Three Kids and a Dog: Apple Picking 2022

It was another fun year and beautiful day at Crane Orchards in Fennville, Michigan. We were able to escape our crazy sports routine for exactly 36 hours to squeeze in some traditional family fun. This year, we decided on picking Jonagold and Cameo apples for eating, and Northern Spy for baking our annual apple pie.

Crane Orchards 2022

Austen had fun juggling (hands and feet) the apples (only the bruised ones from the ground) while Hailey opted for Tom's shoulders to get the best pick (that's probably the last year for that). We got our steps in between the three different varietals before dragging our wagon-load of apples back to the checkout and hurrying along to try out our luck at this year's corn maze. We made it halfway through before a disagreement on which way to go happened between the boys and the girls so we decided to split up and make it a race back to the finish line. Girls lost but I'm not convinced the boys cheated by skipping some of the sign post markers. All in all, it was still fun although we were a lot slower this year in finding the markers. You'd think we'd get better at it each year!

After the corn maze, we did venture over to the restaurant for some fresh apple cider and donuts which the kids and Tom look forward to each year! They were already halfway done with each before I even had any!

We ended the evening with a dinner out at one of our favorite places in Kalamazoo, and to burn a few more calories in addition to the corn maze and apple picking, we took Sadie on a hike that was just beautiful with the autumn leaves. Sadie loved it too; hiking at a good clip for 1.5 miles and leading the way the entire time just excited to be outside in nature in a new place. It was so great to see her feeling so good and it seems it was just what she needed.

It was a quick jaunt away that we needed too. It was nice to squeeze in some time for our annual family traditions, and I think we were all glad we did. Even Austen, who got to drive on the way home and avoid the turkeys that were crossing the road!