Spencer, Maxi, Ashlyn and Skylee come to Wisconsin! May 2012

Spencer and family came and spent from Tuesday evening until Sunday morning with us.  It was wonderful to have them here.

Skylee brought Grandpa a new hat!

Walking the Green Trail

Good Old Porter Place

  We took the usual family excursion to Green Bay and toured the Packer stadium.  We also visited the Packer Hall of Fame. 

Packer Stadium

Wisconsin Packer Cheeseheads

 Go Skylee & Ashlyn

Girls Rule!

Spencer & Maxi

 THE FIELD

Richard Kellnar, a friend let us borrow  his paddle boat and a canoe so we could paddled around three of the lakes at the "Chain of Lakes"  It was a lot of fun and so beautiful.  The lily pads were just coming out in bloom.

We put into the lake at Richard's mothers home and when we got there we found a baby raccoon that had apparently been abandoned by it's mother.  It was so tiny and cute.

Richard Kellnar and mother Joan

Ready for some FUN!

You have to get a trip to Rudolph to the cheese factory...best cheese curds and ice cream ever! On our way home we stopped at the "Grotto" which is a garden of beautiful flowers, plants, rocks and Catholic statues. 

26th of May, Relva's birthday.  Picnic at the park, but got rained out before we ate lunch...but on our hike on The Green Trail  we were walking by the creek when Ashlyn spotted a huge turtle...turned out to be about 20" snapping turtle that like our slim jim jerky!   We raced t the car when the rain came. Didn't want to go home so went shopping for Wisconsin shirts, had lunch at Culvers and then  finished celebrating at the King Kone ice cream shop.  We went home played games, then  went to Applebees for dinner and back to King Kone  for more ice cream! What a birthday celebration never to be forgotten!

Crazy for Ice Cream in Wisconsin

Belts is famous for their ice cream.

Great anticipation to be lst in line for ice cream.  They actually camped out in the COLD!

January 2012 Zone Conference and Wisconsin Rapids District

Zone conference  January 12, 2012

Elders Bethers, Parker, Alleman, Richards,  Averett, Jones, Black, Berry        

President Jones, Sister Jones, Elder Bowring, Sister Bowring Sisters Johnson and Black

Ripplinger,              Harper, Shamo, Evans, Vang

Elder Bethers (Salt Lake)  Elder Shamo (Delta

Sister Johnson (St. George)  Sister Black (Springville)

Elder Evans (Salt Lake)  Elder Harper (Washington)

Elder Jones (Salt Lake)   Elder Berry (Salt Lake)

January 2012

January snow...mildest winter in many years!!

One of the Magnificient Barns!

See the black squirrel going up the tree?

Sister Beth Black from Springville, Utah. Sister Katie Johnson from Ivins, Utah.

Notice the "cool" duck tape ties and scripture covers. Missionaries are very creative.

This is how we set up cameras for a group district photo shoot. All are on timers and boy can those Elders run fast to get in place for the pictures. Just check us out below!

Wisconsin Rapids District - February 2012.

back row: Elders Harper DL, Elder Parker, Sister and Elder Bowring, Elder Shamo, Sister Black and Elder Bethers. front row: Elder Evans, Elder Ripplinger, and Sister Johnson

Ducks enjoying a winters day!

February weather with no ice and very little snow.

Family Time

Kaylie, Emri & Parker

Kaylie, Grandma, Grandpa on our favorite walking trail in Plover

Marci & Emri

Kaylie loving King Kone ice cream!

Parker at King Kone..mmmm good

Emri's turn!

Kaylie & Emri

Sweet moments with Parker and Amber

  

Emri, Grandpa and Parker

Amber & Kaylie

Grandpa & Grandma time

Playtime with grandpa

Marci, Emri, Kaylie, Parker & Amber at the train in Stevens Point

Kaylie, Parker & Amber

Stevens Point Caboose  

Christmas in Wisconsin 2011

Christmas gift from President Brent Redd, White Mesa Branch.

We are hoping President Redd doesn't know what he is talking about. ha ha!!!

But from what we are hearing.....he is right!

Wisconsin snowman this year. This was in December!!

The Wall Family invited us for dinner on Christmas Day.

Sterling Jr., home on leave from the service. Taylor, home from BYU Idaho and getting ready for a misssion this summer. Myriah 16, Sister Natalie Wall, Megan 14. Brother Sterling Wall, professsor at Wisconsin University Stevens Point, and Hannah 8. The Wall Family is a great strength, great examples and friends to all in the Branch and help the missionaries all the time!!!

Piano recital by Megan and Hannah

Sister Johnson, Sister Durfee, Megan, Myraiah and Brother Wall by the tree.

Jane & Liz Holtz. Liz is Sterling's girlfriend.

Sister Durfee, Megan, Myriah, & Hannah

David Munk, return missionary from Sister Maryanne Munk & Brother Michael Munk

Pre-Christmas dinner at the Munks. Elder & Sister Bowring, Sister Johnson, Sister Durfee, Maryanne and Michael Munk

Sister B, Sister Tina Cooper, Brother B

Sister Ruth Czernicki & Sister Johnson

We had a few decorations to bring the Christmas spirit into our apartment.

Bratzleys and a homemade bi-plane made by Maxi and Spencer. We had enough Christmas cards to fill the bar and around one wall in the living room. So fun!!

Our "Christmas Tree" this year.

Elder Bowring's Missionary Christmas sock from Marci and Taylor Family

Sister Bowring's Missionary Christmas sock from Marci & Taylor Family

Fireplace mantle

"Family" Christmas Tree. We both cried when we opened this one! Made by LeeAnn and crew, it has family memories all over it. It is like the scriptures....you see something new everytime you look at it. Thanks for the memories, and thanks for being such a great family. Love you all!!