McKinstry Moments: Marker Miller Orchards

I haven't posted much about Caleb's adventures with Max lately - and for good reason. Max spent most of the summer visiting his grandparents in Moldova. Since Natalia and Max have returned to the states, we've had trouble getting the boys together for playdates because their nap schedules have been at different times. This week we finally found time to play twice - Wednesday at Max's house and today at Marker Miller Orchards.

First, we let the kids explore the pumpkin patch. You were able to "pick your own" pumpkin and lug it back to the barn to be weighed in the wagons they provided. The pumpkins were actually already cut off the vines so it was easy to just pick one out of the patch and haul it away.

Caleb found a special pumpkin for Mommy.
I think it was the first one he saw.

Caleb: Help me, Max!

After he licked this one, of course we had to buy it. :)

On the way back to the barn, the boys spotted a tractor. Needless to say, we had to stop and check it out.

Our pumpkin weighed in at about 23 lbs on the scales in the barn - only a few pounds lighter than Caleb. While we were there we also bought a bag to pick apples.

Caleb was pleasantly surprised to find this goose while we waited
to checkout. He has been in to watching "The Aristocats" at my
parents' house and loves the old geese on the movie. He started saying,
"Goose, goose," and I had to explain to Dave what he was trying to tell him.

Before apple picking, the kids spotted the playground so we detoured for a few minutes.

Finally, the five of us began exploring the orchard in search of some good looking apples. First, we looked for Crispin apples; however, we soon switched to Golden Delicious which seemed to be more plentiful and were on the lower limbs so the little ones could reach them easily. Eventually, we topped our bags off with a few Red Delicious and headed back for another quick adventure on the playground before we had to leave.