Fall in Door County

We've waited 3 weekends to finally make it up to Door County to visit my parents who are camp hosts at Peninsula State Park right now.  The weather just hasn't been cooperating, but we finally had an absolutely beautiful first week of fall and perfect fall weekend for the trip (or for whatever anyone did for that matter...it was an amazing weekend for anything outdoors!).

The colors on the ride up, as well as at the park, were so pretty, especially in the beautiful sunshine.  Shortly after we arrived, we went on a hike with the kids and my mom.  This picture was taken at the end of the hike.  What it doesn't reveal is how much the kids cried and fought during most of the hike.  Not because of the hike itself, but because they all wanted to be first...something we've been suffering through for many months now.  There is constant fighting about who is going to be the leader and who will be going out the door first, into the car first, out of the car first, into the library first, washing hands first, etc.  It is taking away what little is left of my sanity...seriously!  I see Sam and Mollie still doing this when they are teenagers too...they have a pretty intense competitive spirit!

After the hike we went to a favorite Door County hangout for the kids, PC Junction.  Their food is delivered by train and they get to sit and watch the train go around the bar while they are waiting to eat and while they are eating.  It's a fun place.  Outside the restaurant are activities galore for the kids.  Sam's favorite are the pedal cars, which run on gravel paths through a pine tree grove.  Mollie even pedaled her own car this year and was pretty darn proud of that too!  There are slides and swings, a basketball hoop, wooden train and a few other activities that kept the kids happy and busy until it was dark.

On Sunday we explored Cave Point County Park, a place we had never been to before.  It is a small park but with some great coastline scenery. 

 Sam, my dad and my parent's dog Gilbert watching from above.

The weekend went by way too fast and everyone would have liked to have more time there.  But work and school brought us back home on Sunday evening.  We are thankful for another fun weekend in Door County and the time spent and memories made (even if many of them did involve crying and fighting kids:).