Orchard Fun!

Chicago Trip - Day 12

Today was our trip to the Jonamac Orchard in Malta, IL! We got really lucky with the weather and had an absolutely beautiful day for apple picking! Amanda made the trip out to join us which made the day extra special!

For those of you in the area, you must make a trip out to this orchard - especially if you have kids. There is so much to do there besides pick apples! There is a petting zoo, corn maze, hay ride, a silo filled with dried corn that makes it like a sand box...only with, well, corn! (That was probably Caiden's and my favorite thing there.) There is also a bazillion varieties of apples to pick, tons of apple products to purchase (Can I just say I had the best caramel apple I've ever tasted there?), an apple launcher and oh so many photo opportunities! I took so many dang photos while we were there, that there is no way I could put them all in this entry. So instead, I combined them into a slide show for your viewing pleasure!

The corn silo was so neat to play in! It also felt heavenly on my feet! Sort of like a mini foot massage. Caiden could've spent the entire day in there if given the opportunity! We also spent quite a bit of time in the petting zoo. Cathy could not stop hysterically laughing at Caiden's various reactions as the animals kept rushing up to him. He got a little nervous, but overall he took it all in stride and had fun petting and feeding the animals! Amanda got to pick up a chicken, had a goat jump up on her and I had goats trying to eat my shirt and umbrella!

I so wish I could've picked some apples there, but I knew I wouldn't be able to bring them back home with me. I did have fun watching Cathy and Amanda pick tho! They each approached the picking process with vastly different methods. Amanda opted for the grab and pick as many as she could possibly stuff into her bag, while Cathy very meticulously evaluated each apple seeking perfection in every choice. LOL! Caiden even got into the action and picked his very own apple off the tree. He wasted no time in sinking his teeth right into it!

Here are some of my favorite photos.

You can click the image below to see bigger pictures.

After our fun day at the orchard, we went back to C&B's house for dinner. We had some of the aforementioned beef brisket (love that cranberry brisket recipe Karen B!!), and Amanda stayed for dinner with us.

Later that evening, it was time for some hi jinks in computer/music room at the house. Bryan turned on the mic and Caiden just cracked us up with his "Da da's!" Nearly every time we tried to get Caiden to say something, he'd respond with "da da." I just love the way he pauses, and then leans into the mic to speak! I haven't seen something this funny in a long time! I don't know what it is, but every time I watch this video, I just crack up!

Another end to another fantastic day with family. I am especially glad Amanda could join us! Her presence just made the day all the more fun! I'm so glad both of my families get along and enjoy one another's company. :)