Up North for Apples

Last weekend we put off the yard work, the house cleaning, the Saturday soccer game, nap time on Sunday, and other things that we need to get done before the snow falls...and we went Up North to enjoy this...

I capitalize Up North because growing up we drove north to a cottage once a year and it is still my favorite time of year.  However, I married a man who was from the REAL "Up North of Wisconsin" and he laughs when I talk about our cottage being Up North.  But it is...and always will be.  But Up North is significant enough to get the capital letters. 

The air changes when you hit a certain point in Wisconsin.  The roads are two lane and you flinch each time you pass a car.  You pray that a deer or bear doesn't decide to cross your path.  And the trees that line the roads are breathtaking...especially this time of year. 

So last weekend we travelled north for the annual Apple Fest weekend.  A weekend full of yummy treats, festive music, friends, trees at their peak colors, cooler temps, hot cider, apples, apples, and more apples.  We haven't been able to make it up for years.  So I was determined to enjoy all the food this year.  No holding back. 

We sampled REAL Wisconsin cheese curds, Island noodles, a gyro, hot cider, apple pie sundae, and more.  We wandered the streets that were packed with people (they say 50,000 people come to town for this fest and Ed didn't believe it.  But when he saw this...I think he did).

During our Apple Fest adventure we enjoyed apple picking with our cousin Morgan.  We always treasure seeing Uncle Mike and Becca.  And we had Grandma Charlie at our side all day long. 

We parked at Aunt Becca's family's apple orchard and took a school bus shuttle to the fest.  Both boys were thrilled to get to ride on the bus!

During our weekend with Grandma we wandered the woods and enjoyed poking in mysterious holes.  The boys are going to enjoy those woods more and more as they get older.  Both Ed and I grew up playing in "the woods" and we love that they get this chance at Grandmas.

Grandpa also took us out to "the Garden" and let their Sylvia put on a show for us.  The boys enjoyed watching her run full speed in such a wide open space!

When the weekend is done the boys (and Ed and I) are always sad to leave this place.  I mean, look at the scenery this time of year.  Up North is beautiful.  I'm just sayin'.