Summer is (unofficially) here!

Question:  Does summer officially begin on June 21st, or on the first day that you can throw a blanket on the lawn, kick off your shoes, and eat a picnic lunch?

My vote is for the latter.

Welcome summer!  Oh, how we've missed you!

M-O-M-M-Y needs C-O-F-F-E-E

Although it hardly seems significant enough to take a photograph of, let alone blog about it, I assure you that it is.  Not only did this happen to me this morning ...

... but it's AT LEAST the third time that it has happened this month.

Ropp Jersey Cheese Farm

Today was Kara's final field trip of the year.  Jack and I joined her and her class as they visited Ropp Jersey Cheese Farm.  As far as I know, it is the only farm in Central Illinois that raises its own cows and then produces, packages, and sells their own cheese.

We had a tour of the farm and met some Jersey calves and cows.
We watched the cows get milked (but chose not to participate in that ourselves).

We took a hayrack ride around the farm,

climbed on the hay bales,

picked some flowers,

and had story time in the barn.

We also posed patiently as mommy took our pictures.

The highlight of the trip however, was Tom.  Tom is a "big fat turkey" that lives on the farm.  He comes up and greets visitors, and then proceeds to follow the group around as they tour the farm.  Wherever we went, Tom followed along.  Much to the delight (or dismay) of the children.

It was our first time there, but it certainly won't be our last.  Especially after mommy bought lots and lots of homemade cheese to take home.  Yum!  While fresh cheese might have been easy to come by when we lived in Wisconsin, this is the best we have found around here so far!  Can't wait to come back in the fall for another visit, and to visit the neighbor's pumpkin farm : )

Tooth Fairy

Dear Tooth Fairy,

My name is Jenna and I'm 6 years old.  I have some real exciting news ... 

Can you guess?  Can you see it?

How about now?

Would it help if I did this?

Right!  You guessed it!  I lost my first tooth.  See?  Right there on the bottom!

I wrote you a nice letter, drew you a lovely picture, and placed my beloved tooth in a fancy little box.

I really hope that you'll come by tonight.  The tooth will be under my pillow.

Love,

Jenna

Frugal Family Tip #1

Frugal Family Tip #1:

Why pay someone to cut your hair ...

... when it can be so fun to cut your own at home?