a little festival of cheese

Only in Wisconsin do you have a whole festival for cheese (except maybe in France, but I have a feeling that a French cheese festival would be slightly different than a Wisconsin cheese festival)!  A few weeks ago, we headed to a nearby city to do some cheese tasting, pet some animals, and go on a few rides.  It was a gorgeous day and we all had a blast.  I love these quaint summer festivals!

 We all got to try about 15 different kinds of cheese, and most of them were really good.  The problem was, by the time I sat down with my plate of cheese samples, I couldn't remember what most of them were.

One of the main events was a cheese curd eating contest

 Kade and Ky raced milking this "cow."  They both did really well!

 They had an awesome petting zoo with lots of animals to pet, pick up, and take a picture with:

goats,

chickens

a tortoise,

ducks,

bunnies,

and this adorable cow!  Can you believe how small it is?  So cute!

 We let the boys pick a few rides, and they loooooved this dragon roller coaster, as you can plainly see!

Oh, and so brave with the hands in the air, too!

Hooray for festivals, and hooray for cheese!!

krew goes to utah!

Last month, the baby and I took a quick trip to Utah to visit my family and attend a dear friend's wedding.  I was a bit nervous about leaving the other two boys home, figuring that they would be jealous that Krew and I got to go to grandma's house without them, but Bart kept them busy with a very fun guys' weekend, and they hardly missed us at all. 

One of my "must-do" activities every time I am in Utah, is a meal at Cafe Rio.  I can't tell you how excited I got as a stood in line waiting for this baby.  And it tasted as good as I imagined it would. 

Krew was laughing like crazy at some video on my dad's phone.  So cute!

Krew and uncle Jonathan

Another priority while I was there, was visiting all my grandparents, and introducing them to Krew.  I love this picture of Krew with my dad, and his dad. 

I swear I have a picture almost just like this of my dad with Kade, from 6 years ago.  Crazy!

My grandma Marian, Krew and me. 

Great Grandpa had Krew laughing...

...then Krew had Great Grandpa laughing.  Precious!

And a beautiful picture of my grandma Shirlee with Krew and me.  It was so nice being able to visit with my grandparents.  It always brings back so many memories from my childhood!

THE reason I went when I did: being at the temple to witness the marriage of my good friend from college.  Kortney has been like a sister to me, and even though the past 9 years have taken us in different directions, and different places, whenever we see each other, we end up laughing and reminiscing.  I am so glad I was able to be at her wedding. 

And look-she's gorgeous!!

Kortney and me.  As I was leaving her reception, we got to talking about "the good old days" and laughing so hard we were in tears.  I was so lucky to have her for a roommate (especially considering some of the other roommates we had-yikes!)  Love her!

Okay, and aren't these pictures with uncle Andrew the best!  My whole family just ate Krew up, and couldn't get enough.  It was so much fun to be able to share my baby with my family.    I just wish I had a picture of him with my mom and my sister-in-law Katherine.  I do not know how we missed that!  Next time for sure.

congraduation

The middle of May we went to Madison to celebrate the graduation of Dr. Bret Miller (Bart's brother) from vet school.  We were able to spend three days there, celebrating, playing, and saying goodbye. 

Just chillin' in the hotel

Had to go to Dotty's again...yum!

My boys and their cousins

Snuggling with Grandpa when the graduation got too long

 Bart with his brother, the graduate.  These two have such a fun, unique, crazy relationship, and it makes me sad that they don't get to live near each other any more.

 And it breaks my heart that these three don't get to grow up together.  But what a cute Cooper sandwich!

 After the graduation, Charise and I took the kids to the zoo.  It was too hot for most of the animals to be out, so we didn't get to see much, but the kids had fun anyway.

 Sunday after church, Krew and I had to say goodbye for real, since they moved away while we were in Utah.  All I could think was that these past 4 years went by too fast, and that maybe someday we will get to live close to one another again.  Don't forget the plan, Charise!  We miss you guys already!!!

seven!

I just have to say that I think my seven month old baby is the cutest ever!  (Except maybe for the other two seven month olds I've had!)  He is such a good, sweet, happy baby!  He brings so much happiness and joy to our whole family, and I feel lucky every day that I get to be his mom!  I mean, look at that face!  How could I look at that face every day and feel anything but pure joy?

 Of all my monthly photo shoots with Krew, I'd have to say that this one was the most challenging.  He likes to go, go, go, so sitting (and especially laying) still was not what he had in mind.  I got lots of pictures of him rolling over and attempting to crawl off the edge of the bed.  But despite his inability to stay very still, I think I managed to snap a few cute photos!

 For the past month or so, he's been army crawling, and over the past week or two he has become very quick.  He is now in the getting-into-everything-but-I'm-a-very-happy-baby-because-I-can-get-what-I-want-and-entertain-myself stage.  It's funny the things he finds to play with that keep his attention the longest.  And why, when there are lots of toys all over the floor, does he find the one thing he's not supposed to have?

Love the curled toes in this one!