Off to the Zoo and on to the Orchard

Last year we made a full day of her special day, and this year it just seemed fitting to do it again. Who knows how many years we'll be able to do that, but for now we can so we do.

 It's a little zoo, not much new and nothing too exciting but it's close and fun to walk around and spend the morning.   Especially going on a Tuesday, it's quiet and we practically have the place to ourselves.  

They have a overlook tower atop a steep hill with a million steps just to get to the base.  Of all the times we've gone, we've never done the hike up and it sure was a treat.  While Ed and J climbed the stairs up to the lookout, I setup a little spot to get an impromptu family photo.  After much coaching and coercion, I got E and Josie to smile and cooperate.

I had begin to worry that we wouldn't make it to the apple orchard (what I was mos tlooking foward too).  In typical 3 yr old style she fell apart around nap time and we were far from home. We decided to give it a go because we were so close to the orchard. 

 

While it was just a quick pick of a bushel of Goldens, it was worth it.  This is just the coolest place, if we have time we'll come back and explore even more earlier in the day when we're all happy and not in need of a nap.  The ride to and from the orchard may be the best part... we get to munch on apples and enjoy the ride through the expansive fields of watermelons, pumpkins, eggplant and on and on and on. 

It's too bad Josie was such a sinker and running around because it was perfect landscape for more photos.   By the end of it all, she'd been bribed with several suckers and we managed back to the car for a ride home and a quick nap before cake.