Apples Apples EVERYWHERE!

So far this summer Southern AB has gotten at least 2 really good hail storms. The last of which knocked quite a few apples off my in-laws apple tree and did some damage to the ones that still managed to hang on in the tree. They offered up the apples if we came and got them. I was a little hesitant because I have my own apple tree that's just about ready to pick. Then I figured eh why not. So we went out to pick and clean up the yard!

Lindsey and Brad and their kids came as well. They took all the really bad apples home to feed to their pigs! Lindsey and I loaded some up in boxes to take to my house to make into jam and applesauce and whatever else we could think of.

 We had to stop by their house after the apples and show Sean and Max the pigs and horse. Lindsey tells me they'll have a "funny farm" one day with all the random animals they will get.

Sean and Max were completely enthralled with the animals. Dan even showed Sean how to feed the horse apples and Max watched Kolton in how to throw the apples to the pigs. Once we convinced the boys to leave the animals they ran around the yard for over an hour or so while us "grown-ups" got to visit.

It was one of those perfect summer nights! The kids were playing so well so we just left them alone and let them play. The babies were content to just sit on our laps and Lindsey and I got to chat and so did Dan and Brad. Gotta watch the sun set. It was just a perfect way to end an evening.

After our quick weekend trip to Beauvais Lindsey and I got together and started our Apple mess. Once we got the juicer going we realized we had a ton of apples. So she found a recipe for apple pie filling. We're going to make more of that next time!

We were pretty skilled working our canning magic and somehow managing to take care of 5 kids. #momwin!
The only time, without fail, they all managed to need or want us was when we had to pour and put apple jam in the jars. we made three batches of the jam and EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. All 5 kids needed us. It was chaotic. And then of course as we were done and could help them they were all fine and didn't want us. It's no wonder kids drive us to the point of insanity.

It was a good day! A LONG day and a lot of hard work but so worth it!