Vernal Equinox

The first day of spring!  I could not think of a better way to spend it than out in the fresh air, enjoying the open space and seeing new baby farm animals.  A trek out to Fairfax County's Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, VA was definitely in order.

Kidwell Farm, a depression era working farm, is the main attraction at the 107-acre park (and if you know me, you would know that anything from the turn of the century through the depression era makes me giddy with excitement.)  Here, you can visit the animals, take a wagon ride, and watch the farm hands at work.

We've been here before with the older kids, but this was Evan's first visit and also his very first time seeing farm animals.  We've been reading Margaret Wise Brown's Big Red Barn at bedtime since he was a baby, so it was so much fun seeing the farm setting, the red barn, and all of the animals come to life for him.  The kids had a blast running around, exploring the historic buildings (Skyler and Chase were especially intrigued by the outhouse) and getting up close and personal with the animals.

What a lovely day it was, feeling like we had escaped to the faraway countryside, when in actuality we were in the suburbs of Fairfax County.  And while it definitely was not warm (temperatures were only in the 40's), there was a qualitative difference in the air today.  The smell, the texture, the flow of the air all said spring is here.  And yes, I'm ready...bring it on, baby.  Bring it on!

It was quite a trek (almost an hour drive), and all
three kiddos were asleep by the time we got there.

 

 

Chase was rather shocked/intrigued by
the sow nursing her ravenous piglets.
Look at the nipples, Mom!
So huge!  Humongous and so many!

Cute sleeping piglets. 

More piglets...I couldn't get enough of them!

 

Skyler was making pig-noises and
the daddy pig (boar? hog?) responded with like-noises. 

 

Skyler loved the horse, of course.

 

Scoping out depression era machinery.

 

 

Evan loved the tractors and trucks (basically anything
with wheels) on the premises. 

He also enjoyed seeing all the birds in the air.
Kack kack!  Kack kack!

Fresh air + running around=ravenous kids. 

Live acoustic jam at the country store.   

Old-fashioned candy sticks...took me back
to the days of getting treats at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour.