Book farmers

While summer is winding down, we're still finding good excuses to get outside and eek out the last remains of the nice weather. Last weekend was action packed with a trip to a couple of local family farms during the Skagit Festival of Farms. Though there were about 20 to choose from, we settled on 2 with plenty o kid friendly adventures.

First up was Hedlin Farms in LaConner - complete with a paint it-wheel it-race it-win it - squash/cucumber/gourd car track. Evie loved decorating her squash car. Arun wanted to slide down the ramp.

Squash cars from James Bradbury on Vimeo.

Next were the pony rides where Arun kept "neighing" at the waiting ponies. I think he was trying to convince them to run a little faster when it was his turn. He paved the way for his big sis by first riding "Blaze" while his friend Gracie rode "Kermit."


Evie enjoyed her ride too.


Jen stayed far away from those anaphylactic inducing equine wonders but managed to wrestle our wild horses into the flowers for a nice picture.


At Sakuma Brothers Berry Farm, the kids tasted a variety of sweet, fresh berries and had limited success piloting the airplanes, tractors and cars.



The next day we threw caution to the wind and skipped the nap after church to drive to Redmond (near Seattle) to a special book event with MO WILLEMS, author of about a million children's book (Elephant and Piggie, Knuffle Bunny, etc.) We joined a hundred or so parents and kids on the floor of a Border's Books to hear him read a couple of his new books and answer questions.


Jen got a bunch of books signed and we got a shot with MO.


In one of his books, the knuffle bunny ends up traveling all over the world and goes to China. Here's Evie with said Knuffle Bunny in China (kind of...)



Whether it's supporting local farmers or award-winning authors, we're pretty sure that as long as there are cute, stuffed animals and things with wheels involved, our kids will be first in line. Unless of course there's an ice cream line...

Jimmy