New Baby

Whitney and Janae welcomed their new baby boy from their home yesterday at 6:11 am, in San Tan Valley, AZ.
Not sure of the name yet possible… Hyrum Whitney Wiltbank

Wiltbank's

Crystal Lipsey

Wood Boys

Faye- Crystal had the most interesting year of us all! She is a sophomore in high school, and made both the volleyball and softball teams.  She was also just asked to coach her church’s volleyball ladies team! John does field service at Intel for his company and spent a great deal of his time in Albuquerque. Faye Marie finished chemo for her MS and is doing well.

Billy- Sam is becoming well known for his hunting guide servicesand just finished a three day winter hunt that had a temperature of anegative seven degrees! Caren again played the leading lady in Alpine’s melodrama and hopes to return for another performance this coming summer. Billy is staying busy with some remodeling projects and tending to his horses.

JJ- Breanna just turned ten and seems to be growing ten inches everyday. Ashley is fifteen and is enrolled part time at Utah Valley University. JJ stays busy substitute teaching and loves the summer when he can work on his garden. Bobi is recovering from a recent foot surgery, but is still able to stay up with her beauty salon clients and her family’s busy schedule.

Stephanie- Anthony Jr. loves playing fall and spring baseball.  Nolan and Dillon want to follow in his footsteps, and they are practicing so they can do kid pitch this year. Anthony Sr. has started doing some traveling for his company which allows Stephanie time to scrapbook and make frozen pizzas for dinner while his away!

The Biz

The 3 Emer's

Willis Family

Lil’ Emer- Isabelle turned eight this year and was baptized. Avery is counting down the days to kindergarten, while Briggs enjoys his male bonding time with his dad. Emer had back surgery and is healing great. He has learned to balance physical therapy, Brownies, soccer practice, and laundry. Aleesa continues her career as a payroll
specialist for a small accounting firm.

Whitney- Emma started 1st grade in a new charter school, and it has been quite an academic adjustment for her. Makayla enjoys her time at home with all of the princess dress up stuff to herself. Janae is pregnant with their first baby boy and loves spending any spare minute she can find taking classes at the local Apple store.

Tiffany- Jaycee enjoys preschool but is ready to go to the “big school” (kindergarten). Landon loves to go to work with his Daddy and is the cutest little cowboy you will ever see. Baby Kade is seven months old and is a sweet, super smiley, and very cute baby boy.  Brian is enjoying league basketball right now and Tiffany loves to play volleyball every chance she gets.

Ellis & Phyllis- They are very busy renovating and decorating their new house in Eagar. It is a nice log house and Phyllis enjoys putting Ellis’ constructions skills to work. They loved spending their first Christmas in their new house together. Ellis is delivering propane for a local company. Sadly, with their new move and job they have decided to stay in town this summer, but hope to come out to the ranch as much as time will allow. They will truly miss the summer guests, but will come back during the fall to help out.

Katy and Chilton's Wedding

Bawden Update

I have so many wonderful memories from Sprucedale.  The people the came when I was kid, and now their kids are coming back and bringing their kids, and now their kids are coming back and bringing their kids and they play with my kids and my grandkids.  Sprucedale was neat place to grow up on!  I think of all the forts and dams we built, horses we rode and the game we played!  It really was a little bit of heaven, especially a heaven for kids!  These great people that I played with as kids are now adults and what friends we are!  We have made wonderful friends with people of all walks of life; from doctors, to lawyers, movie people, scientist, engineers, and everything in between!  We have met people from just about every state in the union and from several other countries.

First Started taking guest in 1921

Sprucedale Guest Ranch 1921

While my heart has always wanted to be at the ranch, I knew I needed additional tools to be successful at carrying on Sprucedale. I realized a higher education was crucial for operating our family business. Completing my MBA and CPA has been quite a journey for kid who just wanted to be a cowboy; however, the accomplishment of these goals has made it possible for me to be prepared to fill this position for Sprucedale. Now I will not have to manage the operations from a distance but will actually be able to spend the summers at the ranch.

Janae and I are excited that the timing is right for us to play this role for Sprucedale. Our mission while serving you and your family at the ranch is to maintain and build an atmosphere where “Families Come Together.” By providing wholesome recreational activities in a safe family friendly environment, we know we can help you and your family make memories that will carry you/them for a lifetime.

Family Photo

Family Gathering

Lipsey Family

Billy and Caren

Ma and Pa: Emer’s health continues to be a challenge for him, but he still finds the strength to watch over the horses.  He enjoys checking on them and breaking the ice on their water tank.  Esther loves her church work and has recently volunteered to work in the gift shop for the Springerville Hospital Auxiliary.  They enjoy their 15 grandchildren and have one more on the way in May.  Esther and Emer are both looking forward to their two Appreciation Weeks at Sprucedale and hope you can come join in all the fun. Here is the news on their children and grandchildren:

Faye: Crystal is a freshman in high school!   She tried out for the volleyball team and made the JV team.  John is working in New Mexico at an Intel site and will soon be going to China for work.  Faye Marie is staying active by being involved in all Crystal’s extra activities and social calendar.

Billy: Sam had a successful guiding season scouting for local hunters.  Billy will be leaving shortly to go to Page, AZ to work at a power plant.  Caren has been part of Alpine’s local theater group and will be  starring in their seasonal melodrama. They are all busy preparing for Beaver Creek Ranch’s upcoming season.

Emer's Kids

JJ and Family

Woodpile

JJ and family are still in Utah.  Bobi works as a school aid with autistic children, plus stays busy with her beauty salon.  Ashley continues to excel in music, school, and is on the Student Counsel.  Breanna enjoys drawing and riding her bike

Stephanie: The Woodpile went on their first family vacation to California.  The kids loved the beach and  Anthony Sr. enjoyed documenting all the fun with his new camera.  Anthony Jr. started pitching this year during the fall baseball season and hit several home runs.  Nolan and Dillon have started a dual language program at school and are excelling in learning Spanish.  Stephanie stays busy with the family and helping run Sprucedale’s office.

Emer: Aleesa has gone back to work at a CPA’s office, while Emer recovers from a back injury.  Emer  is trying his hand at being a stay-at-home mom and is doing a great job.  Isabelle has kept busy with soccer, Brownies, and school.   Avery started her first year of preschool and has discovered how to spell her name. Briggs has become a daddy’s boy and thinks his dad is the best play toy ever.

Whitney

Willis at Disneyland

Katie and Chilton

Whitney: graduated with his MBA from NAU and is working at an accounting firm in Mesa, AZ.  He is also studying for his CPA exams along with managing Sprucedale. Whitney and Janae bought their first house this year in Queen Creek, AZ.  Janae is really enjoying decorating their new home.  Emma started kindergarten and really loves it.  Makayla loves playing with Emma and is starting to find her own voice as a two year old.

Tiffany and Brian had a busy fall with their annual “Willis Pumpkin Patch and Haunted Maze” (www.thewillisfarm.com) located in Snowflake, AZ. Jaycee is enjoys preschool and when she is home she  loves dressing up as a princess.  Landon loves to help Brian drive tractors on the farm.  Their little family is growing and so is Tiffany and she is expecting a new little one in mid-May.

BAWDEN NEWS: Their big news was Katy and Chilton’s marriage on December 29th. It was a beautiful wedding and reception. Katy is teaching multiple grades in a one-room schoolhouse while Chilton is going to school  and working. Margine is working for the Navajo County School District. Little Kevin is still at Walgreens, Big Kevin is leaving for job in Farmington, NM , and Cathy is working at the quilt shop in Springerville, AZ.

Ellis and phyllis

Ellis & Phyllis: Send everyone a warm greeting. They spent the winter at Sprucedale and have enjoyed all the snow that created a winter wonderland! Phyllis  has been using this down time to get caught up on family projects for their 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren!  They both look forward to another great summer with all of you at the ranch.