Elements for the perfect birthday.
1. Gorgeous weather making it perfect for picking our own organic apples at Rodale Farm.
2. An afternoon game of tennis with my dad.
3. Back home to enjoy Chinese food, open presents, and eat cake.
4. The celebration continued the next day with a completely spontaneous and FUN road trip to Lewisburg to stomp around campus at my alma mater (Bucknell University). I gave the girls a quick tour and then we spent the rest of the afternoon at a massive playground.
5. Coming home to many birthday wishes from friends, family, and YOU! I am feeling very blessed. Thank you!
More frugal crafty goodness coming up!
September 14th, 2009 on 10:46 pm
Dear Valerie,
I am glad that you enjoyed your birthday. What are we going to do with all of these apples? I understand that they are nature's little brooms, but I can only eat so many of them before succumbing to digestive problems.
Love Mark
September 15th, 2009 on 12:36 am
Happy Birthday! Mine was just last Wednesday, Indian food that I didn't have to cook was my treat
We are sensetive to the apples in this house. Four year old has been heard to say to three year old "slow down with the apple juice, or your butt will explode!"
September 15th, 2009 on 12:39 am
Happy Birthday to you!!
May God bless you
September 15th, 2009 on 5:08 am
Happy Birthday!
September 15th, 2009 on 5:17 am
Oh Mark!
Happy Birthday Valerie! I'm glad you enjoyed your day.
September 15th, 2009 on 5:50 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
September 15th, 2009 on 7:50 am
Happy (belated) Birthday Valerie. Sounds like a relaxing and fun birthday.
So… what are you gonna make? Apple pie? Apple stamps? Apple cake? Apple Crumble?
Can't wait to see.
September 15th, 2009 on 8:01 am
Christy,
The picture doesn't show everything. That was the smaller basket that Emily was filling up and emptying into a bushel basket.
Mark
September 15th, 2009 on 8:15 am
Hope you had an awesome day. I have learned that after I had kids my bithdays are more fun for them then me. They love to help make my day great. Looks like yours did too.
September 15th, 2009 on 8:41 am
Sounds like a wonderful day, and those look like some beautiful apples!
September 15th, 2009 on 9:26 am
Happy Birthday Valerie! It looks like you had a great one!
September 15th, 2009 on 9:40 am
Happy Birthday!!! I am glad you had such a fun time!
September 15th, 2009 on 10:06 am
Happy BIRTHDAY. I love picking fruit fresh from the tree. So much fun!!
September 15th, 2009 on 10:28 am
Happy birthday Valerie!!
September 15th, 2009 on 11:31 am
Happy belated birthday! Sounds like a wonderful day. I do love this time of year.
September 15th, 2009 on 11:48 am
Happy Birthday!!! Looks like you had a great time
September 15th, 2009 on 12:17 pm
hope you had a great birthday.
September 15th, 2009 on 12:39 pm
Happy Birthday! It looks like a fabulous time!
September 15th, 2009 on 12:55 pm
Glad you had a great birthday. We went apple picking this past weekend — ended up with way too many apples. I've made applesauce and applesauce bread. Must say that homemade applesauce makes the best bread ever!
September 15th, 2009 on 2:20 pm
Happy Birthday!
September 15th, 2009 on 3:24 pm
Happy Birthday to you indeed!! What a lovely day.
September 15th, 2009 on 4:18 pm
So sweet! You have a loving family! Happy Birthday and many more to come!
September 15th, 2009 on 4:43 pm
Happy Birthday, Valerie. Love your blog so much! Thanks for all the great ideas.
September 15th, 2009 on 6:58 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I am so glad you had a beautiful day.
I was surprized to see such a simple cake come from Mark though. No Wallee cake for you huh? He's slipping. 
Happy birthday love.
Val
September 15th, 2009 on 10:05 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
September 16th, 2009 on 12:17 am
Dear Val in the Rose Garden,
I typically make cakes only for the girls. I would make them for Val, but she doesn't really eat them. Her cake this year came from her parents, who purchased it from a local farmer's market.
Mark
September 16th, 2009 on 6:56 am
Happy Birthday! I have always wanted to pick apples at Rodale Farms. How much per lb are the apples?
September 16th, 2009 on 8:31 pm
@ Cindy — They are $15.00 for a 1/2 bushel or $1.49 per pound. They have fabulous apples this year. Have fun!!
September 16th, 2009 on 11:20 pm
Dear Valerie,
I paid for the apples. They were $15 for a full bushel.
Love,
Mark
September 17th, 2009 on 2:37 pm
Happy birthday!! Looks like a wonderful way to spend a birthday. =D