Corn-Bellies, Apple picking, Cider making, weekend!

Wow, we celebrated fall in a big way this weekend! We were busy, busy, busy, running to and fro to squeeze it all in. Friday Bailey had a Halloween costume party at her cousin's house, Me and the boys picked apples at my brother's house to get ready for cider making, and we met Kelly for Corn-Bellies down at Thanksgiving Point! Corn-Bellies was hands down the funnest pumpkin patch experience thus far! It had a great corn maze, bouncing "pillows", a huge slide area, spook cave, princess dress up area, foot long corn dogs, hot cocoa, pumpkins to buy etc. etc.... After our busy day, I got up at the crack of dawn to drive up to Ogden with the kids to make cider at my sister's house! So let me give you the cider history. It all started with a cider press purchased in the 50's by my grandfather. Since I was walking we have been making cider with this press. It was stored at my uncle's house (who lived over the hill from us) and so every fall, we'd pick apples from the orchards on the ranch and go make a gazillion gallons of this lovely juice. It is messy, sticky, cold "fun" but the result is so worth all the work! We freeze it and then slush it up with Ginger ale for a special Sunday meal! This was just part of my life growing up in the country. Well, my dad asked for the press when they moved to Utah and the family handed it over. We are now graced with this fine machine and still pumping out loads of cider every year! To make it even more worth our while, my sister Erika makes the most delectable pumpkin cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa for everyone! My mom brought homemade fruit Kuchens too! This was a wonderful fall celebration! All the men worked the press while the women sorted and washed the apples. The boys helped haul away the pressed apple remains in wheel barrows. Oh how I love working with my family, how I love each of them and how splendid a season to gather with them!