Apple Picking 2016

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

Apple picking has become a family tradition of ours since before Brett and I even had kids. The only year we didn’t make it out to the orchard was last year. The season got away from us and before we knew it, the apples were gone. So we knew we had to make it happen this year. Life gets so busy with four kids and all sorts of weekend activities. So we found a window of time in between Caspian’s morning soccer game and Savannah’s ballet rehearsal to fit in one of my favorite annual family traditions!

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

I think family traditions are so important for kids. My kids thrive on daily consistency, but I also think even the consistent annual traditions for our family ground them. There are several fall traditions that we try to keep going such as Apple Picking, the Autumn Drive, a trip to the pumpkin patch and cutting down our Christmas tree. I hope that these are all things my kids will recall with fondness with they are grown and starting families of their own. I know they are some of my dearest memories that I will keep with me forever.

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

This was Josephine’s 1st official apple picking experience. As I mentioned before, we didn’t go last year and the year before that I guess she sort of went with us…in a way. We went apple picking later in the season in 2014 when I was about 38 weeks pregnant with JoJo. I was having a lot of back pain, but it was very important that we fit in our annual apple picking excursion before Miss Josephine was going to arrive. Well, after a morning of walking around and picking apples, my back continued to hurt. I called my Dr. when I got home and went into the hospital and ended up having Josephine that very night!

Jo loved picking apples. She likes when I give her thinly sliced apples at home, but she was not a fan of the skin from the apples right off the tree.

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

Miss Savannah is 8 years old going on 13. She is such a wonderful big sister and a big helper with her younger brother and sisters.

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

Matilda Jane knows how to strike a pose when Mama has the camera around. Matilda is the biggest fan of apples in the family and though she is picking a red Jonamac apple here, her favorite are any of the yellow variety.

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

Caspian was my helper and helped me fill my half-peck bag. He enjoyed finding the most perfect apple on each tree.

The Cottage Mama Apple Picking 2016

I was hoping to get a cute group shot of the kids, but this is what I ended up with instead. And while, it’s not what I had in my head, it’s life. And I’ve learned over the years, that most things in life don’t turn out just as you’ve pictured them in your head. But they all create wonderful memories, nevertheless!

Happy Start of Fall!

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3 Comments

  1. Oh goodness!! Beautiful tradition. Making memories. Would love a copy of this book. It’s awesome.

  2. I have been following your blog for almost 6 years; when I had my first daughter. I cannot believe how grown they are all getting!! You have such a beautiful family!!
    My family used to go to the apple orchard in Michigan each year. We just moved to Oklahoma and it’s a little sad to no longer be going to pick fresh apples.

  3. craftygramma says

    Hi there! Great to see the kids making memories! I am currently making Penguin Pouches…the grandgirl’s school mascot is a penguin and they need fabric math activity bags, so… also a penguin snack bag, so tired of all that plastic bag waste, so while the penguin fabric is out, might as well!
    Would love anything FQS, that book is awesome. Thanks!