Chris and Kristen + 2: Fall Firsts-Apple Picking

With the onset of gorgeous fall weather we decided on the spur of the moment last Saturday to take Hannah and Owen apple picking for the first time. We decided to go to Carter's Mountain Orchard where Chris and I had taken many trips during my 2 years at UVA and the early years of our marriage. It has gotten a little crowded and touristy, but that's what we were looking for on this particular fall day. We spent several hours picking apples, going on a hayride, and eating lunch outside together as a family. Hannah and Owen were real "big kids" as they walked down the rows of apple trees. We picked golden delicious apples. Hannah and Owen were able to walk right up to the trees, reach up, and pull the apples off. We picked apples for Nana and Granddad too because picking apples was so much fun. Hannah and Owen kept signing and saying more, more. To Hannah and Owern each and every apple looked perfect for picking. They would tug and pull and right off the branch it would come. Hannah added pulling and tugging sound effects to her apple picking and they loved putting their apples in their bags. They were really excited about picking apples because they recently started eating apple slices and love them! It was awesome to see their reaction to all the apples on the trees and watch them do new things. I couldn't help but think back to what seems such a short time ago when they were little bitty babies. What they learn to do and say in such a short time constantly amazes me. We had a fantastic day picking apples and hope to make another trip before Fall is over. Now when we talk about picking apples they will reach up into the air with their hands, pretend to pull and tug at an apple, and then pretend to put it in a bag. Oh, how I love these two!