A Fall Tradition (Community Spotlight: Stone's Apple Barn)

Sam and Daddy on the hayrack

Two years ago, we went to Stone's Apple Farm for the first time.  Sam had just turned 2, and Cooper was a baby.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we walked up and down the rows of apple trees for hours...how had we not found this place before??  We took so many pictures of our boys with us and with their grandparents.  It was such a great day.
So, of course, last year we went again.  And yet another beautiful day...a little hot, but still wonderful. The boys were a little older, and enjoyed running around in the open air. Unfortunately, we weren't aware that we were there on the very LAST day of picking!  There were hardly any apples on the trees at all, which was obviously disappointing.  But, we still had fun..we walked to the VERY end of the orchard searching for apples, and I'll admit we had to break the rules a few times and climb the trees to get any good ones.  Oops!


Nora's first time at the orchard! Riding with Mommy

And this weekend we made our third appearance at Stone's. I can't believe this is our third time already! Although I'd better believe it, since we did have another little person with us this year...baby Nora! I don't know how we did it, but we managed to get there on a beautiful day three years in a row.  Perfect weather, and a good time with our family and friends.  We love it so much, we have more people with us each time we go!  This time we had four carloads...next year we may have to rent the hayrack ride all for ourselves!



Sam sampling the apples

It truly is a great place to take the family, and to enjoy a day in the outdoors.  You can literally spend the entire morning walking (or hayrack riding) through the rows of trees, searching for the best apples and sampling along the way...
However, my favorite part about Stone's is that it has become a new family tradition for us.  I love seeing how our kids have grown every time we go, and I love that they will have happy memories of going there with so many people who love them. And, it's always good to have something to look forward to when the long, lazy days of summer come to an end...

Cooper sword fighting the apple tree...

If you'd like to hear more about Stone's, and even enter a chance to win a great giveaway from their Apple Barn, please read my good friend Marie's post today on the Quad City Moms Blog, entitled
Apples, Apples, Apples!.  She also includes some great apple recipes...I better choose a couple to make, since my kitchen is covered in apples!

*Find Stone's Apple Barn at www.stonesapplebarn.com