Last year we went apple picking...only there were no apples. So, I guess technically, we failed in the apple picking department. BUT, we did have a great time anyway.
So this year when it became apple season, we knew we wanted to head out early in order to actually be able to pick some apples. We decided to go to the same place as last year, Riley's Apple Farm, since we had so much fun last year.
Mason decided to sleep in that morning (go figure since we had plans), so we were running a little behind schedule. Our friend Vickie met us at our place and then we picked up our friend Kenneth at his place down the street and headed to Starbucks - it was the only way I could bribe my friends to be ready by 8:30am on a Saturday :) Lucky for Mason, I was in an especially good mood and got him his very first Starbucks ever.
A kids chocolate milk.
You'd swear that I had never given Mason a drink in his life the way that he drank that drink. I swear to you, it was finished in 5 minutes flat. And then of course he was coming after my drink!
We had plans to take a tour of the farm at noon so we were going to meet our friends a little early to do some apple picking before. Only problem was... the freeway had other plans for us. Things were going great until we got to the 215 freeway and then STOP. Parking lot. For those of your familiar with Southern California traffic, this is not too uncommon, but for the freeway not to move AT ALL on a Saturday afternoon, something is wrong. And sure enough it was. The freeway was closed....without warning. So everyone was getting filtered off (eventually) and around to a detour. Seth got fed up enough and our friend Vickie suggested getting off and taking side streets around. So, when we were finally able to change lanes and get off, we made our way around to a beautifully empty (seriously, there were 3 cars) freeway and were only about 30 minutes late.
We started off the day with a little apple picking. They had some directions on what we could and couldn't pick and what each colored ribbon meant.
Of course the map was impossible to follow since once you start walking, you don't really know where you are, so we just enjoyed walking around and picked some of each apple.
Get ready for picture overload.
After apple picking, we started our tour. The tour included 30 minutes for each activity : cider pressing, kazoo making, a hay ride, and archery.
We started off the tour with cider pressing...
...followed by kazoo making...
...followed by a hay ride around the farm...
...and finishing off with archery (which was sooooooo much harder than I thought it would be!)
After all the activities, we were all hungry so we drove into town and hit up a local diner. After lunch, we headed home and Mason decided to do a little blogging of his own.
Overall, we had a really fun day and can't wait to do it again next year!
what a fun day even with the late start and traffic! apple picking is on our list this year too - I can't wait! Looks like such a fun toddler activity!
ReplyDeleteWow your apple picking experience was full and complete! How cool you did archery there too!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to take m kids apple picking this year. The closet place is like an hour away but I think it will be so worth it.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, how fun! And great pictures! We need to do something like this with Liam! And then make some homemade applesauce!
ReplyDeleteLove all the pictures, and looks like a really fun activity! Minus the traffic of course. The family picture is super cute, but Mason looks a little unimpressed, haha :)
ReplyDeleteSo fun!! I've never been to an orchard, though they have them around here. Henry's preschool is going at the end of the month and I'm pondering tagging along!
ReplyDeleteso fun! I'm hoping we get a chance to go apple picking before our trip to the pumpkin patch. Definitely would be a fun tradition to add!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun day!!! I love all of the pictures and it looks like you had the greatest day. Hay rides make Mason and I so happy. I will have to check to see if there is an Apple pickin' farm around here. There has to be. I mean, it's Texas after all! ha
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to go to a real orchard/patch since we moved out here. That place looks exactly like what I've been searching for! What an awesome day (minus the stupid traffic). How far was it from you?? I think I need to convince Scott we need to go there. :)
ReplyDeleteOMG. is it still apple season?! because lex needs to do this ASAP.
ReplyDeleteunless they shut the 215 down again. because UM WHAT.
Looks like a great day...once you got on your way, of course! Ha! Cider pressing?! What?! I wanna do that!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteMandie ~ http://badbrewpack.blogspot.com/
So quaint! I love the hand made map. I'd get lost too. um, why is Mason looking about 13? What the hey! Hay rides! I like how not one of you is looking in the same spot in that fam pic on the hay ride...win =) Sounds like my fam photos!!
ReplyDeleteI am dying to take Connor apple picking. But I asked and they don't really do that in Texas. Lame-o. Looks like you all had the best of time. And can I just say how much I adore Mason??
ReplyDeleteHow cool is the activity part! Ive never been to an apple orchard with all those fun activities. You have such neat stuff for kids by you. Great pictures too!
ReplyDeleteAwesome - what a fun family day!! :) Looooove cider, sounds delicious.
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