Monday we headed to Lake Okoboji for a little summer getaway. Mark referred to it as Jayden's vacation. She has really wanted to go to Okoboji for a couple years and he said we would go for her. One last family vacation before she goes off to college so far away. We got to our "Cabin" in the late afternoon. It was on the cool side for being at a lake, in the lower 70's. We just came off the hottest week of the year , so normally we would welcome the cool down, however at the lake you need it to be hot. We got settled in our cabin, which was a very roomie house with two stories, two and a half bathroom, three bedroom home. It was perfect for us. Being in a hotel room just about makes us crazy. It was great to have our own space. We went to Mark's favorite eating place, Tweeters, for dinner. We happened to open a door in our resort that led to the garage and saw an awesome corvette! the door was supposed to be locked and we weren't supposed to know it was there. It was sure a beauty!
Tuesday was our first morning, it was cool in the morning but the sun was shinning. It was neat to see so many families out, kids running around, adults going for a walk or jog, strollers, kids playing catch, Frisbee, football, you name it. It was obvious, we were in a very nice area, shiny new cars, nice looking families, kind friendly people. Luke wanted to sleep on the 3 feet tall air mattress in our room. By morning he had sunken in so much he was almost touching the ground. Both Jayden and Jake had their own room and bed.
Tuesday Mark took a morning bike ride and I sat and read my devotion and took a walk around the area. The cabins were in a circle with a nice street to walk. There were probably 100 cabins, which I would call small homes. They were all very similar, yet each unique in their own way. Some had a little different shape or color. I looked to see the different landscape. We decided to start the morning with the kids walking around Arnold's park area. We didn't want to ride the rides, just walk through. We did the Tippy house and silly mirror maze because those are free. We also went to the boat museum, which as of this year added the original wooden slide, sugar bowl and a few other vintage rides and games.
In the afternoon we rented 3 wave runners. We started out with Luke on with me, Jake on with Dad, and Jayden on her own. It took a little getting used too, they are very swervy and touchy. A little gas really speeds you up and if you move your handlebars very fast you really turn sharp. It would be easy to dump someone off or tip it over without much try. Mark led the way and we zipped all around. It was super fun. Luke eventually got the hang of it and he and I switched drivers back and forth. The more he rode, the more cautious he got. I was having fun jumping waves and going medium speed. He didn't like that much and would tell me to slow down. At first Jake was pretty unsure about driving. He drove with Dad and then drove with Jayden. Later he drove alone and became a wild child, jumping waves, swerving all over, going in the wakes of boats and speeding fast. He was absolutely loving it! I so wish I could have taken some pictures! It took a lot of convincing to get Luke to ride with anyone but mom. He didnt trust anyone. Finally I had him go with Dad. At one point Jayden and I were on the same one taking turns driving. We had all 3 wave runners stopped and we were talking. Jayden decided to make a slow 360 and got to leaning so much the wave runner nearly flipped over. She bailed and I leaned the other direction. She screamed "mom" and flew in the water. I got such a good laugh out of it, I couldn't stop laughing. She didn't want to get her hair wet, but that pretty much did her in. We had the wave runners for 2 hours and went all over the whole lake. That was definitly the most fun we have had on the lake. It was a great day, sun shinning around 78 degrees.
In the evening we went for my most favorite dinning experience, made to order pasta bar at Menerva's. We had been over the years to the restaurant, and this was the only night of the week they had the pasta bar. I loved it!
Wednesday morning we went for a late breakfast and rented a boat for the afternoon. It turned out to be our warmest day of the week near 85. It was sunny and warm, but every time we got up some speed I was cold and wrapped a beach towel around me. Jayden and Jacob both attempted to ski. The skis that came with our rental were not working right so that didn't help matters. Jake got in the water but could never get his skiis to stay on his feet before he even tried skiing. One was broken. Mark and the kids spent 4 hours out on the boat and did some tubing as well. I spent a couple hours on the boat and then laid on the beach awhile.
We discovered one of the old and famous locations on Okoboji was closed , "The Inn" formerly located on the northeast side of Okoboji. We stayed there a couple times and ate dinner at their pasta bar. It was the hotel where we made the announcement that we were having another baby, Luke. The Inn is one of the oldest on the lake and sadly it was leveled and lots sold to home owners. We drove by, it was a sad sight to see. A new Inn was built, off the lake and a modern hotel. It is such a shame to see it gone.
The Okoboji inn is said to had been one of the oldest resorts in Iowa. Of all the places on the lake it was the most historic and such a shame they could'nt hold on to it. It was established in 1896. Back in March it was demolished and lots were sold. There is so much history and now its completely gone. 155 units, 87 acres, sold for 5.7 million dollars.
We ate at Bracco's for supper which is on the property where we were staying. It was close to 9:00 when Blake, Ali and the kids arrived to stay for the night. The kids were so cute and so excited. They only got to enjoy the stay briefly and had to be back at their mom's the next evening.
Thursday was supposed to be our big boat day with Ali, Blake and the kids. We had a pontoon rented for 6 hours! It was cool and overcast when we woke up and then it started to rain. It was a cold light rain on and off all day. It was sad for all of us, especially Ali who just wanted to be in the sun and boat. We made the most of the day, went to O'ferrals Sisters for breakfast, the Arnold's Park museum, the Tippy house and silly mirrors. The kids thought that was great. We spent the afternoon at the Bridges Bay waterpark. It was a long drive up and back for such a short stay for them, but they all had a good time regardless. The kids were on their mom's week so had to leave by 4 to be home by 6.
Because Thursday's weather was a flop, we decided to make the most of our last day. Even though we had to be packed and out of our cabin by 11, we still stayed in Okoboji until 4:00. We split up, the boys went to a car museum and then raced on the kart race track, while us girls enjoyed the lake and some sunshine. Yesterday the high was 68, today the high was 86. Too bad we couldn't have switched days. As I was floating, my friend Jess found me and we visited. It's fun to run into friends in the most unexpected places. Mid afternoon we headed back home.
Tuesday was our first morning, it was cool in the morning but the sun was shinning. It was neat to see so many families out, kids running around, adults going for a walk or jog, strollers, kids playing catch, Frisbee, football, you name it. It was obvious, we were in a very nice area, shiny new cars, nice looking families, kind friendly people. Luke wanted to sleep on the 3 feet tall air mattress in our room. By morning he had sunken in so much he was almost touching the ground. Both Jayden and Jake had their own room and bed.
Tuesday Mark took a morning bike ride and I sat and read my devotion and took a walk around the area. The cabins were in a circle with a nice street to walk. There were probably 100 cabins, which I would call small homes. They were all very similar, yet each unique in their own way. Some had a little different shape or color. I looked to see the different landscape. We decided to start the morning with the kids walking around Arnold's park area. We didn't want to ride the rides, just walk through. We did the Tippy house and silly mirror maze because those are free. We also went to the boat museum, which as of this year added the original wooden slide, sugar bowl and a few other vintage rides and games.
In the afternoon we rented 3 wave runners. We started out with Luke on with me, Jake on with Dad, and Jayden on her own. It took a little getting used too, they are very swervy and touchy. A little gas really speeds you up and if you move your handlebars very fast you really turn sharp. It would be easy to dump someone off or tip it over without much try. Mark led the way and we zipped all around. It was super fun. Luke eventually got the hang of it and he and I switched drivers back and forth. The more he rode, the more cautious he got. I was having fun jumping waves and going medium speed. He didn't like that much and would tell me to slow down. At first Jake was pretty unsure about driving. He drove with Dad and then drove with Jayden. Later he drove alone and became a wild child, jumping waves, swerving all over, going in the wakes of boats and speeding fast. He was absolutely loving it! I so wish I could have taken some pictures! It took a lot of convincing to get Luke to ride with anyone but mom. He didnt trust anyone. Finally I had him go with Dad. At one point Jayden and I were on the same one taking turns driving. We had all 3 wave runners stopped and we were talking. Jayden decided to make a slow 360 and got to leaning so much the wave runner nearly flipped over. She bailed and I leaned the other direction. She screamed "mom" and flew in the water. I got such a good laugh out of it, I couldn't stop laughing. She didn't want to get her hair wet, but that pretty much did her in. We had the wave runners for 2 hours and went all over the whole lake. That was definitly the most fun we have had on the lake. It was a great day, sun shinning around 78 degrees.
In the evening we went for my most favorite dinning experience, made to order pasta bar at Menerva's. We had been over the years to the restaurant, and this was the only night of the week they had the pasta bar. I loved it!
Wednesday morning we went for a late breakfast and rented a boat for the afternoon. It turned out to be our warmest day of the week near 85. It was sunny and warm, but every time we got up some speed I was cold and wrapped a beach towel around me. Jayden and Jacob both attempted to ski. The skis that came with our rental were not working right so that didn't help matters. Jake got in the water but could never get his skiis to stay on his feet before he even tried skiing. One was broken. Mark and the kids spent 4 hours out on the boat and did some tubing as well. I spent a couple hours on the boat and then laid on the beach awhile.
We discovered one of the old and famous locations on Okoboji was closed , "The Inn" formerly located on the northeast side of Okoboji. We stayed there a couple times and ate dinner at their pasta bar. It was the hotel where we made the announcement that we were having another baby, Luke. The Inn is one of the oldest on the lake and sadly it was leveled and lots sold to home owners. We drove by, it was a sad sight to see. A new Inn was built, off the lake and a modern hotel. It is such a shame to see it gone.
The Okoboji inn is said to had been one of the oldest resorts in Iowa. Of all the places on the lake it was the most historic and such a shame they could'nt hold on to it. It was established in 1896. Back in March it was demolished and lots were sold. There is so much history and now its completely gone. 155 units, 87 acres, sold for 5.7 million dollars.
We ate at Bracco's for supper which is on the property where we were staying. It was close to 9:00 when Blake, Ali and the kids arrived to stay for the night. The kids were so cute and so excited. They only got to enjoy the stay briefly and had to be back at their mom's the next evening.
Thursday was supposed to be our big boat day with Ali, Blake and the kids. We had a pontoon rented for 6 hours! It was cool and overcast when we woke up and then it started to rain. It was a cold light rain on and off all day. It was sad for all of us, especially Ali who just wanted to be in the sun and boat. We made the most of the day, went to O'ferrals Sisters for breakfast, the Arnold's Park museum, the Tippy house and silly mirrors. The kids thought that was great. We spent the afternoon at the Bridges Bay waterpark. It was a long drive up and back for such a short stay for them, but they all had a good time regardless. The kids were on their mom's week so had to leave by 4 to be home by 6.
Because Thursday's weather was a flop, we decided to make the most of our last day. Even though we had to be packed and out of our cabin by 11, we still stayed in Okoboji until 4:00. We split up, the boys went to a car museum and then raced on the kart race track, while us girls enjoyed the lake and some sunshine. Yesterday the high was 68, today the high was 86. Too bad we couldn't have switched days. As I was floating, my friend Jess found me and we visited. It's fun to run into friends in the most unexpected places. Mid afternoon we headed back home.
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