Apple Orchard

The apple orchard is a jaunt from our house. I dress, feed, pack and successfully load all 4 children into the van and head out. I am feeling awesome. Sure, it took almost two full hours and more than one of us crying at a time, but that did not matter. We were on our way. I only had to stop once to adjust bottles and hand out capri sun, and before long we arrived at the Apple Orchard. I glance back in the rearview mirror to find the toddler asleep. Not going to stop me. I unpack the crew and with a bounce in my step I head off towards the general store to get our apple picking buckets only to see my toddler who did have two shoes on when we walked out of the house, is now standing in the gravel driveway with one shoe and a naked foot. Sigh. A CSI worthy search of the van turned up nothing. Decision time. Do I call it a loss, load everyone up and head home? Maybe I can find a store that sells shoes? Nah. I am no quitter. I throw a sock on his bare foot and call it good enough. Once again we bound towards the store, pick up our buckets and hit the orchard.

Great family fun was had and I agree to visit the petting zoo area when I discover my son needs a diaper change. The bag is in the car, naturally. Which is about 25 feet from where we are taking pics on the benches. I run to the car and back just in time to see my son wander into the store. I grab the other 3 and the chase is on. I corner him by the windows and he notices there are over two dozen bees swarming by the window. Before I can stop him he scoops up a handful and holds them out to me proudly saying "Bee" which quickly turns in to screams that would stop your heart cold. Of course he was stung not just once, but twice on his fingertips. I rush him towards the teenage worker that has a line at her register, and I call over the howlish cry, asking for a first aid kit. Well, this stumps her, and thankfully there is another worker that grabs one and helps us out.

During the chaos, both babies are crying and my oldest has her hands over her ears to drown out reality. We hasten to the car and while I am fighting him with his seatbelt I see his arm has swollen up to his elbow. Super. Thank goodness I travel with benedryl and we are safely headed home with apples and memories for a lifetime.

I let out a sigh of relief as we make the last turn homeward and my oldest catches my eye in the mirror and safely states, " I told him to stay by me on the bench. He didnt listen. He had to run away and get in trouble. Now I dont get to see the animals." Later that day I posted a pic entitled in over my head on facebook. If you look, you will see the one shoe on and one sock that sums up our day.