Family Fun Day

Yesterday was a “Family Fun Day” from the time we woke up until we all went to bed. It was a day that we anticipate all year. It is the day that we go to McConnell's Mill State Park. Living in Pennsylvania is a blessing. There are so many wonderful places to go and view nature in all her beauty, and McConnell's Mill is the place my family loves to go every year between October and Early November to see the Autumn foliage.

It is an awesome time. My wife packs a picnic lunch, we grab a couple of blankets, load the kiddies into the car, and head to the Mill. For the last few years, we have been going to the same open field. It is perfect to eat and then let the little ones run around and collect leaves. That is their favorite part. Then we load them back into the car and ride around the park looking at all of the leaves. That is mommy and daddy's favorite part.

After we leave the McConnell's Mill, phase II begins. We head to Brown's Country Kitchen for the best pie ever! Brown's is about 2 miles from the park and I am glad it is as far away from our house as it is. I would get very fat, very quickly if it wasn't.

Our final stop, phase III, is a candy store that still sells penny candy. It is a mecca for all adults who frequented this heavenly place as children. It is Baldinger's. I remember going there as a child and getting a bag full of candy and being the happiest kid on earth. My mom was probably happy too because it was so cheap. One hundred pieces of candy for dollar – you can't beat that with a stick. The selections for the penny candy have decreased dramatically, but it is still available. The entire family loves to go there. It is the perfect end to our family outing.

I think it is imperative that parents set aside a “Family Fun Day.” I know that my children will remember this day. In fact as soon as we got to McConnells Mill, Molly knew where our next two stops would be. They are the same every year. The children, Shannon, and I all look forward to this day. This year, Shannon and I made it even better. We extended the day after the children went to bed. We spent one on one time together. It was like we were dating again. We order wings, drank beer, watched “Wipeout!” and “Glee.” The perfect end to a perfect day.