Como Zoo Boo and our Evey Bug-aroo!

We are fully in the throngs of fall and autumn weather.  The leaves have all changed and many have fallen to the earth.  The days are becoming shorter and there is a crispness in the air - a subtle signal of the change of seasons.

Little Lady Bug!

Our activities on the weekend take full advantage of the outdoor harvest activities!

This weekend we visited Como Zoo for their annual fundraiser Zoo Boo!  It was the perfect atmosphere for Evelyn to trick-or-treat; all the volunteers were dressed as various animals and there were cute and clever scenes set up throughout the zoo grounds.  I think that Alice in Wonderland's Tea party was the most interactive and a big hit with Evey.  She fell in love with butterfly and flower scene and kept climbing the little fence to run up and touch the flowers!  Oh, what a little rebel!

We had the debut of Evey-lou the lady bug-aroo!  She cooperated with wearing her costume and was enthralled by all the other kids in costumes too!  A strawberry blow pop was by far her favorite candy (the only candy we let her have).  We even ran in to our friends from ECFE - Thalia the buzzing bee!  Quelle chance!

I would recommend Como Zoo Boo to people, especially with younger children.  Though there were people of all ages, I think 2-6 years old is the perfect age for the awe and activities.

Tips, tricks and notes to others:

• Purchase tickets ahead of time - the lines are long to get in; 
• Either Park and Ride the shuttle or plan to park a ways a way and walk;
• Come early when it opens - we spent close to 90 minutes at Zoo Boo and had a great time!
• The food vendors are all open during Zoo Boo - you can grab a snack or dinner; some of the treats handed out suffice for nourishment 
• Attend the event and bring your friends!  It's a great fundraiser for the Como Zoo!!!

Playground Play!

Little Miss is having a grand time exploring her physical capabilities - balancing, bouncing, jumping, climbing and somersaults!  At the Afton Apple Orchard playground, she found this bridge and played her own version of Billy Goats Gruff... you cannot pass the bridge... bounce, bounce,  bounce!  At the park near our house, she is able to climb the steps, run from one end of the play set to another, crawl through a tunnel, up a ladder and finally maneuver her way down the spiral slide!  

It's amazing to see how she has been pushing her physical limitations and challenging herself!

The Zoo: Fall edition

Today was the perfect day to go to the Minnesota Zoo!  The weather was beautiful - sunny with a little chill to the air.  Evey and her cousin Eli had a blast together!  


We saw animals from the Russian Grizzly Coast - the grizzly bear and sea otter were favorites, Aquarium animals and farm animals!  While Evelyn was afraid to get close to the goats, Eli was very inquisitive and ventured right up to the goats.


They did a great job sharing with each other and mimicked each other's movements - whether by pushing the strollers, chomping on french fries or running down a leaf laden path.

Eli ~ 35 Months

Evey ~ 22 Months

Apples!

At some  point, I'd better blog about the farm and our adventures at the Sullivan's Old Ollie Aumberg Orchard and Apple Cider Fest!

  Two weekends ago, the family all went up to the farm in Northern Wisconsin (Grandma and Grandpa's farm) to pick apples and press cider.  This is what keeps us healthy all season long!  There's nothing quite as wonderful as a cold glass of freshly pressed cider on a crisp September day

First we make our way into the apple orchard - riding in the red wagon behind the old tractor.  The trees are laden with apples - ready for the picking!  Look how rosy and sweet those apples look!  Hope these one's aren't out of my reach!

I get to wear one of the apple picking bags and use an apple picker to reach way up high while standing on the ground.  Evelyn is my little helper by hand transferring each apple into my bag.  

Sometimes, though, she finds it more amusing to throw the apples on the ground... until she tastes her first apple!  All it takes is one bite for her to be in apple heaven!  Over the next three days, she asks for "Ap-pull" at every opportunity and still asks for "Ap-pull Juice" at every meal.  

Grandpa reaches way up high, while on a ladder.  He's quite a pro at picking the right tree near the far eastern edge of the orchard.  It's very zen. Before long, he'll pick a few bushels of apples that need transporting back to the tractor.  

Meanwhile, Evelyn is content lounging on another ladder, eating her third apple of the day.  Eventually, she feels compelled to climb the ladder.  It's a good thing Auntie Leen was there to help her!

 

Antique Apple Orchard; variety unknown

Just imagine ~ it takes one bushel of apples to press into one gallon of Apple Cider! Here's Evelyn helping to carry a bushel basket of (a few) apples!

 Here comes the juice ~ keep filling up the gallon jugs!  It was especially tasty to sneak a glass under the apple press for an extra fresh glass of Cider!  All in all, I think we pressed about 24 gallons of Cider and still had plenty of bushels of apples to send home with everyone!  Apple pie, apple crisp, apple sauce... Oh how tasty you are!!

100 % Organic Apple Cider