Wautoma '11

Earlier this month we made our annual friends-weekend-trek to the cottage.  Alas we were short one family this year...the Harms' had a family commitment which trumped our weekend.  Andrew, we wish you the best of luck in your new life as man & wife, but try not to schedule life-changing family events during our precious few weekends together, mmmk? 

The weekend started off on shaky ground.  We were in Oshkosh when Matt realized that we were driving my car and had my keys...hence, no cottage keys.  We were hoping that we could break in via the construction site which was eventually achieved by removing some siding and crawling through a window opening.  Very MacGyver. I wasn't around for the heist as G and I both needed to hit the ladies' room and I was not trying to balance my pregnant self in the woods, so we went back into town where we had to go grocery shopping anyway.  We got back about 45 minutes later to Matt looking incredibly sweaty and Ralphie panting up a storm.  Turns out the Big Barker decided he was going to follow me and G into town and took off after we left the driveway and - after breaking in to the cottage - Matt was searching all over the place for the animal.  Ralph was covered in burs and brambles but honestly, looked pretty pleased with himself.  Wild woodland Poodle: 1.  Matt: 0. 


After all the crazy, we met the Kroenings in town for pizza.  Even though we had seen them only a few weeks before it was incredible to see how much the boys had changed.  The kids were really good considering they had all been cooped up in cars.  We headed back and unpacked and got settled.  The Bansemars rolled in Saturday morning and by midday we were in the classic vaca routine of boat/eat/swim/play/repeat.  We swam Saturday and had a campfire Saturday and Sunday.  Sunday was sunny and crisp so we stayed out of the water but had a little woodland adventure which included a tiny frog and lots of antibacterial soap.  Added bonus: a new, supremely north woods drinking game from Shawn & Mel entitled "Hammer Schlagen".  Schlagen auf Deutsch means "to beat" and the object is to beat your super-sized nail into the log faster than anyone else.  Highly technical.  Highly Wisconsin. 

We're on a boat!

Good daddies taking the kiddos fishing

Brave preschoolers watching for sharks off the sundeck

Everyone in!

Extreme concentration required

Remember when we all used to sleep until about 10:30?

Yep, not a one was in the mood to do this

Melissa plots her next Hammer Schlagen move

Shawn goes in for the kill

The hair!

Kyle captures a little woodland creature

and we were happy to see the princess was in the mood to bravely hang on to him!

Ralphie's senior picture

Can't let a little construction interrupt story time

Everyone was able to stay until Monday and we snuck in one more dip in the lake before we headed home.  It was a lovely weekend getaway with our buds and if there's one thing I can say, it's that this group is collectively very grateful for the new cottage addition.  Mark your calendars for Wautoma '12!