Zoo city

A few days before we sent out kindergartner off on the school bus, we headed out for a family fun day, the four of us, which hasn't happened a lot this summer...away from the farm, that is. The sun came out (finally), temps warmed up and we headed to the local zoo for the afternoon. The Jersey kids LOVED it, continue to talk 'bout it and we enjoyed spending time as a family! Awe, wish we had more days like these. Full smiles, pure giggles and precious times that go too quickly.



Goats always make the Jersey kids smile and laugh.

..as do the monkeys! They watched 'em forever and ever and we had to stop on our way out, to see them one more time! Tyler was memorized.

...both Jersey kids were. Probably b/c they are part monkey! Wait, part Jersey, that's right.

Brother & Sister duo summer '09

Tyler & Cassie have had a blast hanging out together this summer. From swimming at the local Y together, showing their summer calves and walking them together, to

riding bikes, playing farmers with ol' John Deere tractors to coloring. The siblings just have got along...well for the most part...this summer. Which really has warmed my heart and made for an enjoyable summer.

Illinois State Fair '09

After a busy summer full of WORK, it was nice to have a day of pure enjoyment at the Illinois State Fair. Maybe it does get easier with age, the Jersey kids were very well behaved and had bunches of fun reuniting with ol' friends--as we did--and playin' like it was there backyard. LOVE it!

Tyler & Cassie wait in line for another game at the state fair.

Ty & his ol' buddy Lane, who has lost a few teeth since we saw him last!

The Jersey trio head for a wagon ride in the dairy barns!

Tyler breaks to help Brian milk the cows, which by the way, were told to be his highlight! Well, other than seeing Lane and enjoying ice-cream, but "it stacked right up to the top of my favorite things about the fair," he happily reported!

Cassie...fashionably cute, as always!

...with her buddy, a family friend, Miss. Megan at the state fair!

Doctor, Doctor

Cassie n' art

Cassie is enjoying pre-school and loves art! Today, she came home with a "triangle hat" and wore it the rest of the day. LOVE her excitement for school and art. Warms my heart!

LOVE the brown eyes, round cheeks, but could do away with her pouty lip that she thinks will make me 'cave in'. Okay, I have been known to cave in occasionally with that look!

Farm Girl '09

Cassie Ann is a girly girl, yes, she loves to dress up and is always fashionably cute, but she can get dirty too! She loves to help out at the farm and as long as she has her milk boots on, this Jersey mama doesn't care if her clothes get dirty. She and the clothes wash-up just fine! Of course, the hired help love her and her daddy, well she has got him wrapped around his lil' finger! He adores and adores her wanting to help out!

Cassie & Scott look at the Jersey heifers while they eat their grain!

Oh the life of a Jersey woman!

Cassie LOVE to help out with the baby calves!

Swim Team '09

The Jersey kids have been quite the swimmers this summer! From continuous swim lessons that they "beg to take" to their love of swim goggles that always put a smile on my face...the pair have been inseparable. There backstroke is pretty impressive! Too bad the Midwest weather has kept their swimming indoors and their tans, well, they left when the hot days left in June!

...and she's off to pre-school

How is it possible that my daughter is old enough for pre-school? I don't know where the time went because to us she has and will always be the baby...but she is all grown-up and headed off to pre-school this morning.

It's been cute! Tyler has talked to her all summer about how fun pre-school is, what the classroom rules are and what fun activities and learning exercises are done. They would sit in each other bedrooms talking forever about it. Too cute!

Tyler wanted to help send her off. :) I had a pretty dress picked out, but she insisted that she was old enough to pick her own outfit out, and picked out shorts and a tank-top. Its summer after all. At least her socks matched; she is notoriously known for her love of mis-matched socks!
Cassie immediately met many friends. All the older girls wanted to take care of her, held her hands and I was old they were inseparable all morning long. Holding hands, giggling, playing babies together and they helped her with writing her name. Cassie is in heaven! She loves to be doted on!

Okay, I'll admit it! I shed a few tears. How could I not? Its my baby girl after all. She gave me a love and a kiss and waved good-bye and I know she is in great hands, but I'll miss my girl! Its tough watchin' 'em grow-up! It happens too quickly.

County Fair Time

The Jersey kids showed their Jersey calves at the Rock Island County Fair and it just made me beam as a proud mother. I don’t know if I can even capture it in words how proud I am. Just watching Tyler hone his showmanship skills after hours of practices this summer and the ray of self esteem that he exemplified today, just made my heart swell!

When the judge asked how old he was, he said five and when he asked how old his calf was, December, just like my daddy. I nearly tear'ed up! Tyler loved every minute of today—getting his animal ready, showing, the ribbon, helping pass out ribbons later on and helping his dad and uncle Brian show in the championship round.

Cassie enjoyed getting prettied up; I mean which girl doesn’t? Showing was fun, as long as daddy helped and passing the ribbons was fun for a bit, but making friends and boyfriends was what the fair was all about, for her.