Apple Picking

Yesterday we had the quintessential fall experience: apple picking!  Every year I get this yearning, and this year was no different.  Even in Iowa and Missouri, I had to find orchards to fulfill my craving.  This year we were here in MN and the choices were abundant.  We chose to go to Minnetonka Orchards. It was a great place, maybe too many bees, but that's a little hard to control, seeing how you need bees in the first place to make the apples.

Last year my family went by ourselves, but this year we were lucky enough to go with my sister and my two good friends.  It made it much more enjoyable for the kids and also tired us out quite well.  I know my kids slept well. 

I brought my camera with and got a ton of good pictures. Man these kids are photogenic.  It makes my job easy.  I tried to pare them down to a reasonable level for this blog.  If it is still too much, well sorry about that.

 For book recommendations, I have a list going on in my phone. When ever I hear the same things from two different people, that book goes to the top of my list. This just happened and I'm glad it did.

One of my friends was reading The Artist's Way by something Cameron and then when I was talking to another friend they mentioned there was the same book for kids.  I don't know where I heard it, but somewhere someone said the secret of happiness is creativity.  I think that is true.  Well, then, I should probably strive to be more creative for me and for my kids.

I think with raising kids, it is hard to narrow down what to focus on.  We can make sure they are working hard on their academics, or sports, or manners, or music, or free play, or many many other things.  I find myself overwhelmed.  I, of course, want to give all the tools necessary for my kids to become successful adults, but life is short on time and energy.

If I think creativity is so important and it can make people happy, then why don't I read this book?  Well, I have started and I am quite impressed.  So impressed, Aaron and I will strive to make this semester all about creativity.  Henry is excited about what is to come. He loves creating and crafting.  Franny will go along with anything as long as it appears we are all having fun.

I've only read the preface and the first chapter, but I have the jist of what to do.  To teach creativity to your own child, you have to start with yourself.  That makes sense.  The author referred to putting on your own oxygen mask in a plane before you put one on your kids. To fully do this, she wants the adults to write in a journal every morning for three pages. It has to be long hand and it has to be only for your eyes.  This way the intention is only for you. 

 The next step is to have creative adventures with your kids once a week. It can be small things like a craft at home, or more intentional like an art museum.  I really like the thought of this. I have already brainstormed about 30 or so activities for my family.

 The first of these was apple picking.  While I was there, I was paying attention to an open agenda and letting my kids decide a lot of the choices.  The clearing my mind of a concrete plan on how to tackle the apple orchard,  it made me able to enjoy more of the details and the individual qualities of everyone. I like having a plan and I need to remember that it is okay not to have one.

 I also bought the kids some blank journal where they can summarize the adventures with words or pictures.  They are not here yet, but I hope to use them for the next adventure.

 The last step of The Artist's Way is checking in with your kid and recapping the day. What went well, not so well, what was fun, etc.  It helps the kids learn to communicate and I think its good for bonding.  We kind of do this anyway during dinner, although Henry is pretty mum, even with open ended questions.

 To be honest, I think I'm going to start with 2/3.  Right now, I am going to focus on the latter two parts. I am exercising in the morning sometimes and I don't want to take that away.  Exercising clears my mind and prepares me for the day, so in a way, they are kind of the same, right?

 So for our next adventures, we have a couple things planned.  My friend told me she was going to bake an apple pie on the first day of fall (next Wednesday).  Henry thought that was a great idea, so we will be doing it too, all together.

 Then sometime next week, we will go to the aquarium. Besides seeing all the cool fish, our goal will be to try to find fish all the colors of the rainbow and maybe sketch them in our adventure book if it comes in time. 

 Off the top of my head, the other things we might do is: playground expresss, zoo, cookie challenge,  Minneapolis instute of art, sculpture garden, nature walk with leaf collections, and make play-doh.

 I like the thought about thinking what the kids would enjoy and what I would and trying to squeeze it in during the week.  Aaron is also for this, but as of right now I am spear heading it.

 Oh, speaking of Aaron, he could not come to pick apples because he had his final 1860's rule baseball game.  It was perfect weather and he played well.  I'm glad Aaron could find some baseball nerds like himself.  Minneapolis is a big city, you just have to hunt to find people. 

 I think Aaron plans on playing next year too. We only went to one game of his during the season. Hopefully we can go to more next year.  Maybe we need some period outfits too...hmmmm.

 For Halloween I have already agreed to sew costumes for Henry and Franny.  I suppose I could add in some old timey clothes as well.  That is, if I ever get down to the sewing machine.

 Well, I did it, I managed to write words between every picture.  Hope you enjoyed our first adventure!