Sky Top Orchard

Our third annual trip up to Sky Top Orchard was a success.

(A picture of him grabbing the only apple we actually picked.)

     It definitely looked a lot different from the last couple of years. No added friends, just our little family unit on a brisk Saturday morning. We enjoyed the animals and small bamboo forrest. Mommy and Tobias even highjacked a hayride meant for school field-trippers before ending our time at the play park.

     Well's did his thing and slept for most of the outing while riding in the ergo on daddy's chest. The apples that were up for picking happened to be in the back of the orchard. So aside from picking one apple on our "illegal" hayride we didn't go picking like in previous years. Instead we opted for the pre-picked bags and bought a small assortment of Asian Pears and Fuji Apples.

(He saw some other kids feeding the goats grass and decided to join in.) 

     The line for the apple cider donuts was amazing and far too long with a toddler and baby in tow. So we stood back and drooled over the smell but didn't partake. Alternately we tried and thoroughly enjoyed an apple cider slushy. We had a lot of fall fun and really loved all the apple-ly treats. So much so that we were greeted with a rather unpleasant diaper surprise later in the day, not naming any names, Tobias.

     I do love this family tradition. I love the opportunity we have to continue building on previous memories!

(How big is Tobias? The bamboo forrest was pretty cool!)

Day Trip to Charleston

     We took a day trip to Charleston, SC a couple Saturdays ago. It was a chance to show Francesca how close we live to the beach and a sort of last hooray before baby number two arrives. Still waiting on that one ... 

     We left the house around eight and got there around twelve. The trip is normally only three hours, but crazy traffic happens during the summer and especially on Fourth of July weekend. We didn't allow it to dampen our spirits too much and after driving around we found a free parking spot right next to a beach entrance. Score! 

      It was a beautiful super sunny day with huge cotton clouds filling the sky and the water was the perfect temperature. We set up camp and waded right in, cut into watermelon, dug holes and enjoyed the vitamin D that seemed to lift everyone's spirits. 

     We were content to leave several hours later, our ocean tanks full. After several attempts to find places to change we headed into Charleston and ate at our favorite restaurant, Hyman's and then took a jaunt around the City Market. Having had enough of the humid heat we packed up around 6:30 and made the shorter trip home. It was a lovely day and I'm so glad we did it!

38 weeks pregnant at this point!

Splash pad living.

     This kid had soooo much fun and I took way too many pictures. It was seriously too hard to pare it down and pick the best ones. Ty's expression or stance in each one just made me giggle remembering the pure joy he had while walking in and around the fountains of water.
     It was over Labor Day weekend when we traveled to Ohio that we decided to walk around The Greene (a shopping mall near my parents house). We hadn't thought about the Splash Pad, but couldn't resist once we saw all the little kids prancing around in their suits screaming and squealing with delight. What is it about splashing water that is so exciting? I have no clue, but prepared or not, we just had to join in. So off came the pants and out came the camera and the introduction was made. Ty, splash pad. Splash pad, Ty ...

     There were several times when my mom and I had to rescue him from big kids and fountains that caught him by surprise, but no deterrent was too big! Once consoled, he was twisting in our arms trying to get back out there. So many laughs, such a good memory. 

-And Gray caught some of the excitement of video, for those who are interested!