Peel, Slice, and Core

Last week I did canned some more applesauce.  Here's the new gadget (it's my moms - thanks mom!!!!) I used this time around.

First you put the apple on

then you start turning the crank

and BAHM...the apple is peeled, sliced and cored.

This is out you have left.

Here's my little helper - I think he could the apple slices and quickly as I made them.

Once you have enough apples peeled and sliced to fill the pot, you cook them down...

...to this.  

Add a bit of cinnamon

and you're finished!!!

The finished product.

Hopefully, 4 bushels of apples with last us until next October.

Birthday Party at Orchard Hill

Last Saturday we were invited to a Bithday Party for MiniMe's son.  So after a morning filled with soccer, we quickly headed home for a change of clothes and to shove some food with the boys' mouths.

Then it was off to Orchard Hill in Dutton for an afternoon of friends, food and fun.

First the kids had so much fun running with the corn maze.  I don't know if we ever actually it to the end of the maze.  We kind of found a kid made trail to get out instead.

Then it was off to the animals,

sheep,

goats,

and geese.

Later we headed over for a hayride.  We definitely pack the wagon full,  I'm not sure we could have fit any more on.

The birthday boy getting ready for the hayride.

During the hayride, everyone had the opportunity to get off and pick out a pumpkin.

KK and his grandpa deciding which pumpkins they wanted

After the hayride, we were treated to some donuts, cupcakes and cider.  Yum!!!  KK then finally got to open all his gifts.  What a great party!!!  Thanks Josh, Jamie and KK for inviting us.  We had a blast!!!

Pumpkins

After an early morning school circle meeting, we stopped by Heidi's Farmstand on our way home.  I needed some more apples - bushels 3,4,and 5 for this season so far, and we needed a couple more pumpkins so when we have a free night for carving, we have them.  As the nice employees of Heidis' were gathering my many apples, I took the boys over to the pumpkins so they could pick one out.  Off they ran to the BIGGEST smallest pumpkins they had... wait a minute, don't must kids like to find biggest pumpkins, not my boys.  I have to keep telling them to find a bigger pumpkin.

Finally they were pretty sure they had found the right size pumpkins, and while I was loading them in the wagon,  the boys decided it would to fun to jump and climb on the pumpkins.  I'm so glad we were outside and the friendly employees of Heidi's were still packing my apples.  I really didn't want to buy any more pumpkins that I had to at $5 buck a pop.

and if you're wondering about Brendan not getting to pickout a his own,  well, we had a few grow from the leftover rotten pumpkins that were left in the garden last year.  And it's ripe at the right time of year this time. :)

Fishing

Last night, our church's outdoor club held a fishing derby for the kids at church.  The pond was stocked and lots of fish were caught  just not by our kids.  All the boys were so excited to fish even Connor.  Luckily for Mike, Brendan could bait and cast his own pole.  The other 3, not so much.  As quickly as Mike could bait the hook and cast the line, the boys had their lines reeled back in and they needed to be cast out again.  I am impressed with the amount of patience Mike needed to have.  (Thank you, honey)  

After some time by the pond, we headed to the line for ice cream...that's right I think it was about 40 degrees outside, maybe colder and we were eating ice cream outside.  It was so good!!!!

Chopped Off

I am no longer hidden from the world.  

I am feeling very naked.  

My corn is gone.

I can see the road and the road can see the house.

I can see the farm, and I suppose the cows can see me.

This past Tuesday and Wednesday, the harvesting crew was out by our place.  My brother Brian and a few of the cropping employees from Fennville took the long journey to Freeport.  If I remember correctly it's about a 3-4 hour drive by tractor/chopper going about 20 mph.  That's a long trip in it's self.

On a good day they can easily get the 120 acres around the finished, but with the ground being so wet it didn't happen and the trucks needed extra help getting through the fields. All the action was happening on the North side of the Farm on Tuesday so I didn't see too much of what was going on.  But Wednesday morning, Connor was running from window to window all excited about the tractors and combines.  It wasn't until late morning that he finally got to ride with daddy for a little while.  But it didn't take long and he was back in the house, his hands were too cold.  So we opened all the blinds to the back of the house, and he watched his DVD of tractors and had a watchful eye on the tractors in the field.  

Watching the action for the deck

Here they come!!!!

on the left side of this picture you see an extra tractor following the trucks and chopper, that Mike's position.  He was in charge of pulling or pushing  the trucks when they got stuck.

Here he is in action.

So now I have to get used to the fact that the world aka Freeport can see me again.  I just hope they decided to plant corn around the house again next summer and not hay.

Until planting season...

School Pictures

Last week Friday, school pictures were taken.  You know the ones where you pay way too much, pick from a gray and teal splash color background, and you just know that there will be some cheesy smile.  Well, I decided back when Brendan was in preschool that it wasn't worth my money to buy the school pictures.

So tonight, while Brendan was at soccer practice, I took the twins into to town and snap a few.  

This is my fav of Austin

As quickly as a snap of  your fingers, Austin's attitude changed and he didn't want to give me any more smiles.

So I let him change stops and asked him to start laughing, (I tend to get a more natural looking smile that way and then his eyes are smiling too. )  and I get the full head tilt back.

Nice pic, just wish the mouth was closed.

Then it was Luc's turn.  I don't think I ever have a problem with Luc not wanting to take pictures.  I usually just have trouble getting him to look at the camera.

  I can't pick a fav with him...I like them all.

As I was getting the twins back in the van, Connor announced that he wanted his picture taken too. So I got him out of the van and took his pictures...he only want 3 pictures then he ran back to the van.  

Here's the best one.  So cute and funny at the same time.

I can't wait to get Brendan's pictures.  I think these turned out great!!!!