Alldredge Apple Orchard

Jay and I took the kids to Alldredge Apple Orchard this morning on a MOPS outing. Jay kindly took the morning off to help me with the kids. It was a really good thing too because it would have been very difficult to keep up with them with my lame ankle and my big ole pregnant belly! We started the tour by the biggest pumpkin I've ever seen in real life!
The tour went to the chicken coup for the next stop and that REALLY freaked me out. I HATE CHICKENS! They are mean little horrific creatures that take off chasing you for no good reason. Taylor and Bella both loved the chickens. Taylor fed the chickens out of her hands and Bella learned how to say "chicken".
Next the kids were allowed to pick apples. Most of the apples on the lower limbs had already been picked, so Jay and Taylor came up with a good way to pick the good apples at the top of the tree.
We went on a hayride next. Jay and I sat on the floor in the hay with the kids so that Bella would be able to see over the edge of the trailer. They had so much fun. Bella learned the word "apple" on the hayride.

After the hayride we went in to see the bees. The kids heard a story about apple trees and about how the beekeepers let their bees out in the spring to pollinate the trees. Then she got to dress up like a beekeeper!
After Taylor decided that she was done being a beekeeper we sat in a circle where the children were allowed to hold the orchards' kittens. Naturally both of my kids, being the animal lovers that they are, had to participate in this event. Jay and I would've loved to have passed up this event since we are both terribly allergic to cats...but such is the sacrifice of parents.
Next we were off to feed the goats. Taylor LOVES feeding animals.
After feeding the goats we went to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins. Now this was something that Bella could really get into. Bella had help from Taylor and her friend Emma. She found her perfect pumpkin and Emma helped her carry it back to the stroller. Actually, Emma helped Bella up every time she fell and handed her the pumpkin that she'd dropped so that Bella could feel like she'd done it herself. Emma was very patient with Bella.
After the pumpkin patch Taylor, Emma, and Jay posed with the "cool bus" before lunch.
The kids were EXHAUSTED after the outing today. But they had so much fun. I'm sure Taylor will be telling stories for a long time to come from today...especially since she capped the day off with one of her new favorite things to do...climbing trees.