Memorial Day weekend in Okoboji
I wanted to share some photos of our Memorial Day weekend in Okoboji. Most of them have been posted on Instagram so I apologize for the repeats if you follow me there. Our twin nieces Myah and Maysen chose to have their family birthday party at my grandparents' lake house and the amusement park up there this year, and we had a lovely time. I hope they make it a yearly thing! (I really can't believe they are going to be 7 this weekend! Ahh!)
It's hard for me to describe Okoboji to those who have never been. It's a very popular summer tourist area in Iowa, but it really is an exceptional place. I spent a lot of time there in the summers while growing up, and it's where I was living when Eric and I started dating and where we got married, so it's really special for both of us. Even though it's not as much of a relaxing getaway for us now, we love that we get to share it with Rooney.
In addition to the lovely lakes, yummy restaurants and various attractions, my grandparents' lake house has nine bedrooms and six bathrooms, so it really feels like a luxurious getaway (and fairly inexpensive, even when we're there for an entire week). I should probably do a house tour of the house sometime because my nana is amazing at decorating.
It has become our family tradition to stop at A&W in Emmetsburg on our drive up. It's a 3.5-hour drive total and A&W is right at the 2.5-hour mark when we're getting hangry and need a break. We don't have an A&W near us so this totally feels like a splurge and the perfect way to start our vacation. (I get the corn dog with cheese curds and root beer in a mug. Yum.)
Mylie (my sister's youngest) and Rooney are one year apart and have become really close. (Isn't Mylie's hair such a hoot? I love it.)
My niece Quinn Cole (my brother's daughter) is one month old! Rooney is obsessed. (This photo made my ovaries explode.)
Don't freak out but THERE IS AN ICE CREAM TRUCK that comes up the hill and plays music and (obviously) sells yummy treats. I was napping but awoke to the music and immediately ran outside. Ice cream trucks are illegal in Des Moines so this was a major treat for us.
He was super nice and even let us sit on it!
We took Rooney to the amusement park and she loved it way more than we could have anticipated. I think last year she did five rides but this time she was wanting to do everything (even the ones she's not big enough for yet) and rode for a couple hours nonstop.
And then this happened and we promptly went to the ticket booth and bought her a season pass. (Same kid; different fish; last year.)
I couldn't believe she wanted to ride this OR that she was in fact tall enough to go by herself. The operator dude suggested that Eric chaperone her but poor guy really didn't want to. Roo drug him on this one twice! Next time I say my child is cautious, remind me of this. Go Roo!
I am so excited to go back for an entire week in a couple months! We got a lot of things checked off our "must-do" list last weekend though so it will be even more relaxing than usual!