Arriving in Wisconsin

Kirk and I arrived at Chapparal Campground early evening of 4/30.   It rained the entire way there from Indianola.  The next morning we went to breakfast with some of the seasonals.   Every Sunday, the regulars at the campground go to breakfast in LaValle about 4 miles down the road.  The food is great, and it's a fun time to spend with our friends before they all leave to go back to their lives for the week.  We received a nice little May basket from Laurie and Kurt.  They are so sweet.   After getting settled into site #1 ( which was no easy task), then went to supper in Spring Valley with Dennis and Dianne. 

On 5/2, I started my new assignment in the Dells.  I worked their once before about two years ago.  I enjoy working for and with Amy, my boss.   Since I've started traveling, I've worked for her in a few different facilities here in Wisconsin.  I'm hoping this assignment lasts for the Summer.  We really enjoy this part of Wisconsin, our friends here, and being close you our family.   Kirk also gets to work here, which is an added bonus.  

Beautiful scene on my way to work

Cinco de Mayo is always a good excuse to have a margarita and eat Mexican food.  Kirk and I went to Reedsburg and celebrated at Cancun restaurant with me having a yummy watermelon margarita.  Kirk is always my DD.   

On 5/7, we drove to Minneapolis to attend Ady's violin recital.  Going north in the summer means getting to spend as much time as we can with our families.  What a pleasant surprise to hear her play.  Ady has improved so much and really enjoys playing.   Following the recital, the girls took us out for lunch at The Bad Waitress for Mother's Day, which was the following day.  Kirk and I headed home after visiting with girls as it was a 3.5 hour drive. We stopped at Costco on the way home :)   

Adys awesome recital.  Nice photo bomb Kirk!

On Mother's Day, the seasonals, Dennis and Dianne, and Kirk and I took in the Mother's Day Buffett in LaValle.   It was a great time with friends, and great food.  That afternoon, we played nine holes with Dennis and Dianne at Spring Valley, and ate supper there also.  

Stopped by this young couples home to say hi before golfing.  Ron and Arlene, we love you!

Austine's graduation April, 2016

On 4/26, my darling son Ben's birthday, we left the Double Nickle RV campground in York, NE and headed to Iowa.  The campground was really pretty interesting.  New owners had taken over about 2 years ago and are doing a lot of work on it.  All the sites have a double swing. They are right next a private golf course. The cool thing about this is that they have swings facing the golf course where you can sit and watch ( Kirk prefers to taunt).  Someday, when they are all done this will be a really nice campground.  The only con we had at this time, was that they were rather expensive for being under construction and not all amenities available yet.  

We arrived in Gladbrook in the afternoon.  We stayed at Union Grove State Park.  We've stayed there before as it's just 6 miles from town.  That made it easy to get to Kirks mom's in Gladbrook.  We had a nice couple of days with her.  We ate at the new restaurant in town, Spankys, and had tenderloins from Beamans one afternoon. 

Mavis having supper at Spankys in Gladbrook 

On 4/28 we went out to supper with Heather, Charlie, Damon, and Kaylee.  We had a nice visit although, I think Damon would have rather been somewhere else playing his games. He's at that age you know.   

The next day we packed up and drove the RV to Hartford, Iowa to Webbs RV campground. We stayed here as this was Austine's college graduation weekend and this was the closest we could get to Indianola.  She graduated from Simpson College with a degree in Sociology. She has accepted a position as Director of a Day Care. Kirk and I took her out to eat the night before her graduation.  She picked Jason's BBQ and Bacon, Bacon, Bacon in West Des Moines.  What a yummy place.   We had a great time and conversation. Austine is an awesome young lady and we wish her the best.  The next day we attended her graduation.  They could do a little better on being organized, but it was a great day for her. We are so proud of her!!  After graduation, we headed to Wonewoc, WI. We will be staying at Chapparal Campground while I complete my next assignment in the Wisconsin dells.  

Can't believe this little buddy turned 33 years old this year.  

So proud of this young lady.  Congratulations Austine!

Lindsey, Mason, and Papa Kirk.   Mason excited to see big sister graduate. 

She did it!!!

Awesome couple, Austine and boy Jordan!

May and June 2013

We have been in Wisconsin for almost 2 months.  The weather is finally starting to be decent.  We were not able to celebrate Isaac's birthday weekend as that was the same weekend as Austine's graduation.  You just don't miss an event like that.  So, we celebrated with Isaac the next weekend.  It's hard to believe he is 2 years old.   I went to MN the first part of June to stay with Ady and Camyrn for the weekend while the girls went to a retreat in northern MN.

Then on Father's Day weekend, we took the RV and drove to Monmouth to participate in the annual golf outing that is held in memory of my brother, Bob Almaguer.  Bob loved golfing, and the outing was sold out.  Nicki, Isaac, and Bella rode down with us in the motorhome.  Friday evening before the outing, friends and family met at Elena and Jim's for potluck/pool party as we do every year.  Everyone had a great time as always.  Jim and Elena are awesome hosts!!!

A blessed event!  Kristy and Adyson were baptized this past year in the river in MN near their home.  They love Jesus so much and it shows in their lives and all they do.

One of the yearly events we also like to do with the seasonals at Chapparal Campground in Wonewoc is the canoe trip down the Kickapoo River.  It was a gorgeous day and you couldn't help but have a good time.  After returning to the campground, we all gathered at the "scenic outlook" aka Tracy and Michelle's place for a cookout and potluck.

 Happy 2nd Birthday Buddy!!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day, even though I wasn't able to spend the day with my kids.  They did get together and took an unmustachable Mother's Day selfie pic that I will always treasure!  Apparently, they were all in charge of putting on their own mustache!

 Cowgirl Ady having fun at Target.

Camryn and Adyson....BFF's forever!

 Our annual golf outing in Monmouth, IL in memory of my brother Bob Almaguer.  From left to right: me, Kirk, Nicki, umm let me think, Jim, Elena, Bev, and Rudy.

 Kristy at her baptism.

 Adyson after her baptism with her mommy;

 Kirk and I canoeing down the beautiful Kickapoo River in WI

 The gang on our canoe trip on the Kickapoo.

Chapparal Campground, Wonewoc, WI 5/2011 - 8/2011

Our camp site....this is where you will find the "Campground Host"

The view of the swimming pool from our site.

Our first campfire here.

I started my new assignment in Richland Center, WI on May 2. There are 2 skilled nursing facilities that I work between. They are both managed by the same rehab company. Kirk and I found a wonderful campground about 40 minutes North of my job. It seems a little far to drive, however, anything closer just wasn't worth it. I'm also getting used to the drive. I could do with a little less of the winding, curvy, ups, and downs of the drive though. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous making it all worthwhile. After being at the campground for a couple of weeks and a somewhat healed fractured ankle, Kirk found his way into being the Campground host. He loves being involved in the campground antics. The owners, Dennis and Dianne are great! The campground has a very nice swimming pool, playground area, XXL sites, shuffleboard, basketball, volleyball, cabins for rent, a small "in case you forgot something" store, and a supper club. Since being in WI, we have learned that Supper Clubs are a big thing.....fish fry's every Friday night, and some other special on Saturday nights. We love it here!