Apple Orchard Fun

We have a very busy fall lined up, but we have so many fun fall activities we want to do that when we had a free Saturday on September 3rd, we decided to take advantage of it and get fall going with some fun at the apple orchard.  It was definitely earlier than our usual visits to the apple orchard, but they were already picking some great apples, so we went for it!  We tried out a different orchard this year (Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard) and enjoyed the great apples we got!  

When we arrived, the kids were pretty excited that there were 3 different big tractors in 3 different colors for the 3 of them to climb on.

 The bouncing tractor seat was a hit for Trevor.

We got our picking bag on the lodge and got to taste the different kinds of apples they were picking that day. When we were checking out, a gentleman manning the register next to ours said that people come from all over the Twin Cities for the Chestnut Crab Apples. We asked about them and learned that they were small sweet crisp apples perfect for a snack for the kids (or a couple of them for me!).  We tried them and loved them!  After we chose our apples and got our bag, we got on the big trailer to go out to the orchard.  It was a beautiful ride through the woods and orchard trees.

We were all looking into the sun, so the kids were all squinting, but we had to get Mommy into at least one photo!

Then we got off and picked some Cortland apples, then filled the rest of the bag with Chestnut Crabs. 

 I don't know what he was laughing at, but Trevor found something hilarious!

 Cutie photo with Daddy!

 Apple treats in the lodge afterward. Yum!

Afterward, we stopped by Minnesota's Largest Candy Store, since we drove right by it going to the orchard.  We got some yummy candy and an apple pie and headed home.

The next day, we enjoyed the season opener for Notre Dame Football by piling the grandbabies on Grandpa in his recliner chair to watch the game!

As an update on my issues with my arm I mentioned in the last post, I was able to get off the narcotic medication for the arm/shoulder pain by that weekend and was back to work the next week.  I had an EMG (electromyogram) on my arm muscles/nerves on Tuesday, September 6 to see where the problem is.  The problem was localized to the C6 nerve root in my neck (despite the normal neck MRI), but we still have no idea why this happened.  The neurologist said I could increase the dose of medication in the evening since overnight is when the pain is the worst.  The pain has gradually gotten a little better, though it is still pretty painful at times.  I had 3 weeks of having to sit up in bed to sleep due to the pain being worse lying down, but just in the last 2 days, I have been able to lie down to sleep! The weakness seems like it is increasing a little bit lately, but the pain is very slowly improving.  I am starting physical therapy on the 20th, so hopefully that will restore some strength and function to my left arm.  It has been difficult having my dominant arm be so weak!