Blessed Beyond Measure: Summer Family Vaca Part 3: Door County

On Wednesday (July 10) we left my parents' house and headed south and around Green Bay up to Fish Creek, in Door County Wisconsin. We had reserved 2 nights (that is the most we could get) to camp at Peninsula State Park there but when we checked in it turned out that someone had just canceled and we were able to get an additional night, allowing us to stay until Saturday! We headed to our campsite, got settled in and then went back into the town of Fish Creek to find some dinner before resting up for the day ahead.

Baby Girl patiently waiting at dinner.

Me and my girl! <3

After dinner we headed back to our campsite, but along the way the sun was setting and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to watch it "go to bed". We pulled off the road at an outlook and watched with another woman who had stopped to enjoy the scene as well.

As we watched the sun go down we also noticed that the other woman that was there had a Pokemon Go lanyard around her neck. I pointed it out to Asher and he was immediately excited (and I doubt saw any of the sunset from this point on). He started asking her a bunch of questions about Pokemon and she showed him what level she was on, all the Pokemon she had caught and more. He was thrilled and talked about her often the rest of the week! :P

The next morning we got up (Eric and Asher got up and went on a walk while Hazel, Avery and I slept in), got ready for the day and then headed out for breakfast at the nearby Julie's Cafe, which Eric's parents had recommended to us.

Video: "I Can See Michigan From My House"

Hazel & I waiting at Julie's Cafe.

Asher with his Birthday Pancakes

Avery with his Funky Monkey Pancakes

Daddy's Girl

When breakfast was over, we headed across the street and checked out the options for bike rentals for Hazel and I. Then we went up to Sister Bay to grab some groceries for the next few days, taking an unplanned detour along the way for some Pirates' Cove Mini Golf.

We thought about bike rentals but realized Hazel wasn't quite big enough yet.

FB Post: Kids are in time out 😂 🏴‍☠️ ⛳️ @ Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf

Me and my golfing buddy.

Arrrrrr! Pirate Faces!

After mini golf and grocery shopping we headed back to the campground for some lunch. From there we went to The Ridge Sanctuary in Bailey's Harbor where we enjoyed learning and crafting at the visitor's center followed by a long walk along their boardwalk through the woods and to the lake.

Crafting at the Visitor's Center

A snapping turtle.

An interactive virtual nature screen.

Tradition.

Postcard worthy <3

Failed attempt at a family photo.

That evening, on our way back to the campground we stopped at Not Licked Yet for dinner and dessert. It was the perfect way to end the day with its very relaxed environment, outdoor seating, and even a playground for the kids!

Mommy! Take a picture of me!

The boys loved the family sink room and insisted that we all brush our teeth together there every night even though we easily could have done the same thing in our camper.

On Friday, we started off our day with an early family walk to the lake. Then, after another camper breakfast we headed into Fish Creek to do some fishing at the marina.

Video: Hazel & Daddy

Since this day was also July 12th, which was the birthday of my dear friend Mike Hryshkanych we got our Be Like Mike t-shirts on and celebrated #belikemikeday as we have every July 12th since he passed away from cancer 2 and a half years ago.

FB Post: Happy #belikemikeday from the Migrins! ❤️ What will you do today to #belikemike and share God’s love with others? @ Fish Creek, Wisconsin

I need to make a Be Like Mike shirt for Hazel to wear next year!

While the boys did some fishing, Hazel and I enjoyed a nice walk through town. First we followed a path to a beautiful look-out over Lake Michigan and then (as she slept) we checked out a few of the shops downtown. After an hour or two we met back up with the boys to go back to the campsite and have some lunch.

FB Post: Sometimes even a great view isn’t enough to keep you awake #littlemisssunshine #sleepybaby @ Fish Creek, Door County, Wisconsin

The boys found this mat next to a boat at the marina! :P

When we were finished with our lunch, we made good on our promise to the boys and headed over to the beach for a swim.

Video: Slow-Mo Lake Run

After some fun in the water, we finished out the day with dinner outside right next to the lake at a place called Fred & Fuzzy's. It was the perfect, relaxed environment for our last night in Door County with patio tables on the grass and perfect skipping rocks to throw into the lake.

I love that little dimple right below her eye!

FB Post: Livin’ it up for our last night of vacation @ Fred and Fuzzy's Waterfront Bar - Door County

As we drove back to our campsite that night, the boys and I (Hazel was asleep in the car) couldn't pass up the opportunity to watch the sunset over Lake Michigan one last time...

...nor could we pass up our last opportunity for a bonfire and s'mores! :P

The next morning was Saturday which meant that it was time to head back home. Just because we were going home though, it did not mean that we couldn't have any fun for the day. That morning, rather than our usual cereal breakfast in the camper, we got ready for the day and then headed into Ephraim for breakfast.

Along the way, we stopped back at the beach to see if we could find Avery's sandals that we could not find. For the last day or so we kept asking him where he had them last and he never could remember. I looked everywhere that I could think of and I couldn't find them either. Then, it dawned on me that he may have left them at the beach. We headed over there and when we arrived the boys asked why we were there. As soon as I told them we were going to see if we could find Avery's sandals he yells out from the back of the van, "Oh yeah! They are on the stairs!" Sure enough, Eric headed over to the walkway ramp (which was the closest thing there to a stair) and there, right at the top, where two size 11 Spiderman sandals.

With the sandals in tow, we continued on to find some breakfast and after that we enjoyed a nice walk around Ephram and a quick stop at the Dolphin House Gallery before headed back to pack up our campsite and checking out.

Asher and Avery at the Ephram Fire House Museum.

Checking out all of the chimes at the gallery.

Once we got everything packed up, the boys and I worked on finishing up their State Park Junior Ranger workbooks while Eric took down the camper. Then we headed off to the ranger station, got the boys' Junior Ranger badges and started our journey home.

We started our journey home by heading west to Cave Point County Park. We thought the boys (who were desperate to go swimming again) would have fun crawling around on the rocks there. Unfortunately though, when we finally got there we realized that wasn't going to work out. The water level was MUCH higher than it had been the last time we were there and the rocks were no longer easily accessibly, making it not exactly a kid-friendly place. We walked around a little and watched as bigger kids enjoyed jumping off the rocks into the water and then we headed to a nearby beach for a little more fun before continuing on our way.

For comparison, this is what Cave Point looked like 12 years ago.

Video: Curious Little Girl

Video: Lake Michigan Baby

That Look! :P

Finally, it was time to head home for real! We stopped for a quick dinner at Culver's and then continued on our way to Kenosha making it home well after the kids' bedtime. Quickly we transferred them all to their beds and then headed to our own leaving the aftermath of vacation mess to cleanup another day.