1) FIRST do all of the easy words
2) THEN go back and try the "difficult" words. The easy words give you useful letters. This will help you find some of those difficult words.
An interactive version of today's puzzle is posted here (http://crossword.info/CuteTeacherGR/Butterfly_Crossword). Try it out!
If you prefer, there is a static version right below:
Across
1 It's on your shoulders (4) - 4 Spaces between things (4) - 7 Meat from a pig's leg (3) - 9 It covers [1 Across] (3) - 10 Mother (2) - 12 (men & women) go on ~ (= go out together) (5) - 14 A short form of LOL (2) - 15 A short form of "Employee Related Expense" (3) - 17 We use it for cooking: frying ~ (3) - 18 We use it to play baseball: the ~ hits the ball (3) - 19 Short form of trinitrotoluene (used to make bombs) (3) - 21 Help for people who are hurt is "first ~" (3) - 22 American money (7) - 23 Five and five (3) - 24 Uses water to clean a dirty floor (3) - 26 Like a table to sleep on (3) - 27 And other things (3) - 29 To say "yes" with your head. Sleepy people do this, too. (3) - 31 Used to cut trees (another spelling of "axe") (2) - 32 This person makes walls. Also a family name: Mr. ~ (5) - 34 "Hello" = "How do you ~?" (2) - 35 ~s like to catch mice (3) - 36 Short form of "Benjamin" (3) - 38 Don't open that ~! (4) - 39 Make an animal stop being afraid of you (4).