Emma Krumbie's - Our Annual Visit

I think it's safe to say,

That fall visits to Emma Krumbee's have now become a Gust Family Tradition.



We went in 2008.

And we went in 2009.

And we visited last year in 2010 ~

So 2011...
Officially a tradition!

A tradition that almost wasn't...
Because the 6 going on 16 year old wasn't quite feeling it on this particular morning...

Never mind that it was 86 degrees...
In October...in the morning...

She wanted to wear her flannel nightgown - and as you know, I don't really care if she wears pj's out in public - be it running a 5k/1 mile fun run, or a Sunday morning TweetUp at the local Corn Maze...

There really are bigger things to worry about in life than if your kid is wearing pj's in public.

And so...I bring you our Emma Krumbee 2011 visit!

I love love love looking back at the photos of the kids in the same places over the years!
When I look back, my heart just overflows with love...it seems like so long ago they were so small, yet...
just last week too - why is that?

D wanted to play photographer - and asked us to pose just like the scarecrow!

How could we not?

The barrel ride really was fun - though you'd never ever know it would you by the looks on their faces! HA HA!

Every year, Emma Krumbee's does a Scarecrow Festival - I love seeing what the contestants have come up with - as there are lots of pumpkins that reflect the 'times' -

Like Repunzel!

And this tribute to the Twin Towers for the 10 year anniversary of that fateful day known as 9-11

There was so much intricate detail in this one...

And this picture...taken because I love love love to compare! Lookit my baby girl!

You say tomato, I say tomato...

I say dress, she says nightgown...

eh...

Doesn't hinder the tractor driving...

We don't buy our punkins here...but we love to wander the patch all the same -

I'm not sure there's any better way to spend a glorious fall day than at one of the local orchards ~

And while not Christmas Card worthy necessarily - still, my babies - in the same picture -

growing up right before our eyes!

(And as their sign language would tell you - 7 & 5? um, no!

Try 5 & 4...or technically, 6 and 4 days...and almost 5...

oh how I love these kids ~

they make my life worth living ~

Another visit to Emma Krumbee's in the books...

And the icing on the cake - or, caramel on the apple in this case -

You can't hardly drive out here without making a stop at Minnesota's Largest Candy Store!

BONUS FUN!

Emma Krumbee's...Friday Fun!

WOW!
What an October!!

Record high temps, sunshine, no rain, more importantly...NO SNOW!


We took full advantage of the glorious weather to visit one of our favorite fall places...

Oh how we LOOVE visiting Emma Krumbee's -


It has become a family tradition for us each fall -

Our 2008 visit is blogged HERE and HERE
And our 2009 visit can be found by clicking HERE


The hubs took a rare Friday off and joined us...

(He and his princess with the Cinderella Scarecrow!)
And some of the other Scarecrows for their annual Scarecrow contest were pretty impressive this year as well!

Cat in the Hat & Thing 1 & Thing 2!

Some dear friends met us out at Emma Krumbee's and the boys jumped right in with Buzz & Woody!

We love how much there is to do once you are inside the door - even if the John Deere trikes are getting a bit run down...(Poor kids - the seats kept sliding all the way down the back to the ground!!)

I'm not sure what was so funny - but they sure had a great time together!!

We wandered around the pumpkin patch -

Where just like last year, one of the true highlights was the lady bug friends...

And then wandered back to the 'main land' via the Apple Orchard...Most of the good apples were already picked off of the trees -

But D did find one worthy of eating...

And then we ventured in for some more yummy treats...

Ah. Life is so sweet...Especially with the sun is shining and great friends to share it with...

(The ever elusive photo of everyone looking at me and giving me a decent smile! HA!)

Do you have an annual Pumpkin Patch/Apple Orchard Tradition?

Where do you go???

$#%^&@! Weather!

We've had some really wonky weather here in Minnesota - some very glorious - unseasonably warm days...and then stretches of days where it doesn't stop raining for days on end...
And then the wind comes up...and blows your patio furniture to the neighbors house...

And then you sit down at your dinner table and look out across your lawn to see this...







I didn't cry - but I wanted too! Our kids don't eat much fruit - but they LOOOVE apples off of our very own apple tree - as does our dog, as seen here!
This year over last year out tree doubled if not tripled in size...the apples were plentiful and delicious...
We sprayed it this year and have been learning how to take care of it...

::CRY::

Oh well...Our neighbor lobbed off the broken stuff - we now have 'half of an apple tree' and are going to see what next spring brings us...

And now...what's YOUR favorite recipe using delicious ripe home grown apples?