Wonderful Weeks in Wisconsin

We spent most of August in Wisconsin.  We stayed two weeks in a condo in Door County, up on the peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan.  We love Door County, Wisconsin.  Kristen and her kids spent much of the time up there with us.  We had such a great time!

When we arrived on Thursday evening, Kristen had a nice meal all ready for us.

On Friday, we went grocery shopping, then Kristen, Brielle, Ken and I headed for Door County (about a two-hour drive.) The other kids had a babysitter until their dad got home. He tended so we could have a more adult evening.  We stopped at Green Bay on the way and shopped at Costco.  That evening, we went to a really nice restaurant.  We all had local fish except Brielle who had pasta.

The fish was delicious.

After dinner, we drove out to Peninsula State Park and attended a musical at an outdoor theater there.  It was so good.

It rained or drizzled through the whole show, but we just held something over our heads, and enjoyed the show.  The theater writes and performs three musicals each summer.  They are really good!

The next morning we got up and went to breakfast at the now-famous White Gull Inn in Fish Creek.  A couple of years ago, it was featured on Good Morning America and won their nationwide contest for having "The Best Breakfast in America!" We had to try it.

The grounds there are just beautiful- not to mention the people!- waiting for a table.

This is the dish that won the contest- Cherry Stuffed French Toast.  My, it was good.  I found the recipe online and made it yesterday, so will be posting it soon on our Hungry Hintons blog.

In front of the beautiful White Gull Inn.

We then drove back to Sturgeon Bay- about 1/2 hour drive to look in the shops there.  Jared brought the kids and we met up with them there in Sturgeon Bay.

All of the little towns in Door County have a Confectionary and Ice Cream shop.  

On Sunday, we attended church in the tiny Sturgeon Bay branch.  This was taken outside the building.  

The branch is very small.  After sacrament meeting, all the Primary children meet in one room, all the adults in the "chapel" and all the youth in another room.  Another room has toys for a nursery, but there is no nursery leader.  So Kristen, Ken and I took turns in there with Addie.  It was fun.

Brielle in front of our condo.

Sunday night ice cream treat.

On Monday, we took the ferry to Washington Island.

We had a picnic over there.

And climbed to an over look.

We went to a lavendar farm.

And a smooth stone beach.

We spent the next day mostly around our resort.  There were so many fun things to do.  Ken worked with Jacob, teaching him how to ride a bike.

Most of the mornings, the boys would go out hunting golf balls on the beautiful golf course.  They found over 50 golf balls while we were there.  They loved it.  It was like an Easter egg hunt.

We went to dinner at a Swedish restaurant that has goats grazing on the thatch roof.  It all started as a joke.  For a prank, friends put goats on the thatch roof on the owner's birthday.  It caused such a stir, that he's put them up there each day during the summer months.  

We had a delicious dinner there.

Ken had the traditional Swedish pancakes and Swedish meatballs.

In the afternoon, we had a rousing game of croquet at the resort.  

After-game treats.

On Wednesday, we went to farm to play and pet and feed animals.  It was such a fun place for kids!

The recreation center of our resort was just across the road from our unit.  It was such a fun place.  This is the beautiful indoor pool and it also had an outdoor pool.  We spent lots of time there.

The flowers of Door County were breathtakingly beautiful.  And they were everywhere!~

On Thursday, Ken and I enjoyed shopping in Fish Creek in all of the quaint stores.

We drove to all of the produce/food stands and checked prices and the looks of the cherry pies.  We then went back and bought the best deal.  It was delicious!

On Saturday, we traveled back down to Mackrory's to attend Nathan's 10am baptism.  

He was so excited!

Ready to go!

After the well-attended baptism and refreshments, Nathan helped clean the chapel.

The newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

After- baptism gift opening

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOO  I love you!!!"

Kristen has her home decorated so beautifully.  A family in their ward who travel to Japan frequently brought her this beautiful Japanese nativity set.

Ready for church on Sunday in the pantry.

Cute Addie ready to go.

Kristen and me.

We went back up to Door County on Sunday afternoon.  We had to go back the next day for the stuffed french toast at White Gull Inn.  It is, afterall, the best breakfast in America.

.

We went back to Sturgeon Bay for more shopping and this delicious ice cream.

We passed this hay field each time we went to Sturgeon Bay.  We finally stopped to take pictures.  

Our resort in Fish Creek, Wisconsin

We shopped one day in Egg Harbor.  We got separated and didn't have cell service to find each other.  It was a long two hours as we tried to find each other.

A selfie.  I'm getting better.

Finally reunited again.

We went back to the Northern Sky Theater in the woods for another one of their delightful plays.

My granddaughter asked me why I have pictures of chairs.  These colorful Adirondack chairs are very popular all over Door County.  We saw so many of them, that I wanted a picture of them to remember them.

Our last day of shopping in Sister Bay.

We had lunch at The Wild Tomato- yummy gourmet pizza and I had a cherry walnut salad that was just delicious.

On Thursday, we checked out of the resort and drove back to Appleton to the Mackrorys.  We tended the kids for a few days so Kristen and Jared could go on a little anniversary trip.

Watching a movie.

Our little bookworm, Brielle.

The kids had read books in their library program, which gave them a free meal at a pizza place.  So we went out for a pizza buffet.  After they ate, the kids went back to the arcade and scavengered.  Nathan found a token under and behind a machine.  They used it to play one of the games and won, so got 6 tickets.  They traded them in for a tootsie roll each.  They were thrilled!

That evening we loaded the Ice Cream train and headed out for ice cream!

Our little Snugglebug, Audrey.  

We flew home on Sunday afternoon.  We went to Michelle and Brian's in Vegas for a nice Sunday dinner.  Gabby and Jaron were starting school/pre-school the next morning, so we were there for their priesthood blessings.

Baby Kenny

Gabby

Jaron

It was such a wonderful vacation- mingling family with relaxation.

Flowers of Wisconsin

We recently spent a couple of weeks in Door County, Wisconsin.  It is on the peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan in northern Wisconsin.  It's referred to as the Cape Cod of Wisconsin.  It is just beautiful there.  I have a post of our trip all ready, but I wanted to make a separate post of the flowers there . . .and this isn't even all that I took.  They were just breathtakingly beautiful.  So, if you like flowers, here's to you!

My Favorite Things- Fresca

Here's one of those deep questions for you:  For the rest of your life you can only have one beverage besides water.  You can have all the water you want, and then all you want of  just one other beverage.  What would you choose?  I used to always say milk, but I think I may have swung to the dark side, and now I say Fresca. My reasoning is that I could meet dairy needs (I know, some argue there are no dairy needs) with yogurt and cheese, etc, so why not choose something low calorie and sweet and sour and refreshing and yummy.  Yes, I choose Fresca!  What would you choose?

Fresca- one of my favorite things!

In case you're interested in others of my favorite things, click here.

My Husband is a Movie Star!

Ken had his fifteen seconds of fame last weekend.  About a year ago, our neighbor, Bob Sonju, who works for the Washington county school district asked Ken to be in a documentary they were making to celebrate 100 years in Washington County School District.  So, during the last year he had on-camera interviews and he provided pictures of himself as a child.  The premier of the movie was Saturday night.  It was a huge, red carpet affair.  It was held at Desert Hills High School.

Ken on the red carpet

One of the high school jazz bands was playing

There were tables set up and balloons and popcorn and candy and cold drinks.

There were a lot of people there.  It was a big affair.

Ken by the movie poster

Ken's name on the poster.  Wilford Brimley was the narrator and Jeffrey R. Holland was in it.  Dia Frampton was also in it.  She won "the Voice" a couple of years ago.  She and her sister sang the song written for the movie.

The movie begins

They had a lot of wonderful, old shots from the early days

Ken told about his first grade teacher in his part.  He did so well.  

Our neighbors, Macy and Maddie Sonju were also stars.  

They took pictures of everyone.

This picture of Ken as a child was in the movie.

If you want to see more about it, go to this link!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/On-Dreams-of-Dixie/407930112703477?fref=ts

It really was well done.  It was chosen to be in the upcoming St. George film festival in September in the documentary category. 

My husband- the film star!!!

Help Everyone I Meet Feel Comfortable, Needed, and Loved

Wow!  That is a tall order and so far out of my comfort zone.  This mantra came from a talk in sacrament meeting given by a brother in the stake that I admire a lot- Lynn Bloxham.  I still remember when I first met him.  He knew Ken as Ken was in our stake presidency, but I had never met him.  He did exactly this: he helped me feel comfortable, needed, and loved.  It made a big impression on me. I was overwhelmed with the love and honor he gave in just my first encounter with him.  Years later- just a month ago- he visited our ward as a high council speaker.  In his fabulous talk, he presented his mantra.  He presented in such a way that he was honoring someone else who did that, but, to me it was obvious because I know him that it is his life mantra.  Because I remembered how I felt when I met him, it has made a big impact on me and has caused me some serious thought.  Could I really do that?  Could I make everyone I meet feel comfortable, needed, and loved?  Probably not, but maybe in the reaching for it, I could become a better person.  Anyway, I offer it as food for thought for you.

For other mantra ideas, click here.

Look for the Helpers

This mantra comes from a quote from Fred Rogers:
        “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” 
                                                                                                           Fred Rogers
I love this idea of looking for the good that is in a bad situation.  And Mrs. Rogers was right.  There are always those who selflessly serve during and after tragedies.  Always.  I urge you to consider this as a mantra: "Always look for the helpers."  It will help you keep your faith in mankind.  

To view other of my mantras, click here.