Wisconsin

Ken and I just returned from a marvelous week in Wisconsin with the Mackrorys. We arrived late on Wednesday night. We flew into Milwaukee and rented a car, which I unaffectionately dubbed "The Red Tin Can" because of it's lack of comfort and features. We got a motel that night, then went to Kristen's the next morning. It was so fun to see the Mackrorys! We had a fun day, jumping right in by visiting a cheese factory and sampling Wisconsin cheese. Friday, we went to 1000 Island Conservatory and went on a nature walk. We then went to High Cliffs State Park. On the way there, Nathan threw up, so that's why he's wearing no shirt. We just cleaned him up and went anyway. He was fine after that. In the afternoon, we went home and packed up, picked up Jared at work (internship with Kimberly-Clark or "Klimberly Clark" as Brielle says it) and drove to Door County- a peninsula in Lake Michigan. The drive up was gorgeous. We now know where all that cheese and butter comes from- dairy farm after dairy farm, many of them displaying the "Land of Lakes" logo. We rented a condo up there and had a great time. Friday evening we ate at the famous PC Junction Cafe where a Choo Choo train brings your food. The kids loved it and the rainbow ice cream cone after. Saturday, Jared and Ken went for a bike ride in the national park while Kristen, the kids and I shopped the FUN shops in Fish Creek. That evening, we attended a "Fish Boil"- a local custom. A huge pot boils potatoes, onions and fresh white fish. At the end, the fish boiler guy pours deisel fuel on the fire to make the pot boil over, boiling out the fish oils. They then serve it to you. It is delicious! Especially Nathan, our budding pyro, was fascinated with the fire. After the huge burst, I asked him "What happened?" So, the next day, he got the pamphlet advertising the fish boil with the picture of the fire and said over and over, "What happened?" "Hot!"- reliving the experience. After the fish boil, we went to Sunset Beach, a little beach where many gather each night to watch the sunset over Lake Michigan. It was beautiful. Sunday, we attended church at a tiny branch in Sturgeon Bay. It was fun to be in a small church. The branch president spoke in church and taught the combined RS/ Priesthood meeting. The Primary was in one room, YW/YM in another. After church, we picnicked in a lakeside park. I rated it a 9 because it was a little cold and because behind us in the picture where we ate is a sheer drop-off cliff- not real safe for little ones! We then drove to the Sturgeon Bay lighthouse, then back to Kristen and Jared's. It was about a two hour drive. Monday, we shopped in Osh Kosh. We shopped Osh Kosh B'Gosh in Osh Kosh. I had to buy clothes for all three grandkids there, just to say we had! Ken was a trooper, both Saturday afternoon and Monday, shopping with us- never complaining, tending the kids. I bought Brielle some summer pj's, letting her pick which ones. When I presented the cupcake jammies to her, after buying them, she excitedly exclaimed, "So, so fun!" That evening, we made our Wisconsin recipes from Kristen's Wisconsin cookbook. They were all delicious. Then we had a very fun FHE where Brielle conducted the meeting and led the singing. She LOVES leading the singing and surprising you on when she's going to start. Somehow, this FHE turned into a birthday celebration for me, and Jared and Kristen presented me with an electronic picture frame. "So,so fun!" We had brownies and ice cream and played fun kid games. Each night, after kids were in bed, the adults played All. At the first of the week, the men won each night, but starting in Door County, Kristen and I cleaned up. The men creamed us once in there, but otherwise we won every time. "So, so fun!" Ken got up early on Tuesday and spent several hours at a conservatory- adding two life listers and seeing many other birds. He was thrilled. The highlight of the day for me was watching Nathan dance and sing with a Baby Einstein video "E-I-E-I-O!" "Moo moo here and a moo moo there!" He is so cute. We sadly had to leave that evening and drive back to Milwaukee and stay in a motel to catch our 7am Wed flight out. On the way to Milwaukee, Ken had to prove to me that the Red Tin Can did have some skills: We're driving along in the Wisconsin countryside, when all of a sudden, The Red Tin Can started beeping. "Dangerously Low Fuel!" We'd forgotten to fill up. So, we checked with Thomas (our GPS) and he led us 7 miles off the freeway to a little town where we barely made it to get some fuel. It was a beautiful detour through farmland, which we would have enjoyed a whole lot more if we hadn't been worried about fuel. We had a wonderful time in Wisconsin and SO appreciate all Lu and Jar did to make it so, so fun!!!