Apple Picking
A Family Field Trip
by Jennifer Cooper, posted on October 11th, 2011 in Features, Parenting
photos by Dave K Cooper
This weekend we went apple picking. It’s a family tradition we look forward to every year. This year was no exception.
Each visit follows a certain pattern. First, the kids tackle the hay maze. Everyone’s giddy with excitement and there’s tons of running around.
Next it’s time for the hay ride. This might just be my favorite part.
I would so dearly love to express to you how much this hay ride means to me, but I know the words will fail me. Perhaps it would be better to tell you about my hayride timeline.
I rode on it fresh out of college when I was just starting my career with kids, playing the role of one-to-one chaperone.
I rode on it with my belly big with my daughter, who would soon make her way into the world. I just had to get that year’s trip into the pumpkin patch before she was born.
I rode on it with my parents when I wasn’t yet ready to tell them I was pregnant with our second child. I remember how hard it was to keep it a secret. Dave and I were so excited.
And now I ride on it with our two kids, who seem far too big. Wasn’t it just yesterday they had chubby legs, ringlet curls and called me mama?
Times may change, but year after year, this hayride remains a constant.
After the hay ride, we head into the fields. Our son sprints down the rows. Our daughter carefully selects only the finest apples worthy of making their way home with us.
We walk away with far too many apples. Dave says every year, I appear shocked when the farm staff rings us up. “I don’t know why you never remember this part?”
He’s stopped trying to warn me. Instead, he said he’s resolved to just go with the flow, letting us fill our bags past the point of reasonableness.
Because at the end of the day, they’re more than apples. They’re memories.
John Jacob Says:
sara Says:
Leslie Says:
Elisabeth Says:
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
It’s so fun, isn’t it?
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