We are enjoying Lake Okoboji. Mark and I are house/dog sitting for friends who have a gorgeous home on the lake.What a wonderful place to be in Iowa in the summer! Nothing like it. It all started over a week ago. I drove to Peoria, IL on Wednesday, the 17th, to pick up Drew and Kayley as their daycare was going to be closed that Thursday and Friday. I spent the night in Peoria and we took off the next day for the farm. Andy and Megan arrived very late Friday night and the next morning we took off for the lake. Matt joined us at Okoboji and we had a wonderful time until they all left on Tuesday.
Drew and Kayley had SO much fun at Okoboji!!! We did the lake, Arnolds Park, wave runner, big, BIG boat ride, Sugar Shack, etc. I think they would be happy to come every summer to Lake Okoboji. :-) I know I would!
Mark and Matt took Jim's boat out for some fishing and had an excellent time and even caught some fish! I went one afternoon with them and just lazed around while they were reeling in northerns and bass. Such fun!
We were a bit lonesome on Tuesday when Megan's family and Matt left but we soon recovered. Ha! Our very dear friends, Nancy and Jim, live right next door and we just love seeing them on a daily basis. I even got to see an old school pal from the 70's and toured her and her husband's lovely home, too. It has been an awesome 8 days. Last night the owners of our "good fortune" returned from their Canadian fishing trip and we are staying an extra night to take everyone out for a steak dinner in Minnesota. It has been a fantastic way to wind down the summer here in Iowa. Thank you, Rick and Nadine!!!
Pics and videos from our week:
Matt with a small northern
Mark and his northern. After hearing the tales from the Canadian fishing trip, these look a bit puny!
Kayley and Andy in Peoria
I bought these buckets for the beach but they found other uses!
Greeting grandpa when they arrived at the farm
Kayley pulling leaves from branches...why do I even buy toys? :-)
Mark and I hosted a family reunion at the farm. Its unofficial designation was the "sweetcorn" reunion. The summer heat wave pushed our corn to the limit and it was getting very done but everyone seemed to enjoy it anyway!
It all started on Wednesday, August 3rd. Jan and her granddaughters Hayley, Olivia and Carley arrived first. We grilled hot dogs and had, of course, sweetcorn for dinner. Megan, Andy, Drew and Kayley arrived next....late that night after leaving Peoria when their work day ended.
Thursday morning Jan, Andy, Megan and I attempted to play golf at Honey Creek near Boone. Beautiful course but we only managed 6.5 holes as it started to POUR rain. It didn't appear that it was going to subside anytime soon so we had an expensive 7 holes of golf! We really needed rain desperately so I wasn't all that sad but then as we drove home and arrived at the Pilot Mound stop sign it became apparent that our farm received zero rain. That is when I became sad!!!
Thursday late afternoon Marla, Kallie and Liam arrived safely from Minneapolis. Friend Cyndy from Ankeny also arrived around that time. We invited good friends Jan and Clayton for Mark's grilled chicken and.....sweet corn! It was a fun evening.
Friday saw more golf. Marla and I stayed on the farm with all the little ones and everyone else went to the Dayton Golf Course. Britt drove down from Alexandria that day and met them at the course. After golf Mark grilled chops (and sweet corn) for a big crowd. Larry and Jody came from Rockwell City and Kevin and Julie, Dan and Katie, John and Amanda and Sarah also came. Another delicious dinner and a fun evening with the family.
Saturday morning Larry drove back to the farm and Lane and Angie, Jake and Jesse came in the afternoon. We grilled burgers for dinner....with sweet corn! Saturday consisted of a water fight and a tractor ride from Grandpa Mark for the little ones.
A constant sight on the farm for four days were vehicles going non-stop. The golf cart and lawnmower never seemed to sit still. They had a great time driving between the two farms for hours on end! It was fun watching them go, go go!
