There is such a thing as too much of a good thing...especially when you're eating apples!

Yesterday, Dan, Madeline, Reese and I took a little drive to Carlinville to visit the apple orchard/pumpkin patch. We were lucky enough to have some good friends (Suzi, Sabine, Gail, Kevin and Gavin) join us for an exciting day.

Dan and the girls of the day...Sabine, Reese and Madeline



Reese was lovin' the apple cider slush


The first apple of many for Sabine...



Reese picked her own apple...


...then surveyed the fruits of her labor.



Suzi and Sabine posing in the apple orchard.



Madeline and Dan were aiming high for just the right apples.



Reese not only loved the slush, she loved the apples!



Gavin catching a ride through the orchard from his pops.



Sabine taking a much needed break in the shade.



Gavin looking cute...

Is he trying to steal our apples??



Dan helped Reese find a perfect apple up high.



Dan and his girls...



Sabine had a costume change midway through the show...she's a very stylish girl. Can't have too many pics in one outfit!!


Madeline and Dan in search of the best pumpkins in the patch.


Is this the Great Pumpkin?



Pumpkins are good for so many things!


Madeline searched high and low for this beauty...


The prettiest pumpkin of them all


Finally, a photo with Sabine looking AT the camera. Granted, I had to get under her to catch this priceless shot.

We'll check back next year to see how much they've grown...



...and to see if Sabine can stand still for a photo by that time ;-)

Pretzel Parade!!

Madeline and I went downtown last Friday evening to experience our first Pretzel Homecoming parade. We had no idea they were gong to throw out as much candy as they did (I use the word "throw" loosely as the junior high boys were pelting the candy at people as they rode along.) The parade had a little of everything...a man on a funny bike, a flag, football players on a fire truck and of course, young fans waving to the entertainment...

Untitled ramblings

A couple of funny things have happened recently that I really have to pass on...

• As we're floating down the Meramec river, Madeline started talking about random stuff. Suddenly she said, "so what don't you like about me?" I have no idea why she asked this question or where it came from because no one else was talking at the time. Just about the time she said that, Dan notices an oddly placed sign by the river advertising karate lessons. So he said "Karate, hmm." Madeline's reply? "My body? My body? What's wrong with my body?" I couldn't stop laughing. She thought he was answering her question but she obviously misunderstood what he was saying. Dan said, "what is she talking about?" Between bouts of laughter I told him that he unknowingly just gave his 5 year-old daughter a complex. We then, of course, explained to her that absolutely nothing was wrong with her body and that she misunderstood her dad. Oh my...

• The other night I was making a grocery list for the following day. Madeline was at the table coloring so I asked her if there was anything from the store she wanted...anything she was wishing for that we didn't already have. She gave the question some serious thought and answered... "brownies." Brownies? Well, I can do that! So yesterday I bought some brownie mix and prepared the treat. I had pulled it from the oven about 5 minutes before she came home from school. She sniffed the air and looked to the stove. "You made me brownies? I thought you were just going to buy some! You're the best ever!!!" I thought to myself "yeah, remember that when you're 16!!"

• Last night for dinner I decided to make something that I was sure Madeline hadn't had before. She asked what I was making and I explained that it was something new and that I wanted her to be very brave when she tried it. Usually she's very good about trying new things but sometimes she's just not in the mood. I described what it was and then lifted the lid to show her. She looked into the skillet, looked at me very seriously, and very quietly said, "I'll be very brave." Then she came over to me and wrapped her arms around me like it was going to be her last meal ever. Gosh, did it look that bad? As it turns out, she was very brave and did like the dish. But I don't think it makes the short list of her all-time favorites. But that's okay by me...I was just proud of her for giving it an honest effort.
  

We labored on Labor Day

Yes, we did. I never knew six miles down the Meramec River by canoe could seem so long.

We were early risers on Labor Day, leaving the house around 6:30 am for a three hour drive to Missouri. Dan took us on a unplanned tour through St. Louis and he was worried we'd miss our bus to the drop in point for canoeing. But bus driver Santa One-Feather was there waiting... so, no worries.

Truthfully, we had a great time and we didn't get completely worn out until about the last mile and a half. By then we had gotten a little frustrated at my lack of steering capabilities (we laughed at first) and my arms were worn out. The seat I was on was broken so I sat crooked for most of the trip...except for the SHORT time I was in charge of steering...that was the funniest part. (I'm sure Dan remembers it differently.) I couldn't stop laughing at how aggravated he was becoming and then I wasn't paying attention and we went in more circles. He was great though. Aside from the short moments of wanting to throw me into the river he was actually quite patient with me (thanks, babe.) I guess that short canoeing lesson I received at Girl Scout camp in the 80's didn't stick with me. Long live Camp Daisy Hindman!! Madeline had the difficult task of sitting still in the middle of the canoe (so as to not tip us over) with not really much to do for 2 1/2 hours. But she did wonderfully. She loved taking breaks and getting out into the river, inspecting the rocks and trying to catch minnows by hand. She begged and begged to help row so I handed over my oar. She gave it an honest effort and decided it LOOKED like more fun than it really was.

After our bus ride to our drop in point and our subsequent canoeing expedition, we changed out of our wet clothes (that's a funny story, too) and parked in the shade for a nice picnic lunch. It's been a while since I've been that hungry! After lunch we took a guided tour of the Meramec caves. Very cool.

Madeline was so tired from getting up and leaving the house before the sun came up that I think she was sawing logs before we even hit the highway for the return trip. Our trip home was a little elongated due to multiple bathroom breaks and food stops but we finally made it home. What a great day!



Dan and Madeline on the bus...





Madeline trying her hand at rowing...




View from a canoe...




Dan is still smiling so this is before I took over as the steer-er...




Madeline was fascinated by the rocks. Dan kept saying, "Madeline, play in the water. You can play with rocks at home!"




This seating arrangement didn't last long but it was worth a shot.




The deepest part of the river was only 4 or 5 feet. Madeline was a little nervous to go too far without Dan by her side.




This one cracks me up. Dan looks like he's spanking her with the paddle but he's actually pointing out all the minnows swimming around their feet.




Starting to wear down a bit but still having fun...




Dan found Madeline some rocks and shells. I wonder what happened to those. We'll probably find them in the bottom of the washing machine.




When we parked for lunch we left our signature...






At the beginning of the cave tour...




I'd tell you what these are called but I didn't take notes and I've never been great at remembering things scientific.




But they were beautiful nonetheless.




I do remember that this is the wine room. It's named that because the formations look like clusters of grapes.




Posing pretty in front of a rock formation.




A light show...




Dan and Madeline at the end of the tour...




All three of us, still standing, after one very busy and exciting day.