The Door

We got back from our four day Door County vacation last week, exhausted and happy. We went up with the Power clan--John and Fran; Sean, Angi, and Sadie; Neill, Fran, and Destiny; and Rachel and Letty--to celebrate Grandma Madel's 90th birthday (which was actually in June, but July 4 seemed a great time to get everyone together to celebrate).

We got up to our rental house in Bailey's Harbor late Friday night, but were able to catch up with Rae and Sean, who were still awake. Neill, Fran, and Destiny were hot on our trail, and we all unpacked and hung around. Mothra paid us a visit, but did not succeed in chasing us away. If Letty had still been up to see him, however, it might have been another story.

We included the quarter to give it scale--this has not been PhotoShopped, I swear

We spent Saturday afternoon at Clark Lake, where the water was warm(ish) and the sun was hot. Sadie enjoyed her first time under water (a tiny dunk with Destiny) and she also managed to get buried in the sand. I don't know how it happened--we left her alone for one second, and when we turned around this is what we found:

(Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

We all headed home and showered up (though I still found sand in my bellybutton the next morning, so I don't think I did a good enough job...) and then drove down to the Log Den for a lovely dinner that T.'s Uncle Doug had organized for everyone. We ate good food and better cake, sang "Happy Birthday" to Grandma Madel, and the kids caught up with all of the many Madel cousins they hadn't seen in years.

(Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

Uncle Trevor and Sadie

Waiting for Cake

Grandma getting some help with the candles

Our Crew: Destiny, Fran N., Neill, Sean, Letty, Rachel, Trevor, John, and Fran P.

On Sunday afternoon we hosted a cookout so that everyone could visit more, and the whole crew showed up again. We had more gorgeous weather and the party was a huge success, but when everyone left about 8 p.m. we knew that there was more fun to be had. So Sean and Angi put Sadie down and Rae and Letty offered to babysit. John and Fran had to get to bed because they were leaving at 4 a.m. to get back in time for John to get some sleep at home and still make it to work on Monday evening. So me and Trevor, Neill, Fran, Destiny, Sean, and Angi went to Pirate's Cove. We did some go-karting first, and it was my first time. It was awesome, obviously. Then we played some mini-golf. I don't remember who won, but it was a lot of fun and even more mosquitoes.

Destiny cannot control her excitement

Angi, Sean, and Trevor, being awesome

Putt, putt

Quiet on the green

Some sort of goblin tried to scare us away, but he failed, just like Mothra failed

Destiny planking on the course

On Monday, the actual Fourth of July, we ran around doing fun, vacationy things. First we went to P.C. Junction to play around and eat some lunch. Trevor and I had never painted a plaque, and Destiny had never painted one for just herself, so the three of us got down to business.

(Photo Courtesy of Fran)

(Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

(Photo Courtesy of Fran)

After we took care of business, we took care of some fun.

Conductor T. Power

Two Pretty Ladies (Photo Courtesy of Fran)

Angi, Rae, T., Dest, Fran, and me (Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

(Photo Courtesy of Fran)

And then we took care of some more fun at the Yum Yum Tree.

Sean and Sadie

No Cholesterol!

That evening we headed over to Paul and Joe's rental house in Jacksonport for another cookout and some excellent fireworks.

Auntie Rae and Sadie (Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

Me and T in a stone bench on the beach (Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

T with his Proxy Uncle Mark (who lives in Amsterdam and couldn't make it) (Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

Dest walking on the beach (Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

Our very own fireworks display--thanks to Neill, Destiny, Cousin Ben, Cousin Matt, and Uncle Joe (Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

That night we got home, tired, but not too tired for some games. Henry opted out, though, and got to bed early.

I really don't know how he slept with that creepy egg lady snuggling with him

And then on Tuesday it was time to head home. The trip was a huge success and we're so glad we got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa and the family. And since T. and I mostly make our Door County trips in the winter, where our activities range from making cozy fires and watching movies to reading books and taking naps, we loved the change of pace. It will probably be a while until we see everyone again, so the laughs will have to last us until then.

Rae and Neill

Pop Power and Rae

Fran and Neill ((Photo Courtesy of Rachel and Letty)

Dest and Sadie (Photo Courtesy of Fran)

Letty and Rae (Photo Courtesy of Fran)