The Osthoff

We have been fortunate to take many little extended weekend getaways this summer.  This particular trip was to The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake.  It was a beautiful little place with plenty to do on site and great golfing nearby for all four of the boys.  The weather was perfect and we had the great company of our friends the Swanson's, whose kiddos are the same age as ours.  The kids had a blast and the adults even got to get away and have some fun of their own.  

Here we are enjoying the resorts evening campfire, roasting marshmellows.

Simone & Stella enjoying their s'mores

Elkhart Lake is a spring fed lake, so it was crystal clear, and there was great beach that was shallow for a long ways out.......perfect for our small kiddos!  Although the sand itself proved to be just as much fun.

Ever since taking gymnastics, Stella has been viewing everything as a balance beam, whether it be the curb, the yellow line of a parking stall, or these rocks.

They had a good variety of water rentals available, including these.....

 ....and while the water bike contraptions looked quite fun, we decided this would be a better fit for our little family of four.  

I think we mad a good choice :)

Girl Time

They had a cute little concession stand/restaurant and bar right on the beach.  Here the girls are drinking their "water on the rocks."

.....and also near the beach was this little playground which Stella kept sneaking away to.  She's a bit obsessed with swinging and sliding at the moment.  She will let you know if you are not pushing her "really high so she can touch the sky"

Thanks to someone Dennis knew locally, we scored a couple of babysitters one evening so the four of us could enjoy a nice dinner and night out at the "Swing Bar" and the Tiki Bar, and experience everything Elkhart Lake had to offer.

another great thing about the Osthoff was that it was walking distance to all the cute little shops and restaurants in Elkhart Lake.

We found an adorable little ice cream shop

the last night we all hung out on the beach as the sun set.  the kids were completely occupied and working great as a team to perfect their sand "waterfall" and the adults, we were able to lounge and chat and just watch the kids have a blast.  Quite the perfect summer evening if you ask me!

Cullen & Jack, the musclemen - it take big muscles to build a big sand structure!

the four amigos

Thanks Swanson's for a great vacation!  We will definitely be returning next year.