The Orchard

So this is the reason for the trip.
Or at least this is what we claim to be the reason...

The first year we made the trek to Gays Mills,WI to go to an apple orchard,
we passed a piece of cardboard stuck in the ground with a stake that read
"Pick Your Own"
It was written in black sharpie.
We passed it by and went to this huge orchard where the apples are already bagged and there are millions of people milling around. We bought gallons of apple cider and cheese curds and pounds of apples. And it took all of 15 minutes.
Then we looked at eachother and said, "Now what?"
This wasn't exactly the kind of orchard we were expecting.

So my dad said, "Hey, we passed the little cardboard sign that said pick your own. Maybe we should go check it out."
So we did.
And we were sold.
That year there were only 7 of us.
And Brigg was a mere 3 months old.

This year there were seventeen of us.
And Brigg is 8 years, 3 months old.
And there are several more children now!

And there is no longer a cardboard sign, but it's still so nice and the people are so friendly.
They take our photo every year and we talk about past years.
So fun.
My most favorite family tradition!
And one that I'm quite certain our kids will never forget.