Apple Pickers

This weekend we got to celebrate my mom's birthday at the Country Apple Orchard near Sioux Falls (or Harrisburg...I'm not really sure).  We met up with my sister and her little family and spent the day doing all things apple..and then some.  We weren't even in the parking lot and Lincoln's attention was stolen by the endless inflatables, train rides, pony rides, and farm animals that awaited him.  Little did he know we also got to go on a hay ride to pick apples and climb trees.  It was hot, windy, and packed with people but nevertheless fun!  We enjoyed delicious apple snacks after picking our own apples in the orchard. 

Others that day would disagree...as we left we met several ambulances coming into the orchard.  We were definitely lucky! 

Check out that scary story here: http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/runaway-horses-at-apple-orchard/?id=137277

 Riding the pony...he loved it!

 Talking to the sheep

 Checking out the train

 Patiently waiting for his turn with Aunt Amber

 The "mower ride" in Lincoln's words...can't trick him!

 Going to find some apples!

 Such a good helper!

 Walking with Granpda Schut in the orchard.

 Climbing the tree...right before fear set in (a first I think)! :)

 Grandma ,on the other hand, did not have fear.

 Fun day with my boy!

 Apples, carmel, and a Mt. Dew...mmm :)

Lincoln and his cousin Braxxton at Red Mango for birthday dessert later that night.  Lincoln bouncing off the walls and Braxxton sleeping so nice...hmm.

August Recap

All (as in 3) my posts this summer seem to have been "recaps" but this is my last one...promise.  Summer got away from me too quickly and we have been super busy.  Hopefully with school starting things will slow down a bit and I will try REAL hard to update more often :)

August consisted mostly of the Iowa State Fair and enjoying the last bits of summer!  We had a great few days at the fair again this year, and enjoyed much milder temps than last year!  Lincoln stayed busy the whole time and crashed each day on the way back to the hotel.  His favorite by far was the birthing barn and the big slide he got to ride with daddy.  In the birthing barn Lincoln made many animal friends and even saw a new litter of pigs being born!

August also marked the beginning of school for me...my FINAL YEAR!!  The first entire week of class we did a one week clincial to brushen up before jumping back into classes.  I got to do mine at Orange City Area Hospital PT department.  I LOVED it!  They have such an awesome facility and great staff.  I learned so much and hope to get back there for one of my "long-term" clinicals in the spring.  Soon after that, classes started and I am trying to get back into the swing of things.  It will be another busy semester, but my final one of classroom classes...thank goodness!

Here is our month in pictures (mostly of the fair):

 One exhausted little guy

 Coloring in the birthing barn

 Brand new litter of pigs

 We spent a LOT of time with this calf

 Picking out an animal with Katie after climbing the rope ladder

 Lincoln and 2nd cousin Katie

 Getting bigger!

"Riding" his horse :)

 The big slide...he was already saying "again" before he was done

 Clifford was a hit!

 "Bahh..."

 Checking out Jacob's pig

 Hanging out in the pig barn

Biggest pumpkin!

 I loved my free days to go up and see Amber and Braxxton!  I love being an aunt!

 Lincoln finally had the patience and desire to hold his "friend" Braxxton :)  Here he's showing Braxxton how to buzz his lips.

 Getting ready for Lincoln's first real tube ride at the lake...enjoying our last weekend there for the summer!

He was not scared at all, in fact Aunt Andee was the one who had to slow down :)