.  Andrew?  Not so much.  In fact, by the time we got to the best part - the spiral walk around the round tanks full of sharks and other curiosities- he was crying and asking to leave.  Always interesting with this little guy!  Although, he did enjoy the 'rainforest' on the top level, particularly the turtles.

 

Evyn checking out the telescope

 

beautiful jellyfish

 

By the time we finished at the aquarium and grabbed some lunch, Andrew was tired, with a capital T.  The plan was to take him back to the room for a nap, while Evyn & Scott did a little shopping.  

Well.  

Almost two l.o.n.g., tearful hours later he did finally conk out - like this: