A New Fall Family Tradition at Sky Top Orchard

Our first annual fall apple picking trip did not disappoint. Sky Top Orchard is nestled just above Flat Rock, North Carolina. The property is HUGE and so are the crowds, but we managed to sneak in right at opening. When we left, the cars were parked and in line for over a mile away from the entrance. We were glad to wake up a little early instead of sitting for hours with a 2 year old!

Here is a little glimpse into a tradition I hope to continue in the years to come! I forgot to photograph the BEST two parts of our apple adventure… the apple cider donuts and the apple cannon!!

Sky Top’s donuts are the most delicious donuts I’ve ever tasted and I have been dreaming about them ever since! I love anything with cinnamon sugar, so of course I had to try a few - or a dozen. Our other favorite part of the day was the apple cannon. It is new this year and I got a few photos on my phone, but didn’t get out the big camera because was a popular attraction with a lot of people around. We got a basket of 20 apples to shoot out of the cannon, and I was the only one out of the three of us to hit a target and earn an extra apple to shoot. Girl power!

We are into traditions that we can share with Evan, and this is one fall experience that I’d love to repeat next year. There is so much to do at the orchard, which makes Sky Top a perfect day trip with a toddler. What a fun way to kick off fall!

Three Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day with a Toddler | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

Toddlers make all of the littlest holidays so much fun! If you’re at a loss for how to celebrate upcoming Valentine’s Day with your little one, I have a few ideas!

Crafts are always fun. Kids love scissors, glue, paint, stickers, and sparkles, of course! Depending on the level of messiness, I mean independence, you can do anything from assisting your child with turning their hand or prints into heart-shaped Valentines to putting some of their favorite treats in goody bags with personalized labels. For example, ‘You are the apple of my eye’ or ‘Orange you glad we are friends?’ Valentine’s Day treats don’t always have to be candy!

If crafts aren’t your thing (you can find the cutest store-bought Valentines at Target, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby these days), you can still celebrate Valentine’s Day by doing some fun activities around the house. One thing you can do is create a list of people (friends and family) and have your toddler say one thing they love about each person and then write it on the list. The answers are typically both heartwarming and hilarious.

Personalized gifts are my favorite because it gives you a memento to look back on as your children grow. Creating valentines with your child’s face and a little ode to their personality is always a great option. In South End Charlotte, there is a Confetti Hearts Wall mural created to enhance the beauty of Charlotte and to create more joy. Who doesn’t want to spread love, joy, and kindness during Valentine’s Day? You can head over and take a peek at some of my previous Valentine’s Day sessions! I’ll be sharing the ones from this year soon!

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day activities to do with toddlers?

Evan is ONE | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Just like that, our baby boy is one!

The progress over these last 12 months is amazing! Our sweet baby boy came into this world a little small for his gestational age, but he plumped up. He’s meeting all of his developmental milestones, talking, walking, and doing so many fun things. We are having fun with him and can’t wait to see what the rest of our time with him holds.

When I was trying to come up with ideas of monthly photos, I honestly had a lot of options in mind. Too many to choose from! I settled on these three because I liked the crib view, but I also wanted us to be a part of the photos too. You know, to show his size compared to ours. Some months we were a little behind, but looking at all of these together is just amazing! It also makes me a little sad to see how fast he’s growing.

Now, I need to come up with an idea of yearly photos that we can maintain but also show his growth. What have you done for annual photos of your baby? Share your ideas with me in the comments below!

My Valentine | Charlotte Newborn Photographer | Charlotte Family Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography | Charlotte, North Carolina

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wishing you a day full of hugs, kisses, and happiness with your Valentine!

Happy Halloween | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Happy Halloween from Krista Gantt Photography

(and Evan!)

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