A Dairy Good Time

We spent this weekend w/ my brother, his wife and their four kids at their home in Indiana. They live in a small, farming community just South of Chicago, about 2 1/2 hours from Grand Rapids. We haven't been to their home since BEFORE we had Emma so it was about time we paid them a visit.

On the way down, we stopped in Shipshewana to pick up an Amish rocking chair that we had made for Emma, for her Birthday. We chose an extra dark stain so it took a while longer than normal, but it was well worth it as we think it is beautiful and Emma seems to love sitting in it and rocking while reading her books.

On Saturday, we went to a place called Fair Oaks Farms. It's a massive (2800 head of cattle!), modern dairy farm nicely situated between Chicago and Indianapolis, just off highway 65. Aside from being a hugely successful, full-time dairy farm, Fair Oaks Farms added many entertainment elements just for visitors. Some of the highlights of our day included the 3-D movie, the timed milking machine (where my husband proclaimed himself the all-time fastest milker and I won't go into the details as to why...), the bus tour, a walking tour, the glass-walled birthing amphitheater (for the cows), and last but not least a stop at the homemade ice cream and cheese store where I consumed the most delicious cookies-n-cream ice cream you can imagine...with Emma's help of course.

On a side note, we also bought some cheddar cheese curds and they are an absolutely divine little morsel, perfect for snacking!!

So, if you're ever in the area, I highly recommend that you and your family stop at Fair Oaks Farms for some educational entertainment.

I gotta run...I have to remove from the oven 3 pans of freshly baked bread that my husband decided to whip together while I was out and about today! What a man...