Kindergarten Country Mill Fieldtrip

With the twins starting kindergarten, this year is full of "lasts."  Since Alice and Emily didn't go to kindergarten in Michigan, it's not been too bad.  But knowing this was the final fieldtrip pulled a little on my heart strings.

It was a cold, wet day.  I bought some coffee on the way to keep my hands warm during the first part of the tour.

The twins went last year with their class, and Billy came too!  But I think they had a good time with just me (and the rest of their class.)

Taking a cold ride on the tractor pulled wagon.

We each picked an apple, and a pumpkin.  And there was no surprise hand holding, unlike last year.  At the end of the tour we were given a donut and some cider.  The cider is cold, which is always surprising to me, as far north as we are.  It was still tasty. = )

G&J striking a pose in front of a real giant pumpkin!

The first school field trip for my last little babies.  I'm just a little sad.  Really.  I love getting to do more and more with all of them every year!

later days

later days

Uncle John's Cider Mill

Last weekend was the final weekend of nice weather before Michigan went into winter mode, so despite waking up to a rainy day, we decided to go check out Uncle John's Cider Mill.

It turned out to be a good decision.  The rain subsided, but many of the events were free, since everything was wet.  The kids really enjoyed the jumping pillow.

William was the driver of the 'cool bus.'  We did get to catch a little bit of sun when the clouds moved out.

We rode the tram out to the corn maze.

While daddy turned in the tokens and grabbed a map, everyone else played.

Once in the maze, we went about 1/3 of the way in, before we ended up making turns back toward the front. = )

We also walked over to the nature trail, but it was kind of short.

We got to see the pumpkin patch, and fruit launching, but headed back to the pavilion area to catch the train.

Thanks to the rain, train rides were also free!  I missed out on the first ride, but no one complained about going a second round for mutti. = )

After the train, we played some corn hole, used the screens to sift for pretty stones in the sand, and ate lunch to a live band.

Sadly, when we were finished eating, it started to rain.  And it didn't stop.

So, we loaded our wet selves into the car, and Emily was so sad that she didn't get to pick a pumpkin.  As soon as we were all buckled, the rain tapered off, but i was not unloading and reloading everyone. So Alice, Emily and I went to the pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin for everyone.  They all fell asleep in the time it took us to pick them and pay.

Despite the rain, I was really happy that we went to check it out and enjoyed the day as a family. = )

We will hopefully go back next year, but with all the apple cider places up here, it might just be one in our rotation. = )

later days

William's Field Trip to Country Mill

Last Thursday William's class had a field trip to country mill.  Since we didn't need to be back at the school until 9:30, and drop off is before 8:30, I took the opportunity to run to chick-fil-a for breakfast (and grabbed the freebie sandwich for William's teacher = ))

Despite my breakfast run, I was still early and got to watch them do their morning review.  William totally rocked the first sound matching.

Since all the kindergarteners were on one bus, parents had to drive themselves.  It's not a bad drive, and I arrived before the bus.  The temperature was quickly plummeting though, and so I grabbed the 'emergency' winter layers from the back of the van.

William's partner for the trip was absent, so we hung out with Zariah and Vivi for the tour.

We saw the giant refrigerator where they keep the apples (it was cold in there!) and where they press the apples to make the cider.

As we walked outside, William asked if he could just hold hands with Vivi "by ourselves."  I really thought I had at least a few more years before the inevitable moment when he chooses someone to replace me as the number one girl in his life!  Apparently not. = (

We each picked an apple and pumpkin as part of the tour.  I saw my perfect pumpkin from afar, and when I held it up, William asked if we could trade!  Since they both ended up on our front stairs, it didn't really mater.

We finished the tour by enjoying some donuts and cider from the café.  Vivi's twin sister is in another class, but sat with us at the very end of the day.

It was a chilly day, but I had a fun time with my boy and his friends.  Soon, as in a few weeks, I get to go back and do it again with Grace and Juliet!

later days