Apple Picking Time

Last week our family and my Aunt Fanny and her family went apple picking.

It was an overcast day but still very warm. We grabbed 2 buckets and off we went.

We decided to pick Macintosh apples, as they are our favorite for making pies and apple sauce.

With all the eager helpers it didn't take long to fill both buckets. I managed to catch a few photos before they were done! At the store we bought some apple cider donuts and some honey crisp apples for a yummy snack. Later that afternoon my Grandpa made his famous apple pie which everyone enjoyed for dessert that evening. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed eating the fruits of our labors!!

Heading out to find our apples

Here is our Dude group!

Even Abby found Apples at her right height

Here is our wonderful group of kids that did almost all the picking!!!
Great Job!

Happy 8th Birthday Ty!!

Happy 8th Birthday Ty!!! You have gotten so big. Have a great day and enjoy your special dinner (oh but I can't give any details, because it's still a surprise!).
These are pictures from the family birthday party that Ty shared with our cousin Derek. Ty turned 8 and Derek turned 4. Ty is really enjoying his new bike and other gifts he got, thank you everyone for making Ty's birthday so special!

Here are the Birthday Boys!!!

Family Hike

 Last Saturday our family, as well Grammy, Uncle John,Aunt Fanny,Nicholas,Thomas, Derek, and Trevor, went on a family hike. Instead of staying on the main trail we took a one off  the side and wound our way through the forest to the lake and back to the main trail (which I was never soo glad to see!) Some of the boys rode there bikes and the rest of us just trotted along at our own pace. We stopped at a fallen log to enjoy a quick snack break. We hiked for about 1 1/2 hours! Everyone had a great time and we are looking for a new place to try this Saturday.

What a nice looking group!

What a little man!

Mining for some special rocks!

This was the "dude" picture as the boys called it!

Seacoast Science Center

Yesterday our family had the privilege to visit the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire. It was located right on the ocean with a beautiful view of the Isle of Shoals.

The children enjoyed the exhibits were they could touch a small shark (not sure the name),

sea cucumber, horseshoe crab, star fish, sea anemone,  and sea urchin.

We also learned a lot about sharks and dolphins, such as how they catch fish and krill, and how the make "clicking" noises to find fish.

One of my favorites was seeing a Blue Lobster, which is very rare 1 in 2-5 million are blue!

After we were done in the museum we went outside to enjoy the rocky beach.

It was a cloudy day but the sea breeze was so wonderful!

The ocean is my favorite place to be!!

 



Mom and Grandma enjoying the "close encounter " tank





Abby thought this Lobster was sooo neat!





Lion Fish





I know this is a little is a blurry, but it was too cute not to post





They had a treasure hunt to find different animals in the center,
 and if you got each one than you got a sticker, which the children thought was great.





Here is my Blue Lobster







Here is the Tidal wave pool were the star fish,sea anemone, and sea urchin





Abby loved touching the star fish,especially the "baby" one!





Ty liked it when Mom read some ocean stories





Here is a jar of krill, and Baleen





And finally the OCEAN!!!!



Flower interuption

I was out in my Grandma's garden today, and some of her flowers caught my attention.

Out came the camera, an with a little Picasa help, here are my shots ( I will warn you they are not any where near the quality of Noah's, but I thought I would try some of the tips he has given me!).

Hope they bring a smile to your face!

The Cousins Came.... Part 1

Last week our family got the wonderful experience of having our Cousins Nicholas and Thomas, and Grammy and Grandpa come down to visit us on our farm. This was the boys first long car ride (9 hours in all!) but I heard the did fine. They arrived on Thursday night and slept till 9:00 a.m. the next morning! On Friday I took Nicholas, Thomas and Billy to Green Dragon ( a local flea market/farmers market) they had a great time and tried to convince me to let them buy a hamster as their souvenir, of course my reply was NO! (Aunt Fanny you should thank me!!!)
Then on Saturday they enjoyed a true Lancaster County experience when our farm was turned into the Shirktown threshing day. It was like having a small country fair all about tractors and of course Threshing machines. There must have been at leased a 2,000 people here! The boys Loved it, they rode every horse and tractor ride about 3 times each! In the evening everyone joined Noah and I at the Reading Children's Ministry picnic.
In all the first few days of their time was busy! Below are pictures of the threshing days.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the cousins came to hear more of our exciting adventures!