We didn't think it would be busy since it is not quite apple season yet, but they were picking already and there was a walk for MS or something going on so it was packed. We still managed to get a table and enjoy their delicious brunch buffet. Then we decided to pick just a few apples since Luke has never had that experience. We usually pick somewhere else because Apple Holler overcharges but we figured we'd pay a few bucks extra for a small bag just to get some cute shots of Luke. You know it is all about the pictures. I was sad to see how commercial Apple Holler has gotten over the years. Their apples have always cost more but now you have to pay $12 per person just to go out in the orchard and pick, and then pay for apples on top of that. Who is crazy enough to do that? Yeah, not us!
So we headed over to the playground. Pony rides, go carts and bounce houses have always required tickets but it used to be free to get into the playground. Not anymore. Now it is $2 a person. Lame, but we paid it since we were there. We were going to opt out of anything that required additional tickets so we headed to the big tube slide only to find it now costs $1 per slide. We grabbed 3 tickets per kid which got them a few minutes in the bounce house and one turn down the slide. Apple Holler lost much of it's former magic for me that day, but oh well, the kids had fun.
I am still not used to my camera. It is supposed to be a point and shoot but it tries to do too much and all I really want it to do is point and shoot. Do they still make those cameras? Anyway, these are mostly bad and overexposed.
Horrible slide pics, but for a dollar a ride I am including them anyway.
While we were at Apple Holler we noticed that it was HOT. We were sweaty and the air was still and sticky, way over the 73 degrees that was forecast. We decided it was a beach day after all and headed home to suit up. I decided to take them to North Beach because it has been our favorite this year. The water is clean and shallow and cold but not numbing cold. So instead of going to the beach down the street we made the 30 minute drive and when we got there they were kicking everyone out of the water. There were emergency boats, vehicles and eventually helicopters surrounding the pier. Everyone on the beach had a a different story to tell about what happened. Why do people embellish so much just to sound in the know? We heard 5 kids were missing, then heard they found 3, then were told they could see one kid trapped under the pier and one was still missing. Even though we didn't know all the specifics there was clearly something very wrong. We felt sick. Of course we didn't really want to be there playing while someone's whole world was falling apart so we were torn about staying or going. We didn't want to scare the kids either so we let them just play in the sand near the water for a while. Our hot and still day had turned very windy so we didn't stay long. We then headed over to the park at the beach to play, all while watching helicopters overhead. It really was an eerie sinking feeling to be on the beach that day and I don't think any of the adults were able to shake it and find any enjoyment. The kids had fun but I did explain to them what was going on on the way home. When we got home we went online and watched the news to get the real story. Three little boys went swimming unsupervised. They had told their brother in law (whom they were staying with for the weekend) that they were walking down to the fountains by the park, not to the lake. The wind created an undertow and they were pulled out to the rocks. Two clung to the rocks and were pulled from the water, where they explained that one of their friends was still in the water somewhere. They searched for him for days in choppy waters, with no success. I have followed the updates daily and on the first day of school, after the search crews had ended their search, a boater found this 10 year old boy's body. My heart is broken for his family. I always feel guilty when I am reminded that even in my best moments, with family in town and laughter filling the air, someone is always going through their greatest nightmare and my heart breaks with them. And of course it also reminds me to be grateful and to enjoy those perfect moments when you have them. So while we did go on to enjoy the trip and relish the time together, none of us forgot the little boy who was lost that day or his family who was left behind. They continue to be in our prayers.
Of course I didn't have the camera out much, nor did I feel like trying to get the perfect shot but here is what there is...
You can see how windy it was
4 comments:
Alyssa was telling me about that in primary on sunday. So scary.
I am sad to hear about Apple Holler. We haven't been in a while either and I had no idea that they had started charging for everything. It used to be a go to place for us when we wanted to go somewhere cheap and cute.
Your family sounds like so much fun.
Ugh...so sad and scary!! Have your kids asked you about it since that day? I bet Alyssa will always remember that beach trip.
Oh my gosh. That is so sad. It really is an awful feeling when you become brutally aware that those things are happening. We all know they occur, but sometimes it just hits so close to home. Things can change so quickly, and it really is a reminder to be thankful for everyday we have.
What a bummer about the Apple Picking. I alway hate when they do stuff like that. Our price has gone up at a few of our favorite places, and now we hardly ever go. :-/
It's always a sobering thing to realize. You verbalized it well. I would have felt exactly the same. It brings back memories of when my uncle drowned in Yuba Lake and we'd be down there while they searched for his body and others were out having a great time. Life is so so fickle. I guess we just need to cherish our good times to hold onto during the bad.
(One note: generally you can just go into the same program you view your photos in and adjust the color intensity and/or brightness a little one way or the other and get rid of the "over exposed." That's one of the great things about digital. Takes some experimenting but before long you'll be a pro. Looks like you're already doing it to turn them into monotone. I think the pictures look terrific!)
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