After last year’s drip paint pumpkins, I’ve been brainstorming more no-carve pumpkin ideas we could do as a family. Levi has been eager to paint pumpkins again, but I wanted to do something more structured than just handing him some brushes.
Would you believe that this year’s activity was inspired by a new children’s television program?… READ MORE!
Apple picking is one of my favorite seasonal activities. We’ve gone as a family every fall since Levi was born, and he gets more excited about participating each year.
On Sunday, my parents and I took the boys apple picking with their cousin, Max, and my sister and brother-in-law. Unfortunately, JB couldn’t come along because he was back in Omaha for his last week as an Air Force officer. (Don’t worry! We’re going to try to go again now that he’s home.)
After researching possible orchards in New Jersey, including Alstede Farms, Terhune Orchards, and Sun High Orchards, we chose Riamede Farm in Chester. On their website they describe themselves as a “peaceful, quiet olde-time apple orchard with a pumpkin field out back,” which sounded like the perfect place to bring a three year old, 19 month old, and seven month old.
Bonus: They had delicious fresh-from-the-fryer apple cider donuts — some of the best we’ve ever had.
Four years of apple picking with kids has made me somewhat of an expert when it comes to hitting up orchards with babies and toddlers in tow. If you’re planning a family outing this fall, take advantage of the lessons I’ve learned these past few years.
Starting mid-September, check your local newspaper (especially the weekend edition) for stories about apple season and calendar listings for upcoming events at orchards. Online, you can search for the phrase “pick your own apples,” but orchard directories like Orange Pippin and PickYourOwn.org may prove more fruitful — pun intended.
Some orchards are simply farms that allow you pick your own apples. Others are veritable carnivals with pony rides and corn mazes and petting zoos. If your kids are under three, I’d suggest choosing a smaller, quieter orchard and letting the focus be on picking apples. Chances are you’ll only be able to keep them interested in the day’s activity for an hour or so any way.
Hayrides, however, are always a good idea! Just be aware that strollers may not be allowed on all hayrides, which we were surprised to learn at Riamede Farm. I didn’t want to leave our UPPAbaby Vista
Finally, call ahead to find out what varieties are ripe and available for picking on the day you go. I forgot to do that on Sunday and had a moment of panic as we when we arrived that there wouldn’t be any apples left on the trees. After all, we were nearly a month into apple season! Luckily, only half of the orchard was ripe, which means we could potentially go back another weekend for additional varieties!
Not that we need any more apples! My dad was addicted to picking, and we ended up with approximately 12 lbs of fruit.
Cash. Don’t be caught off guard by a cash-only entry fee or concession stand. Of course, you can probably find an ATM on the premises, but that’s just a pain in the ass (especially when your kids are being whiny).
Snacks and water. Depending on everybody’s mood and interest, you may be picking apples for 15 minutes or for an hour and 15 minutes. Be prepared for growling bellies and thirsty mouths, especially if the sun is shining and it’s getting close to mealtime. Bring something small from home or pick up a package of fresh apple cider donuts from the farm before heading into the orchard. Don’t let hunger win!
Hats and sunscreen. It was almost 90-degrees this past Sunday, and we were sweltering under the sun. But you can still get a sunburn when there’s a cool autumn breeze, so cover up.
Wet wipes. Your kids will be sticky messes from eating apples off the trees. Clean ’em up with wet wipes or baby wipes.
Sneakers and pants. Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes and be prepared for lots of walking! Also, dress in jeans, if possible, to prevent scratches from branches and tree limbs. Levi was inspired by his book about Little Nye
Reusable bags. Some apple orchards make you buy pre-measured bags (a half-bushel, a peck, etc.) before you begin, while others will let you use your own and weigh the apples you pick afterwards. Bring the same reusable shopping bags you bring to the supermarket just in case you need them.
Tell me, do you have plans to go apple picking this year? Which are your favorite pick-your-own orchards where you live?
PS – Need ideas for what to do with all those apples? Try these apple recipes! Also, photos from past family apple picking outings, here and here.
We’ve been living with my parents in New Jersey for three weeks now, but it could be three months. How can it feel like we’ve been here forever when we’ve accomplished so little since we arrived?
I’m not exaggerating when I say that we’ve been so busy we haven’t even finished unpacking. There are open boxes and overflowing bags taunting us in every room.… READ MORE!
Dear Asa,
Happy half birthday! August was a particularly hectic month as we prepared for our big move, but it was also a month of major milestones for you… READ MORE!
I’ll admit that I was terrified at the idea of potty training a boy. I had heard all kinds of horror stories, from little fingers getting smashed by toilet seats to pee spraying all over the bathroom. Besides, what did I know about standing and aiming?
We’re three months into our potty training journey, and, thankfully, it hasn’t been as scary as I had thought. Inspired by the Big Kid Academy, I thought I’d share my top 5 tips for potty training boys… READ MORE!
The countdown has begun. We officially have less than two weeks left in Omaha. On September 1st, the kids and I will be departing from Eppley Airfield and arriving in…… READ MORE!
So far, we’ve been to the pool just one time this summer. It was over 4th of July weekend, which feels like forever ago, doesn’t it?
With nothing besides a couple of errands on our schedule this past Saturday, we talked over breakfast about making a trip to the pool. As soon as the words “pool” and “swimming” came out of my mouth, however, I knew we weren’t really going to go — especially when we decided to go after Levi’s nap. Nothing ever gets done after nap time.
I suffer from mommy guilt over not taking my boys swimming, but the truth is that it’s a huge pain in the ass to get a toddler and a baby ready to for the pool. We spend more time getting ready — going potty, putting on sunscreen, packing snacks — than we do in the water.
Plus, the kiddie pool at the JCC where we belong isn’t that much fun. I wish it were one of those fancy zero-entry pools with fountains and play areas, but it’s literally a large circle filled with shallow water. And when we went in July, we didn’t think to bring pool noodles, buckets, or toys. Boring!
Instead of going to the pool on Saturday, we spent an hour in the backyard with the hose, Levi’s water table, and some bubbles. And you know what? Levi had a blast. He didn’t care that we weren’t swimming. In fact, he didn’t even want to get wet! “Feeding the grass” with water and hosing down his dirty toys were plenty of fun. Plus, he got to chase the dog around for a little bit.
When I see photos on Facebook or Instagram of families with young kids at the beach or pool (especially backyard pools — jealous!), it’s hard not to feel guilty that we haven’t been doing those things this summer with Levi and Asa.
I guess the lesson here is that kids — at least, my kids — don’t necessarily care. They’re just as happy with a garden hose in the backyard.
PS – Have you heard of the backyard game called cornhole? Plus, summer shoes for toddlers.
Dear Asa,
You are adorable. Seriously adorable. And I’m not just saying that because I’m your mother and all mothers think their children are adorable. You possess facial features like big, expressive blue eyes and a wide, happy grin that are objectively adorable.
And thank goodness. Because if you weren’t as adorable as you are, you’d have a much harder time worming your way into our affections night after sleepless night. You don’t sleep through the night yet — not even close — and your father and I are miserably tired.
When your big brother was five months old, he went to bed at 7:30pm and woke up to eat at 3am. Part of your problem, I’m sure, is that we haven’t established a strict bedtime. It’s a classic case of second child syndrome: we’ve expected you to be on our schedule and Levi’s since day one. The times we’ve tried putting you in your crib to sleep before 8pm, you’ve stayed awake screaming until moved into your swing.
We put you back in your crib after your 10:30pm feeding, and you usually give us one three-hour chunk of sleep. Then you’re up about once an hour. Since we want to keep you on your three-hour (at minimum) feeding schedule, daddy does most of the nighttime soothing; I don’t want you to mistakenly think the milk bar is open when I’m simply trying to rock you to sleep.
He and I thought maybe you just wanted out of your swaddle (you seem interested in sleeping on your side), but using a sleep sack instead hasn’t helped. We also thought that putting you in your crib for naps might help, but you’ll only stay asleep for about 30 minutes in there.
However, we were happy to learn that you’re now content to be carried in the Ergobaby
When we were in Cleveland, you sat in a Bumbo for the first time. It was an exciting milestone! However, your deliciously chubby legs barely fit in the chair, so we’ve been using this baby seat
Everything goes in your mouth. As a result, you’re a slobbering mess. Thankfully, you’re not drooling on your clothing, so you don’t need to wear a bib all day like Levi did. When you don’t have a toy or your fingers (or my fingers) in your mouth, you’re blowing raspberries and bubbles. By the way, your little fingernails, which grow maddeningly quickly, are always so sharp that they leave tiny red scratches all over my chest when I’m nursing you .
Sometimes I wonder if you’ll grow up to be a soccer player or a swimmer, since you’re constantly kicking your legs, even when you’re on your tummy. You aren’t really interested in rolling over from either your back or your front (you’ve done it just a handful of times), but you’ve mastered tummy time and have advanced to cobra pose. (Future yogi?)
Diaper blowouts are still an issue even though you’re now wearing size 3 diapers. You’re in size 3-6 month clothing but could probably fit into some size 6-9 pieces. You’re such a big baby, and it’s starting to get harder to remember what you were like as a newborn despite you only being five months old. I don’t take as many photos of you with my DSLR as I did with Levi (second child syndrome!), but your infancy has been well documented on Instagram. It’s just so much easier to take pictures with my iPhone since I always have it with me.
Your feeding schedule is nearly identical to last month’s — you nurse every three to four hours. You also nap at approximately the same times as last month, too: 10:30am, 2pm, 6pm, and, briefly, 9pm. Our goals this month are to start feeding you cereal and to get you on stricter sleeping schedule.
I love you, my sweet peanut. But please, Go the F**k to Sleep
Love,
Mommy
***
Asa turned five months old on July 26, 2014. I’ll be taking a monthly baby photo of him next to his Blabla doll on his birthday to document his growth the first year.
PS – All of Levi’s and Asa’s monthly baby photos.
This is genius: A father of eight has invented a product that can fill 100 water balloons in less than a minute.
Bunch O Balloons is a hose attachment with 37 pre-connected balloons that tie themselves when filled. All you need is a garden hose, a bucket of water to catch the filled balloons, and your bathing suit to have an epic water balloon fight!
Now, I haven’t participated in a water balloon fight in years, but I do remember what a pain in the ass it was to fill and tie all of the balloons. Since I foresee many water balloon fights between my two boys and their friends once they get older, I’m excited that Bunch O Balloons has surpassed its Kickstarter goal. Hopefully we’ll start seeing them on store shelves soon!
