A Thanksgiving program to remember

Today was Kara's Thanksgiving program at school.  For weeks her class has been working on making scarecrow hats, decorations and snacks, and learning the songs and poems that they would perform for their audience.

About 3 days ago, Kara mentioned that she didn't want to wear the hat she made.

About 2 days ago, Kara mentioned that she didn't want to go up on the stage.

Yesterday, Kara mentioned that she didn't want to sing OR smile.

Last night, we had a heart-to-heart at bedtime.  I told her how mommy goes to each and every show at school, so very excited to see her little girl perform.  I sit in the audience each time, just waiting to get a peek at my baby, and hoping that she'll participate in her show.  Mommy assured Kara that there was no need to worry about performing in front of a big crowd, because each and every mommy and daddy would only be watching their special little girl or boy.

So today came, and off to school we went.  Kara was in a pleasant mood when I dropped her off, and she willingly put on her little hat and posed for a class photo.  So far, so good!

I took my seat in the auditorium with high hopes, but low expectations.  Enter the two classes, with about 30 preschoolers.  Child-by-child, they climbed up on to the stage wearing their darling little scarecrow hats and darling little smiles.  I held my breath as Kara entered the room.  She walked right up to the stage!  She took her place!  She smiled and waved at me!

And the performance just got better and better from there.  Not only did she smile throughout, but she sang and did all of the actions ... she recited the poems, and kept waving to her mommy and Jack in the audience.  She even gave us several "thumbs up" signs, and signed "I love you".

Never have I been so proud.  My baby girl did it!  Kara was in her first school program, without any complaints, resistance or tears.  It was truly a Thanksgiving program to remember!

Goodbye school, hello summer!

It's hard to believe, but another school year has come to an end!

Just a couple of weeks ago Kara finished her first year of preschool.  They marked the last day with a fun day of activities for students and families.

We're so pleased with how far Kara has come this year, and how much she has grown and learned.  We can hardly wait for the next school year to begin!

Then this week it was time for Jenna to say goodbye to kindergarten, and all of her fabulous friends and teachers.  What a great year!

Hard to believe that it's over.  Seems like just yesterday mommy was nervously sending her baby off to school on the bus.  Now's she's officially a first grader!

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 : )