Apple Picking | 2016

One of the most quintessential fall activities: Apple Picking. Right behind engaging in pumpkin spice flavored everything, purchasing mums for the front porch, & searching for the perfect pumpkin in the patch.

Nonetheless, apple picking is one of my favorite fall activities.  Something about dressing up for the cooler weather, hopping on a horse drawn wagon, & getting dropped off in the middle of the apple orchard, just soothes my soul.  And doing it with kiddos, even better.

We took Elena & Kane to the apple orchard, and they had a ball.  They each picked a bag full of apples – we thought we were picking honey crisp, but turns out we got cortland’s, which are good, too.

The kids rummaged the rows for “the good apples” without any “yuckies”, and quickly filled their bags.

Kane ate 2 ½ apples during our time at the orchard, and Elena constructed a bouquet of wild flowers.

Once we got back to our house, Kane napped while Elena & I made apple crisp.  She is SUCH a helper right now and wants to do all the things.  She washed all the apples while I cut & peeled them.  I did all the measuring of the ingredients, but she did all the stirring.  Together we popped the crisp in the oven, and waited as the aroma of apple & cinnamon filled the house.  It was the perfect ending to the perfect fall day!

P.S.  Let all the fall baking begin! 

Six.

This Sunday, Zac & I celebrate 6 years as man & wife.

Last year, I wrote a sappy post (you can read it here), but this year I'm keeping this post short & sweet.

We're heading out of town for the weekend, and I'm looking forward to a few days of just us.  No work, no housework, no prior commitments -- no plans of any kind, really.  We're going to relax & enjoy each other's company.

Love you always, Zachary.  Happy Anniversary!


P.S. Our six year anniversary photos will be forthcoming -- here's a look back at our five anniversary year photos.

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Travel: Venice, Italy

Ohhh man.  My heart belongs to Venice.  If this city wasn't half way across the world, I would visit at least twice a year.  I mean, look!

This city is SO distinctively different from any other place that I've ever been before.  Imagine: 115+ small islands, connected by over 400 bridges.  A city you can navigate by foot or boat through 150+ canals.  No streets, no cars, & nothing but sheer quaintness around every stinkin' corner.  That, is that City of Venice. 

My best advice to enjoy all that Venice has to offer:

Wander out into the streets & get lost.
Pop into a quaint little restaurant & order something you cannot pronounce (it will all be in Italian, of course).  Dine outside with a glass of the house wine & linger longer.
People watch.
Admire all the blooming flowers.
Walk past a bakery & take in the scent of freshly baked bread.
Stop for gelato. 
Park yourself on top of a bridge to watch the sunset.
Walk back to your hotel with only the light from the moon & street lamps to guide your way.

Then, do it all again tomorrow.

Gelato!

A dead end :)

The Bridge of Sighs

In/on the Bridge of Sighs, looking out

Zac & I, looking 110% like tourists.

Italy's version of 'fast food'... and SO good!

Please please PLEASE don’t just hang out at the “touristy” and cruise ship stops, specifically Piazza San Marco, or solely along the Grand Canal, the whole while you visit.  If you fall to this mistake, you will likely dislike Venice & never want to return.

Where to next.... Burano!  Stay tuned!

Click the links to see more of our Italian adventures: Rome day 1, Rome day 2, Vatican City, Assisi 

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