Apple Picking

Our family has many traditions and one of those traditions is driving up into North Carolina and picking apples. Client One has been apple picking every year for the past four Autumns. The first time she went she was only about four months old. The apples were literally as big as her head (but they were BIG apples!).

This year was Client Two's first trip to pick apples. He happily got in the car with the rest of the apple pickers (it's always a fun outing with my mom and aunt and sometimes a friend or two). Mostly, he just sat in his sister's bright pink stroller gnawing on some teething toys while we picked. He was so happy and contented we let him be instead of taking a slew of obviously posed pictures. Okay, we did take a few.

Our traditions include more than just the actual picking of the apples. That's just the beginning of the day. First, we head to the apple orchard, usually Stepp's, and pick a few bushels of apples. We always get Mustu to make applesauce and then a few assorted apples for snacking. Of course, we have to take pictures to prove our adventure. Every year Client One gets her picture taken in a tree.

Then, he head to this one market/farm where they have this AMAZING barbeque stand. We chow down on some delicious barbeque until we are stuffed. We also take a few pictures. Client One has had her picture taken on a particular bench the last three years. We also have to see how tall we are.

Once all pictures have been taken and our bellies are full, we head on over to Grandad's Orchard to pick out a pumpkin, Client Two pretty much slept through this portion, but Client One was on the ball. She searched through the selection until we found the perfect two to take home with us. We also had to grab a delightful apple cider slushie and a couple of apple donuts to give us the energy we needed to make it all the way home (even though neither of us were driving!) 

Sometimes on the way home we swing by a roadside market and get some additional produce, but this year we just went on home. I love our apple picking days! It's a fun family-filled time with good food and great memories. It's definitely a time I look forward to every year.