Apple Picking

Last week we made a spontaneous decision to drive up to an apple orchard, about an hour from us. It was a cloudy, drizzly day but we were feeling adventurous! I'm really glad we went because it was so adorable and quaint. It was a small farm with a small orchard and they had horses, donkeys, turkeys, and chickens for the kids to see.

We were told that they have over 125 varieties of apples on the farm! The trees were low to the ground and the kids could easily reach the apples. They needed help actually getting them off the trees though. They gave the kids carrots to feed the donkeys and horses. You could feed them apples too!

Inside a barn they had a little country store where you could just buy apples already picked and they had fresh apple cider and apple cider donuts. And the flowers! The color from all the wild flowers was gorgeous. Because of all the rain we have had (pre-floods even) everything was so green. It was perfect for a little picture taking.

(I LOVE this picture)

1st Day of School

We are homeschooling, starting with Preschool this year. I'll be honest, I didn't think I could do it and sometimes I still doubt myself. Not to mention I have a twinge of jealousy seeing other moms have 'free time' after they drop their kids off at school imagine the possibilities...

But I know that this is right for our family and where we are at right now. No hard feelings. No judgement because we are all different families and people and we know what is best for our families. And we all love our kids, that's the most important part of it all!

So, even though we are homeschooling I really wanted to participate in the 1st day of school pictures. They are really, really excited to be doing school so they were really hyper the morning of our first day.  It wasn't difficult to get a great smile out of them! I'll take it while I can.

Evalyn is starting with a preschool review and then right in to K4!

 Caleb is doing preschool this year!

 Out Takes...

1st EVER Family Vacation, Part 2

Destination:Train to Silverton, CO

It was a 3 hour train ride through the mountains and most beautiful country I have ever seen. It would have taken us 45 min to drive to Silverton. 

We sat in an open car, the fresh air was refreshing. The views were breath taking.

At one point we were riding along a straight drop off with the river running down below. We crossed a short bridge that had a 400 foot drop off on both sides. 

Once we got to Silverton (sorry, only have iPhone pictures) we had lunch and we had planned to walk around the town but it was raining so we shopped a little and then sat under a overhand until it was time to board the train back to Durango.

After eating at a BBQ place in Silverton.... that's supposed to be a pig?!

Watching the rain from under an overhang.

A guy sitting next to us that the boys, especially Eli, became best buds on the train ride back to Durango.

1st EVER Family Vacation, Part 1

It was our first trip, just the five of us.

We didn't have a lot of time and our funds were limited, but we knew we would cherish the memories, what ever we did. We just needed to do something away from our everyday environment.

So we picked a place, found a hotel with a pool and planned some activities.

Destination: Durango, CO

It was supposed to be a 6 hr road trip. We got everyone loaded up and headed out. It only took us 8 hours to get there...

Of course, that included our hour long picnic about half way there. And a little playtime relief.

  

4 Year Old Photo Shoot