Cider Hill Family Orchard.

Yesterday I went to another local cider mill with some students from school. And just like my first trip two weeks ago, it poured. When I told the teacher who planned the trip about my bad luck, she said, "I probably shouldn't have invited you!"

Seriously. We are in desperate need of rain. Just not on trips to the apple orchard!

The students who went to the orchard are in our lifeskills class at school, and I personally think their teacher is a saint because she plans for their instructional needs almost all day. They are also some of the nicest kids in our school, and they loved everything about the orchard. We learned about apples, went on a hayride and everybody picked about 6-8 apples. It started pouring while we were on the hayride, but there was nothing we could do but laugh. A forty degree temperature drop and rain wasn't going to stop the fun with this group!

I took some great pictures of them on the hayride (after it was done pouring rain!) for their classroom. I mean, after the rain had sort of subsided. 

One of the things I miss most about the classroom is field trips. I know, I'm nuts. But, I was super excited to spend time with the students out-of-school today and also to check out Cider Hill Family Orchard. Here are some reasons why you should check it out.

• It's in Wyandotte County and the DOTTE IS HOT.
• The owner is a K-Stater, KCK alum and so super nice.
• You can pick apples! Your own apples!
• They have 15 different varieties of apples and really tasty cider. 
• Picking apples is family friendly.
• Apples are the best fruit ever.

You might want to wait until next year because it's near the end of the season, but our tour guide did mention she made 50 caramel apples for this weekend if you stop by. I've heard from a couple other friends that the experience with kids was wonderful, so that's a vote of confidence for you as well.

As for our students, they had a blast but the fun isn't done. Next week they are making apple chips and applesauce. I plan to stop by their room while they're cooking and to see some of my new middle school friends.