Wisconsin!

We try to go every year to Wisconsin to visit our Mackrory family.  We usually go in August, but this year we decided to go in May.  

We had a warm welcome from Audrey.

That evening was a big night for Jacob.  He crossed over in a cub scout advancement.  I don't know all the details.  He walked over a bridge and got an kerchief and it was a big deal- and he was very happy!

Kristen had to speak in stake conference training meeting on Saturday afternoon, and hadn't had a lot of time to prepare for that.  So Friday morning, Ken and I took Audrey and Samuel to the park to play so she could have some time alone to work on her talk.  It was a perfect, beautiful day in Wisconsin.

On the way to the park, this little girl was giving Grandpa instructions on how to get there.  He didn't turn where she thought he should.  She was so frustrated and said, "Ok, fine!"  Somehow, we made it there!

Two of Kristen's best friends: Rachel and Whitni were at the park having a play date with their little ones.  It was just coincidence that we chose the same park.  We love these dear women and are so grateful for their friendship to Kristen.

That evening, was the kids' piano recital

Jacob

Brielle

Nathan-  I was blown away with the feeling Nathan put into his piece.

Saturday
Kristen was speaking in the stake training meeting.  It was the first time sister leaders were invited to this meeting (church-wide) and she was the only sister speaker.  We were so blessed to get to go and hear her.  Brielle tended the kids at home.  Before we left, they were all gathered around the phone, singing a song they all knew.  It was so cute.

Jared and Kristen, before going into the meeting where she spoke.  She gave such a beautiful talk on ministering.  I have since used a couple of the stories she told in a lesson I gave to my Mia Maids.

That morning we had done our grocery shopping, so we had our car full of groceries, many of which needed refrigeration.  So we left after Kristen's talk and went up to Door county to "Little Sweden," a condo complex we had rented for the week.  This is the pool there.  It is so beautiful in Door County and we love Little Sweden.

Our condo for the week.

I didn't get pictures, but the next day we went to church up there and spent the day in and around the condo.

Monday evening we went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant that got great reviews on Yelp, but wasn't that great.  pretty setting, though.

Tuesday morning, we went to the White Gull Inn to have the best breakfast in America- Cherry stuffed French Toast.  For future reference, we decided we need to order one order and one 1/2 order with bacon and split it.  Two full orders was too much.

Later that day, Kristen, Brielle, Audrey, and Sammy came to spend a few days.  We went to our favorite place that night- a gourmet pizza place.  It was so good!

Dancing fun in the condo.  These two have a special bond.

Cuddles

We watched this delightful movie- a couple of times!  I fell in love with it!

We had fun shopping.  There are so many cute, little shops in Door County.

We ate at the Chef's Table- delicious food.

The view from our back deck.  It was just gorgeous.

We had fun in the evenings, after the little ones were in bed,  playing Code Names.

We went to the restaurant with the goats on the roof.  Audrey was thrilled there were fruit loops on the menu.  Really, what's better than fruit loops for dinner?

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant is one of our favorites.  They have Swedish pancakes and Swedish Meatballs, which I usually get.  But this time I had a delicious Monte Cristo Sandwich.  They have a really fun, little gift shop there, too.

Cute story: After dinner, Kristen, Brielle and I went into the gift shop.  Ken took Sammy and Audrey for a little walk.  He then brought them into the gift shop.  Audrey found Kristen and announced loudly, "Hi!  It's me, Audrey!"  Like Kristen had forgotten her in the last five minutes!

This is the cutest little shop.  I found it a few years ago.  The proprieter and us are like this.

After purchasing a lot of stuff, she asked if she could take our picture to put on their website.

Kristen and kids left on Thursday afternoon.  We still had another fun day in Door County.  I loved going to the pool every day to work out.  Ken enjoyed hiking, golfing, and bike riding.

Our last evening, we ate in this cute little Italian restaurant- Villagios.  I think we found a new favorite Door County restaurant.

The bruschetta was absolutely amazing.

We packed up and headed back to Kristen's on Saturday morning.

The draw bridge was up when we came to it.  Interesting sight.

That evening, Kristen took me to a local art studio to create my birthday present.  We each made a glass fusion plate.  It was so fun!

My creation- a cherry plate for my kitchen.  This is what it looked like before it was fired.

What a fun, thoughtful gift.  It was such a fun creative process.

This was Kristen's beautiful creation.  It will be a gift for her hunter husband for his birthday.  SHHHHH!  Don't tell!

On Memorial Day, we attended a barbecue at some of Kristen and Jared's friends' beautiful home.  Wow!  It was an amazing party, with many people and lots of good food and activities.  We provided sugar cookie bars with lime frosting (my recipe creation.)

Cool dude is ready to party!

Sweet Nathan is a little entrepreneur.  He sells candy to fellow students, and has earned quite a bit.  He decided to use some of his earnings to buy two laser tag sets so he and his siblings could have fun together.  . . and they did!  They even got Grandma playing!  

Such a fun group of kids!

Kristen and I tried a lot of "good sport" dinners while we were there. That is a tradition started when I had kids at home: once a week I made a new recipe and called them "Good Sport Dinners" because we all were good sports and tried them.  We then would vote, thumbs up or thumbs down. We made some delicious dishes, some of which we will post on our cooking blog.

While we were there, the Mackrorys had their family pictures taken.  Kristen LOVES Wisconsin and all of the beautiful old barns and farms.  She stopped at one of her favorites- one she has driven by and admired for years, total strangers-  and asked if they could do their family pictures there.  The lady was so nice and she and Kristen are now good friends.  The pictures turned out beautiful.  The lighting was "delicious" according to the photographer.  This is one I took while she was getting it set up.

Mama's heels are always fun.

We went to watch Brielle perform with her  school's show choir.  When we got there, they were already performing, but Brielle wasn't there.  Her classroom hadn't received the announcement to come down.  So Kristen ran to get here.  Brielle hurried to change into her costume, only to find that one of the other girls had taken her vest!  She handled it all like a pro.  She just went in there and sang and danced her little heart out- without a vest! All of that is a lot for a 7th grader, but she just performed like nothing was wrong.  I was so proud of her.  We loved it, because it was easy to spot her in the crowd!

In the middle of the performance, Jared, Ken, and the boys came to the school.  They were headed on a Boundary Waters canoeing adventure and Jared needed something he had left in the van.  So they met us at the school.

I had to snap a picture of those two little boys stuffed in the back seat, ready for their adventure.

Back inside, we watched several more numbers by the show choir.

Isn't she so cute?

I love this precious girl who made us grandparents!

Sammy was so proud of his picture.  This  kid is so expressive.

OH dear.  Okay, here's the story.  Kristen goes to this hair salon that does make overs.  They don't just cut your hair, but give style suggestions.  I thought, "Why not give it a try?"  So Kristen scheduled an appointment and I went.  They lady was quite blunt, telling me "All of this hair is doing you no favors."  and "You have a mullet thing going on here."  Okay.  So she started cutting.  She cut  A LOT of hair and thinned a lot more.  I was shocked at how the front looked and still don't like it several weeks later.  But I do like the sides and back. 

Kristen was doing her exercises and her little ones joined right in.  I had a great view and wanted to share it with you.  She'll be thrilled!  What a bummer!

I took a little nap in the afternoon.  I woke up and came upstairs to see Kristen and Audrey outside in their backyard.  Kristen was pulling her in the wagon back and forth and out to the trampoline.  She is such a good mama.

Each morning this family of guinea fowl come to their backyard for a visit.  Audrey says it's the mama, daddy, and the little sweetie.

Saturday afternoon, Brielle tended the little ones and Kristen and I got to go shopping and out to lunch at this healthy twigs and roots kind of place.  It was actually good. (Really bad hair.  Why would she cut the bangs that short?)

We also picked up our now kilned plates.  We were so happy with the results!

Kristen (stake relief society president) needed to visit a ward at 9:00am on Sunday morning.  After sacrament meeting, she took me to the airport and said goodbye, then hurried back to attend their Relief Society meeting.  She does such a great job in her calling.

Michelle and Brian and family picked me up in Vegas that afternoon and I spent the evening and night with them before heading back home on Monday.  I don't know why I didn't take pictures, but we enjoyed the evening with Jared and Anepo (nephew) as they invited us to dinner.  That was so nice.

Michelle had been busy redecorating the guest room.  She made this beautiful painting.  It is so beautiful in there.  The Princes treated me so nice.  I love being in their home.

And this is my new plate, displayed in the holder Pam gave me for Christmas.  I love it.

Thank you, Mackrorys (and Princes) for a wonderful time!  We love you and appreciate you!