Last year was the first time we’d been able to attend the maple syrup festival at Hartman Reserve, and it was such a great time that when the weather prevented us from going to see family in Wisconsin that weekend, we decided to go back!

This time we made sure to take the camera!

Waiting in line for pancakes can be dreadfully long…but here it seems to go by quickly!

Ev with his new best friend the turtle.

Ellie – with her new best friend?? I for one am hoping she doesn’t think we need one of these at home. I think that’s what Ev thought too. I couldn’t get him to go near it.

“Catching” our breakfast is always a highlight of the day. He helped Ev out a little…but on the second round, Ellie stepped right up and caught hers!

Creepy picture – I think he’s probably thinking “mom…stop taking my picture so I can eat my pancakes!”

After breakfast, we ventured outside to practice tapping the trees…and to try our hand at collecting sap to boil down for next year’s syrup. Despite the chilly temps, Ellie was quite into the whole process this year. Ev? I think he was running through the woods at this point. Part of me thinks I should have just let him go.

But the highlight of their day…probably the bus ride to and from the Reserve. My poor children, who live a block from their school, only get to ride the bus on special occasions…and they are thrilled beyond belief when they do.