William at play

Fall is my favorite season, and it's so perfect for playing outside. Just ask William who spent his outside time this morning "feeding" and hauling his stuffed animals friends. I love how this boy so adeptly mimics big-people life in his pretend play. He pulled the animals across the yard in the wagon, then gently placed them on the seats of the fort, picked up some Frisbees to fill with mulch and then put them in front of each animal as if it was breakfast time. The puppy dog also got several rides down the slide in William's lap. William's favorite toy tends to change from day to day, although certain critters tend to be requested at nap and bedtime. It's great fun to see him try to carry three large stuffed animals downstairs in the morning. He is a pack rat who loves to carry his stuff around. I'd like to get a picture of the three-animal carry since they do dwarf his little self, but he's very camera aware and will often dart off to his next activity before I can get a good shot. He's a busy one, but so very sweet. 

Orchard day!

We discovered a new favorite orchard on Saturday. The day was beautiful, just perfect for an orchard outing. We decided to try a new place this year since we are always on the hunt for places that are enjoyable for the kids, but not overwhelming in terms of crowds or prices. After a quick online search, we chose Honey Hill Orchard in Waterman. It was wonderful! 

Right off the bat, Erik was happy because our route out took us along Illinois-30, which runs parallel to train tracks the entire way. A few "diggers" here and there made William happy and Anna delighted in pointing out every porch or farm stand with a pumpkin. Arriving happy = day already a success. 

We overshot Waterman Road by a touch since it's one of these crazy roads that have a different name at different places. Unexpectedly, there was no giant sign pointing us in the right direction, and the sign at the farm was just the smallest little painted wooden apple sign. That's okay. We like understated. 

Anna brought Scout, her classroom's pet bear.
This weekend was her turn to bring him home.
He seems to want a piece of her donut!

Because we had already spent our morning in lazy Lego building, it was lunchtime once we arrived. So, we headed straight for the bakery's apple cider doughnuts. Oh. My. Such deliciousness!

Then it was time to check out the fun stuff. I just LOVE the fact that they have a small kids area, but it doesn't cost anything extra. There are two hay mazes and a petting zoo. It's not the buffet of fun that other orchards have, but everyone in our group was happy. Climbing stuff, yummy stuff, and furry stuff. Good enough for us!

William really liked the pigs. 

On to the apples: we bought our bag to fill and waited for the short tractor wagon ride to the right tree row for the day's picking. Erik and Anna were excited enough by the idea of the tractor ride that they insisted on waiting for a ride, even though walking to the right spot would have been just as fast. William, unfortunately, hated the wagon ride idea. He loves, loves, loves all things trucks, but not big, close, moving ones, apparently. I cuddled him into riding, but we decided to walk back when we were done picking instead of traumatizing him further.

No lasting harm done, William loved eating the apples and exploring the trees, as did his brother and sister. They were all very good at finding just the right apples. The apples themselves were amazing. Very sweet and very, very large. (Somewhere today, I saw a recipe for an apple pie baked in the apple. I think I have the perfect apples if I can only find that recipe!)

Anna, a lover of all berries, was so very excited that Honey Hill had not just apples to pick, but raspberries, too. Just a few days ago, she told me she will be a berry farmer when she grows up. I'm always happy to see how very content all three kids seem when we are out in the natural world, so I wouldn't be surprised if she does indeed do something in the great outdoors.

Of course, between the doughnuts, the apples and the berries we had eaten, we were all very full and very happy by this time. The kids wanted a bit more time to play. William insisted on looking at the pigs and rabbits again. So, we let them get out the wiggles before the ride home. It was a great outing at a wonderful place. Erik wants to go back to see if their apple pie is as good as the donuts, so we will be back, I'm sure.

They are all looking at the camera and smiling. Wow!
 (And could the sky have been any more gorgeous?)

If just being out in a beautiful day at a beautiful place wasn't enough, since returning, Erik has been recreating the orchard in a Lego tableau. As always, his attention to detail is impressive. I think Anna allowed the appropriation of her Lego trees for the scene since she's been busy making a Lego house larger and larger.

Anna and William made short work of the raspberries for lunch today. As always, I think they eat with the most enthusiasm those things they help harvest or prepare.

If I had a bit more time, I would look up pictures of all our annual apple picking outings every year since Erik was a baby. It's become an annual tradition for us and one we all enjoy very much. Yum!

Been farmin' long? 

Cute,
but these guys
were a bit nippy!

Yum! These apples are HUGE!

Erik shows off a rare icky apple. 

Action shot of Erik scaling the hay maze

Picking raspberries. Anna loved this!

Sitting still!

Wearing the right shirt for the occassion

Looking for the queen bee in the hive at the gift shop. 

Goodbye!

September thoughts

September sunshine

September 11th, twelve years ago, was a beautiful day. That first detail is as important as all the others. It was sunny and clear and perfect. And horrible and awful and evil. A dozen years ago already, and yet still a fresh wound for an entire nation. And healing?

I don't have any personal stories of heartbreak for that day beyond what we all shared. Safe in the middle of the country and having no friends or family in New York or Washington, my experience was that of a horrified observer. I did not have to work that day, so I spent a dreadful morning watching hour after hour of television. Seeing the towers collapse. Wondering what was happening. Fearing for what might happen next. Worrying about family members and friends who were not there, but still far from home around the globe. Were they okay? Would any of us be "okay"?

Terrible as that day was, as well as the weeks that followed, there was strength in the brief feeling of national unity. The ubiquitous flag waving has long since disappeared, though, and we are all well aware that national unity seems impossible these days. So, are we simply left with collective grief over lives lost, enemies manifest, and public policy in turmoil?

No.

It is a bittersweet day. It seems sacrilegious to be anything but somber when the calendar approaches "9-11." Those who insist that we "never forget" are right. The memories of those lost must be remembered. Efforts to prevent such terrorism must remain a priority for every nation. I'm not going to personally dress in black, though. I mean no disrespect to those who live through this day reliving profound loss. I simply believe that the best way I can respect those losses is to spend this day in gratitude for the many good things I have experience in these past few years. Twelve years ago, I was a newlywed, a new homeowner, and inexperienced teacher. Today I have been married to my very best friend for 12 years, I have been blessed with three amazing children, and I have been able to work and volunteer in a variety of capacities with people of deep commitment to making this world better.

Today, September 11, 2013 is another beautiful day. It is sunny. The skies here are clear. It is a day of sadness and thankfulness. I have no answers for the evil of the world, but I have more blessings than I can count and a deep gratitude for the good days that outnumber the bad, the good souls who outnumber the bad and a confidence that there is a God who can take the very worst of humanity and make all things good in His perfect timing.

Building together

So here are my kids, being themselves and here's what I take away from September 11, 2011. Thank you, God, for the normal days. Thank you for kids playing together and a husband who works hard to care for his family. Thank you for beautiful fall mornings. Thank you for the public servants who take care of us all, often at great personal risk. Guide us through the dark days, and give us gratitude for the many, many good ones.

Our favorite day: garbage day!