Okoboji 2010

We just got back from our yearly trip to Lake Okoboji with all of the Vogels and it was a really good time. The weather cooperated and we had some really nice days, the kids all played together really well, and I got to take lots of naps. What more could you ask for in a vacation? I think part of the reason this vacation is so fun, besides getting to spend quality time with all of the in-laws that we don't get to see as often as we'd like, is because we can take the boat out every day for just a leisurely ride or do some tubing with the kids. I love being on the water! Deacon really enjoyed his first trip on the boat. He was so calm and engrossed the whole time and just sat and watched the other boats and looked at the water.

Before anyone yells at me for tubing while pregnant, I will tell you that we were going very slow so there was no chance of falling off and the bumps were minimal! Todd will not like that I put this picture up- he calls it the "fat guy in a little coat" picture. He was sweet and gave me the good life jacket. True love!

The kids even enjoyed the tube a bit more this year. They always had to go on with an adult, and again, we always went really slow, but they still had fun.

We also managed to take a fun Father's Day picture of all the Vogel brothers and the kids on Father's Day. Todd is the youngest of the 3 boys, Tim is the middle brother with Lilly, and Randy is the oldest with Ella and Max.

More pictures to come...

Deacon Update

I'm trying to do my duty to my second child and make sure he knows he is loved and that we did brag on him as much (or a few times at least) as we did our first, so I thought I would show you what Deacon is up to these days. He's almost 11 months old and he has said his first two words: Mama (Yay! I Win! Jackson said Dada first) and Uh-oh. Uh-oh comes up a lot more, as in "Uh-oh" I just dumped all my food off my tray onto the ground. Or "uh-oh" I just threw all my toys down the stairs through the baby gate. Or "uh-oh", boy do I like the way my voice sounds when I say "uh-oh". He really enjoys helping load and unload the dishwasher, and he can stand unassisted for a little while, but hasn't really gotten the hang of the whole walking thing yet, which is fine with me! And, seriously, he's freaking adorable! He is sooooo cuddly, just loves to be held and snuggled, and I love to oblige him whenever I can. We love you to pieces little Monkey!

Fun at the STL zoo

The kids and I took a long weekend trip to STL last week to visit the my sister and family to help celebrate her birthday. I wish I had taken more pictures, but these are a few from the zoo.
The kids always like the zoo, but sometimes I think it's just because they like riding the train. Either way, it kills a good couple of hours and everyone's happy! Deacon's first trip to the zoo! He wasn't all that impressed, but he did enjoy watching the fish.

Again, proof that the kids were probably more excited about the train than the animals.

The kids enjoyed each other's company (most of the time) and Lindsay and I got to spend some fun time together and enjoy a whole day on our own that we filled with all sorts of loveliness, including an underground birthday celebration dinner. Awesome food, and a really fun time compliments of Lindsay's talented chef husband and his peeps at Entre.