Around this time every year, a buzz goes round with several of our friends.

Apple Picking Time.

Having never been myself, I could only listen and wonder what all the excitement was about.

Drive two hours to pick apples? Really? Can't I just go to Harris Teeter?

But this year...several other people in our family heard the buzz too.

Add to that some fresh apple doughnuts that were personally delivered by some very special friends...

and it was decided...we must see for ourselves about this apple picking thing.

My children acted like pros...having read blogs, seen pictures, and heard from their friends.

They knew we needed buckets and wagons. A must, they insisted.

Unfortunately, they were too big to ride along.

But the little ones were all too willing to oblige.

Then it was off to the orchards for the best-est, yummiest, juiciest apples around!

Uncle Jeremy opted to come along...and quickly offered to do the grunt work of the day.

Pulling the wagon with empty buckets is not a problem.

Pulling the wagon with twenty-five pounds of apples...a little bit of a challenge!

Jackson offered to be our taste-tester.

Mutsu?

Yes.

Golden Delicious?

Yes.

Cortland?

Yes.

Anymore?

Hailey was content to be with anyone that would supply her with more apples.

She spent the ENTIRE day with a half-eaten apple in hand...and sticky, apple juice soaking her shirt! :-)

But that made for one very happy toddler!

  

The older kids were super excited about finding the "perfect" apple.

Some were high up in the trees...others were "shaken" down...and there were a few ready and waiting right under our feet!

Of course, the true apple picking "expert" knew that a little hard work was necessary!

With delicious apple pie in mind...Jason went "hunting" for some Granny Smith apples. 

Picking apples was definitely the highlight...but with bees buzzing, hands sticky, and arms aching...

these kids were soon enough DONE! 

It was on to the petting zoo...

where a happy reception of excited animals awaited us...

or maybe...just the food we held in our hands!!

Then off to the bamboo forest...

...and then the playground!

But if we are really honest...

the best part about the entire day...

was the apple doughnuts!!!

In higher altitudes, with a hard-working day under your belt, and a cool breeze in your hair...

these suckers absolutely melt in your  mouth!!!

So the Jimenez family has joined the buzz.

Apple picking is an added activity to our fall traditions. 

As well as homemade apple bread, applesauce, apple crisp, apple pie, apple butter, etc....

About two months ago, I made a decision that I would end up regretting.

Two of our graduated students were engaged to be married and their wedding day was fast approaching.

I wanted to spend some time with the bride-to-be and encourage her, counsel her and pray over her.

It was my brilliant idea to take a sunrise hike that ultimately led to some hefty consequences.

Upon arriving at the state park, we realized that it did not officially open until later in the day.

So...I threw caution to the wind...found a grassy parking spot...and interpreted the "closed" sign to mean what I want.

The park rangers waiting for me by my car did not agree with my interpretation and 

left me a very significant fine.

So, last week found me here...at the Gaston County Courthouse.

Thankfully, I escaped the fine with a "sentence" of community service hours

 (which I happily served at church!).

But through it all...I was able to *humbly* teach my kids some very thoughtful lessons.

(It helped that the courthouse was situated right by the jailhouse...we talked a lot about how one poor choice...in the wrong situation...could have major ramifications!)

We are all making choices every moment of our lives.

These choices have consequences.

Some affect only you...and some affect those closest around you.

While others still...affect a multitude of people.

We talked about the choices that are affecting our lives today...directly and indirectly.

The choices that are made by ourselves.

The choices made by our family.

The choices made by our country.

And ultimately, the choice of our Savior.

It was a learning opportunity...

After the courthouse, we went to the "scene of the crime" and spent 

the rest of the day at Crowders Mountain!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day for exploring!!!

The older kids found bugs, leaves, webs, etc to keep them chatting the entire walk.

Hailey found it much more interesting to go "off trail" and...

put EVERYTHING into her mouth!!!

We took a "leisurely" pace and after about the fourth or fifth "tasting" experience I gave up on her learning anything from it.

We disrupted whatever fish were idly lazing about with our tromping through the woods...

but throwing rocks into the water and "pretend" fishing was much more fun.

The walk back was not nearly as exciting...and most everyone was quite worn out.

This was how we ended the "hike"...with muddy pants, dirty hands and faces, and weary little bodies.

A fun day full of learning and exploring come to an end.