Life is Precious: I LOVE Apple Hill

As part of our family trip to Tahoe, we went to Apple Hill!! I love that place. I realized (or maybe just finally admitted) that I'm sentimentally attached to Apple Hill. I think it makes me feel close to my Grandma Stansberry who passed away 10 years ago. It was with her that I first went, it was one of our favorite things to do with my Dad's family. I loved being there with her. It's a tradition we have carried on now, something I did as a young girl that I get to do with my children. Pretty soon I'll have a picture of them at 10 in the pumpkin patch with their cousins, just like I do with mine. That makes me feel very sentimental about Apple Hill.

However, if you've been there you know just how beautiful it is there. How fall-y it smells there. How clear the air is up there. How full of all things yummy and appl-y it is there! Anyhoo... onto the day there this year with the family...

We almost didn't think mom and dad were going to make it. Dad's had bad back problems for the last several years. Bad enough that he can't walk long distances, so they invested in a "Papa scooter". Benjamin was thrilled to help Papa get it all ready for the day!

Our first stop is always Fritters at High Hill! I can remember enjoying those since I was 9!! We enjoyed them outside overlooking the hills and the fish pond.

A new favorite tradition is a trip to see the farm animals at Apple Ridge. All three of the boys got to feed them this year.

Thomas loved getting to show the little guys what to do. He found a young goat that none of the others would let eat. He was patient enough to work hard until the little guy got to eat while Uncle Ross distracted the other big guys.

Ethan thought this was so cool

I guess Benjamin didn't technically feed one... he wanted to eat their food...

Thomas got to run through the hay maze, which he looks forward to. It's hard to believe that this was his 3rd year to go through it. It's now stacked 3 high, which made it a challenge for him and a little too scary to do on his own. If I hadn't been able to see over, I would have been scared too!!