OKOBOJI 2011

We had a great family and friend vacation last weekend in Okoboji. It was our 4th annual trip (though we've only made it three years now because Claire was about to join us in 2009 and we didn't want to travel)! As we enjoyed reminiscing during a photo slide show Saturday night, we all agreed that we must be getting older - it isn't nearly as crazy anymore as it was the first couple of years. In fact, everyone was in bed by 12:00 both nights I believe. Highlights of the weekend included lots of boating, even more food (and at random times), skiing for Matt and the others, swimming for Claire and Annabelle, and showing up Brian in our diving contest for me!

Claire and I also discovered the public sidewalk that runs along the lake. Although we had lots of fun the whole weekend, it's that simple memory that I think was the best for me. We headed down the path while Daddy, Jeff, and John were skiing on Sunday morning before breakfast. Right away, we spotted lots of sailboats and one sailboat that was away from the rest of them. This started a great conversation about a book we often read, Riese Rick macht sich schick. In it, a goat (one of Claire's favorite animals) is sad because the storm blew away his sail. So, Rick the Giant, who had just gotten stylish new clothes, literally takes the shirt off his back to give it to the goat. The goat uses it as a new sail for his sailboat and everything is better. Rick saves the day! We love this book and Claire especially enjoys noticing the feelings of the animals (sad to happy after Rick helps). Later on our walk, we took note of the 'little buildings' that were by the lake near all of the docks. After a while, I asked Claire what she thought was in the little buildings. She told me "Stroh," which I didn't understand at first. After a few guesses on my part of me repeating her, but saying similar words and her saying "nein" and getting that look on her face like "Mami, you just aren't understanding what I'm saying," she told me "Ziegen fressen Stroh." (Goats eat straw.) (Anybody who knows better can correct me, but that's what it looks like they're eating at the zoo and that's always been what we've said.) This sentence helped clarify that she thought that there was straw in the little buildings by the lake. Oh, how I love her logic! :)

Thank you to Claire's adoptive Okoboji grandma Deb and grandpa John for hosting us again!

(Pictures later!...Jen, can you email those during ALL that free time please?) :) :)