Just An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

Last Friday the kids and I took Grandma and Grandpa to Crooked Run Orchard in Purcelville. It's a great farm that has been growing local produce for over 200 years! It's free and all you pay for is the food you buy. I normally come here for apples but one of these years would like to catch the blackberries. We left late morning and when we got there we ate lunch at the picnic table and then headed up the hill, literally, with our pails, like Jack and Jill but we went to fetch apples:-) It was fun, and this was Kaden's first time picking apples. The last time we went to this place, Kaden was a few months old. I got some great pics....Of course I had to get up into the trees to get the really good apples! And I put Kaden in the tree to help. Aria was a little scared to go up so high but she went up the first branch and did a great job. It didn't take long to get two buckets full of apples. We picked Gala...those are one of my favorite. Just as we finished the second bucket, lots of kids came in on a bus. So we headed back to pay for the apples and even picked up some of the farms picked butternut and acorn squash! MMMMM Good.

I am sure there is some truth to that nursery rhyme! Either way, my second favorite season is coming near; Autumn! And with Autumn comes cooler days, colorful leaves, fresh apples and many days going to the local farms for lots of fun! Nothing sweeter than fresh food right off the farm! MY FAVORITE!

First thing we did was eat lunch...

Yes it was a bit cool that morning but oh it felt so good after all of our hot summer days!

Kaden sitting next to Papa enjoying his PB&J sandwich.

Aria picking Gala apples...each bucket is about 8lbs and at $1 each can't beat that!

Kaden got the hang of it and did a great job picking the ripe apples.

Kaden had lots of fun...

Heading back to the parking lot to pay for our apples....ahhhh what a great shot! Kaden loves to help Papa.

Kindergarten already?

Wow 5 years goes by fast...Aria had her first day at school yesterday! What a whirlwind of a day. I got up late, and then rushed to dress and feed Aria to get her to the bus stop by 7:15am. Of course I had the other two kids in tow. Then I spent some much needed 1-1 time with Kaden. He made his favorite banana crumb muffins, and if you want the recipe let me know, they are amazing. He literally did everything except level the measurements, and spoon the batter in the tins! He did such a good job and it was fun for both of us. Then at 11am we all headed to the end of our street to pick up Aria. I hear some schools go all day for Kindergarten but not Pinebrook; number 6 in the state and last I heard number 5 in the nation I guess they know what they are doing.

Aria had a great first day of school and loves it! So do I for that matter:-)

Aria going to first day of Kindergarten...she took her packback off and said it was too heavy. She had a lot of stuff to take to class her first day.

Kaden getting ready to mix the batter...camera shy little guy!

He is a natural in the kitchen, he must get that from me:-)

My handsome little chef.



Ta Da! All set to go, and ready to bake!

Mmmm fresh hot muffins out of the oven...he had to blow on it before indulging.

There they are, these were fantastic! Very moist, with a crumb topping, oh so good. In fact they are almost all gone!