3 1/2

Today the kids turned 3 1/2 years old.  We celebrated with some Frostys from Wendy's

 They also got puddle jumpers for our upcoming vacations.  They wanted to try them out in the bath tonight.  

Time please slow down.  

Swimming

The kids finished up swimming lessons last week.  They loved playing with Josh and getting more comfortable in the water.  If you remember last year Ellie was jumping in and swimming around by herself with her life vest on.  Evan & Charlotte would usually just sit on the steps and play.  Boy did that change this year.  

 Ellie still had no hesitation to get in the pool.  She loves to swim around and play with the toys.  She is a little bit more reserved with jumping off the side and going down the slide.  She did love to get dolphin rides from Josh.  

Evan was a different story this year.  He absolutely loved swimming, especially jumping in.  Once he figured out he could do it that is all he wanted to do.  He is kicking good and getting really brave.  When he watches the older boys dive off the diving board he wanted to do it too  He would try to jump up and down to get the board to move.  He loves the slide too.  

Charlotte is off the stairs swimming folks!  She loves her puddle jumper vest and will kick and swim around.  She still is very cautious, but that is okay.  No slides or jumping in for her, but is really enjoying swimming this year.  She loves swimming to the ladder.  

Looking stylish while swimming

They had so much fun this year at swimming lessons and we can't thank Josh enough for his help. 

Thanks Aundrea & Kim for letting us invade your pool on Sundays.  

Vogel 2012 Part 2

Saturday morning we headed out to play on the playground.

Stopped by Granny & Gail's cabin to say good morning.  

Lunch time was reunion time and of course it started raining.  After eating they had fun playing in the creek next to the picnic area.  They played until I got them out because they were so cold.  

We headed back to the camper and watch a movie outside with Michelle, Victoria, Lisa & Joe.  

After everyone left we ate dinner, played a game and went to bed early.  

It's a good thing we went to bed early.  At 6:45 I heard our cooler with ice get knocked over.  I woke Matthew up and looked out the window and saw a black bear in our cooler.  The only thing in the cooler was a pitcher of lemonade.  I banged on the window and he ran off.  I just wished I had taken a picture before I scared him off.  He did leave a few teeth & claw holes in the cooler.  It's a good thing Granddaddy was not sleeping in a tent that night.  When the kids got up we told them about the bear & the cooler.  Now they think bears drink Lemonade!  

After our excitement we headed to Hiawassee.  We went to a playground before it got too hot.  

We even had a few races down the slides

Charlotte just a swingin'

Then we went to the Fair.  The kids had not been since they were 5 months old.  

We ate some boiled peanuts and boy did Ellie like them.  

We watched the pig races.  

Evan even picked the winning pig.  

He won the blue ribbon.  

The rides opened up so we went and rode a few rides.

It was so hot we headed back to the camper.  Another night of swimming and roasting marshmallows.  

Ellie had a smore!

No more bears came to our campsite.  I guess they knew we were out of lemonade!