A is for Apple

Now that school and fall activities are back in full swing, things have settled down a bit around here. Hopefully that means I'll be able to update the blog on a slightly more regular basis than I have been. On the boring days (like you have any of those with a 7 year old) I'll be flashing back to some of the highlights since school started.

K and her cousin "working" the cider press.

Last weekend, in attempt to squeeze every last drop from our Dorney Park passes, we swung into action as soon as K's feet left the school bus and hit the ground. After a quick run through of chores and a potty break, K and I jumped in the car and headed across the river to hook up with our friends the Kishbaugh's. One hour (and no car sickness) later, we pulled into the parking lot in Allentown. We were all delighted to see that all this country air lead to K having a growth spurt over the summer that allowed her to hit the magical 54" mark on the ride board. Basking in her achievements, we hit the first two roller coasters in the park for the first time all year.

After two hours in the park, we piled in the car for a sleepover with our friend Nora who lives in the area. K was delighted to spend some time with Sarah and JP and I enjoyed the newly finished man cave in the basement with the rest of the grown ups. We also scored an entire bag of clothes that Sarah had outgrown, including some very cute horse themed shirts which K has already debuted in school.

Saturday included a lazy morning, a bout of car sickness that was thankfully relieved in a Burger King bathroom, a quick trip to Wal Mart and a birthday party for two of K's classmates.

Sunday morning was church and a parent's meeting for her upcoming first communion then home for the real fun of the weekend. Weeks ago Sunday had been scheduled as "Apple Cider Day" around here. By the time we got home, my brother and his family were here with my dad, my cousin and his son. The back of the pickup was loaded with red and green apples that were being shot into a contraption that chopped them up before the buckets were hauled a few feet away to the apple press whose mechanics I still don't quite understand. Even though the bees drank their share, we still ended up with a lot of yummy fresh apple cider. Most of it was handed out to pay the help, but some of it did end up in the freezer and our tummies.

The day and the cider were just delicious.