A new tradition?

So many families haul the crew out to Commercialized Pumpkin Land each fall that new roadshave actually been paved to accommodate the traffic. I can not stand CPL. I have been there several times with children of varying ages and groups of varying sizes. I never have fun.

BUT I do love traditions and I can totally understand the allure of going to this seasonal activity because it is, tradition. When you have a family of 7 and two teacher salaries CPL doesn't fit the budget. SO I went in search of a place that might fit the bill for my brood. And I found Dittmar's Orchard. My English teaching buddy helped me to find them. Turns out that her and her whole extended clan have been going to Dittmars each fall for years.

So last Saturday I announced to the fam that we would all be taking the afternoon to travel to an orchard in Council Bluffs and we would be having a good time. So there. I am not called The Management for nothing.

We packed lunches and kiddos in the Pilot and picked up acting teacher child #1 and headed North West. #3 announced that it seemed like a long drive for apples. #2 announced that she had a lot to do in her life. Thing one and two announced a variety of things from their position in the way back. No one paid attention to them.

We arrived at the orchard and found about 4 cars in the lot. #1's spirits brightened; she hates CPL as well. The whole crew headed in to the little store (the front half of a pole shed building). The smell of fresh baked goods was over powering. I paid $12.00 for the whole crew to ride a tractor, get pumpkins, pick apples and play on the playground. YES, that same amount would have gotten one of us to CPL. I was so happy I wrote a second check for 6 apple cider donuts. HOLY COW. These were so amazing that we would purchase another dozen before the trip was over.

We played on the big playground while waiting for the tractor and wagon to come get us. Mr. Man could hardly contain his excitement.

We boarded the wagon and it drove us to the top of a hill decorated with row upon row of apple trees. The driver said we would have to go down the other side of the hill and work pretty hard to find apples. We were up for the challenge. Before it was over 3 of the 6 of us ended up in the trees and we had 12 pounds of apples. The tractor man was very impressed.

Next stop the pumpkin patch. A for real patch, waist high prairie grass and random nuisance trees sprawled across the hill and in their midst, pumpkins. Really big ones. We hunted and dug our way through until we had amassed a pile of 6 giant pumpkins.

The only problem with the whole experience was that we now had 6 giant pumpkins, 12 pounds of apples, 2 toddlers and one strapping 6 year old for the three adult figures to get on to the tractor, down the hill, in to the store, purchased and loaded in the car. We divided to conquer. #1 took all 3 small folks back to the playground and #2 and I made several trips from a picnic table in to the store and then out to the car. Whew.

More cider donuts, 2 fried apple pies and a jug of cider later we loaded 6 slightly dirty, pretty tired Beckers back in to the car. The twins ate a PBandJ and promptly fell asleep. The 3 girls sang and chatted all the way home.

Upon entering the house 3 hours later #1 turned to me and said, "Hey that was actually fun. I mean seriously, I enjoyed myself. Thanks."

High praise from a teenager. I think that makes this a tradition.