How About Them Apples?

It has become apple time in Illinois! This year we decided to take the kids to an orchard to learn about apples and such. The first orchard we went to, which will remain nameless but let's just say that it is in a town very very close to Springfield, was so awful. The kids were not allowed to touch a thing - not a bush, not a tree, not an apple. Then we paid $3 for them to receive a dixie cup of cider and a teeny little apple to eat. By the end, Olivia was bored and upset that she was an observer and not a participant. This was not the orchard of my childhood!

So, to correct that horrible experience we went to the Broom's Apple Orchard festival on Sunday. This place is located in Carlinville, and it is the orchard that Joe and I attended as little ones. And it was exactly as I remembered. Pick your own apples right from the tree - and while you're at it eat as many as you want for free, watch them make their own fresh cider and then sample it, walk around their pumpkin patch without worrying about hurting something, ride horses, feed goats, go through the corn maze (or the mini maze for the kids for those not wanting to spend an hour in the maze), hayrides, and a little park area for the kids.

Joe and Olivia working to fill our apple bag. She was so happy to be able to pick them herself, and became very good at not picking the ones with bad spots.


The kids and I in the orchard. Joe, Olivia, and I each ate 4 apples - we had to sample each of the 4 varieties that were ready for picking to make sure that they were good! Ethan took about an hour to eat his one apple.

The branches were touching the ground due to being so heavy with apples this year. Ethan was able to reach them with no problem.

This orchard is great. Eat as many apples as you want for free, pick your own off of the tree, and go ahead and climb the tree to get to the best of the bunch. Olivia thought it was hilarious that Joe climbed into the tree to reach the apples. You can tell that I am much happier with this orchard compared to the initial one!

Olivia in full "Fancy Nancy" mode. She doesn't do this everyday, but today she was insistant to wear her "fancy accessories".

Olivia in the mini hay bale maze for kids. This was a really cute idea.

Riding on her pony that she called "Furry Hair". She yelled "YIPPEE" throughout the five minute ride, creating much laughter in the crowd.

Joe and Ethan after feeding the goats.

Since Carlinville is so close to Litchfield, we went to my parent's home for dinner after the festival. Here is Ethan and grandma relaxing on the swing. Those sharp points on the back of the seat are not some torture device - it is to keep the birds from sitting on the swing and then, um, making a mess.

Olivia in a circle of bubbles.