Happy 9th birthday, Kate!!

We celebrated Kate's 9th birthday with a  pool party (it was such  a pretty day, we barely had to heat the pool at all!)  This year Kate wanted a dragon party in homage to the Wings of Fire book series in which she is currently engrossed.  Happy birthday to our smart, sympathetic, sunshine of a girl!!  We love you, Kate!

Washington D.C.

This week we took a few days off of school for a five day trip to Washington DC. We flew there and Uncle John drove out and met us there.  It was an awesome vacation.  We saw the White House, the Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington Monuments, two of the Smithsonians, Arlington cemetery, took a tour of the US Capitol and  toured Mount Vernon.  What a trip!

Smithsonian nonsense

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington.

Outside our hotel and on our way to the Washington monument

Thomas Jeffersons memorial

US Capitol

Lincoln Memorial

Dinner at Founding Farmers.  It was delicious!

The White House

Uncle John teaches Luke how to make a switch?

Mount Vernon

Luke is a bike rider!!

Luke is officially a bike rider!  Benjamin gave him his bicycle and we went into the big ditch near the Swaney's house where it took him no time at all to get the hang of it!  Go Luke!!

Happy New Year!!!

This year we spent New Years Eve at the JW Marriott and had a blast!  We played kickball, floated the lazy river (it was warm!) and went dancing!

All the cousins!

Original Vogt cousins

the ladies!

Kate, Luke and Dax

Luke celebrated with a little sparkling cider!