Fall Adventures with the Kids (without Scott)

While Scott was exploring (I was working...) California the kids and I were back home. Porch breakfast and planning for our upcoming Washington road trip.

Today we had plans to go apple picking and hiking. I packed us a picnic lunch for our day.

Meadow had earned some money recently and with her money bought herself a music stand. It arrived today.

Then the kids and I drove to Whistling Well Farms to go apple picking. We had been here a couple times in the past few years.

I always like this one because it's simple. Apple trees, a little shop and a couple animals. That's it.

I also like this place because you can pick whatever variety you want.

And 10 minutes later we were done.

The only thing the apple orchard didn't have were caramel apples. We saw a sign on our drive for the Carpenter Nature Center Apple Shack and figured they would have caramel apples. Sadly they did not so we got honey sticks instead.

Afton State Park is only 5 minutes away from the orchard so figured we would hike there today. First we had our picnic lunch.

We came here to do the hiking club trail, which took us near the beach. I should have brought our swimsuits. I looked at camping here the night before, but changed my mind last minute. Thankfully I did because it rained while we would have been hiking in.

Meadow loves catching grasshoppers.

We took another break to play in the creek where Theo fell in.

And another break to play in the creek up the trail.

I told Theo if he didn't make any complaints during hiking he could pick whatever ice cream he wanted. We stopped at Selma's Ice Cream Parlor in Afton. Of course he picked the biggest mint chocolate chip in the fanciest cone.

Cute place, be sure to stop after a hike at Afton State Park.

When we got home Meadow had another item she ordered waiting for her. She used my old Tamagotchi until it died for good and had been wanting another one.

We keep meals simple around here when Scott is gone.

Trying out her new music stand.

The next day we took a quick trip to Como Park. I had an old card for Como Town to use up. The kids couldn't decide on a ride and finally settled on the swings.

Being here in the summer we got to experience the Japanese Garden. Except most of it was closed for a tea ceremony.

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