If These Pictures Aren't Proof Enough...

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus."
                                                        - Francis Pharcellus Church


This isn't scary at all.



Wait a second, this isn't my list!!!



"HOOOO... HOOO... HOO... And what's your name little boy?"

MIA

It has been a long time since I have updated my blog and I am sure many of you have been thinking "I wonder what has been going on with little Jonas?" - Well, let's start with Halloween.

My parents, bless their hearts, tried to pick the perfect "cool" costume for a Halloween party we were set to attend. Now, I was thinking "cool costume", sure, Thomas the Train, Sponge Bob, a Super Hero, or one of the Transformers. Instead, they dressed as some sci-fi couple and put me into some sort of fluffy bear costume. They also tried to teach me to say "Yub Yub" - but I just couldn't do it...

Overall, the party was a hoot though. It was fun to see all my buds dressed up and the door-to-door candy extravaganza was a dream!


"Yub Yub" (or whatever...)


Where is that Wookie!!??!


My Halloween Friends
(somebody's thinking Arbys...)

The Great Pumpkin!

Living in the country has muchas ventajas, one of which is a pumpkin patch close by. This weekend both my family and friends were able to come out to the country, eat some fried apple pies, drink some cider, and browse for the perfect pumpkin!



So mini pumpkins & they even taste good... (pun intended)


So this is what happens when the mini pumpkins grow up.



Choosing the right pumpkin can be so hard.


Overall a really good time!

Ride 'em Cowboy

A few weeks ago was Cowboy day at school so I dusted off my cowboy hat, pulled out my boots, and explained to the youngsters in my class that being a cowboy isn't simply riding off into the sunset. For full effect, I had planned to bring my six-shooters, but Mommy and Daddy didn't think it a good idea.

By the way, 'Giddy-up' doesn't translate into Spanish!


As you ponder the complexity of this picture, I recommend turning up the volume on your computer speakers and listening to the soundclip below...

I once caught a fish ttthhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiisssssssss big...

I just got home from my first viaje de pescato to Minnesota. While I didn't do a lot of actual fishing, I could certainly get used to the laid-back lifestyle of living on the lake!



Ready for inclement weather


Me, Mommy, Daddy, and a big lake..


¡la pesca me hace hambriento!

A Successful First Football Game

While I don't really get the whole "pigskin" analogy, I find watching football to be quite fun! I especially liked the fireworks that accompanied the celebration of another touchdown and the flag-ladies & drummers of the halftime show...




My favortie football snack, Leche!

Getting a Haricut Has Never Been so Fun!

¡Quiero ser un firemand cuando crezco!

A little learning is a dangerous thing. -Alexander Pope

Here is what I learned at school today...


Talk to the hand, Mommy!

Can't Wait Until I Turn 16!

I didn’t believe my parents when they told me that I couldn’t ride a bike without a helmet until I turn 16 so I did some research and it turns out they are right. According to the Georgia Bicycle Helmet Statute (Part 40-6-296 Lights and other equipment on bicycles, section E):

(e) (1) No person under the age of 16 years shall operate or be a passenger on a bicycle on a highway, bicycle path, or sidewalk under the jurisdiction or control of this state or any local political subdivision thereof without wearing a bicycle helmet.
For more information: Georgia Helmet Laws

So for now (and for the next 15 years), I guess I will sport a helmet while on wheels. Here are some pictures of my new Donald Duck Helmet!

My New Helmet!

My head definitely has some room to grow in this thing!

Missing Mommy Found!

I have instructed Daddy to take down the Missing Posters - as my mommy has been found. After several weeks of being missing, she has returned and aside from a weird curry smell, she was found in good health. We are very happy to have her home, almost as happy as she seems to be about being back home. She came home bearing gifts. Below are the pictures of my very beautiful Indian clothes that she curried, oops, I mean carried back with her.




Our Indian Garb


Amo a mi primo!

Now, if I only spoke Hindi... Perhaps, I will learn that after I teach my parents spanish!

What is an Un-birthday Present?

"I mean, what is an un-birthday present?"
"A present given when it isn't your birthday, of course."

Alice considered a little. "I like birthday presents best," she said at last.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" cried Humpty Dumpty.

"How many days are there in a year?"

"Three hundred and sixty-five," said Alice.

"And how many birthdays have you?"

"One."

- Lewis Carroll

Unlike Alice, I apparently have more than one birthday a year. I had duos parties and received gifts for at least duos weeks! I amor ALL my new toys but my favorite part is still the cake!

Partido Número Uno!


Cake is just so exciting!


Can't eat any more cake, I might be sick!!!

Feliz Cumpleaños USA!!!

A few weeks ago on the 4th of July, I attended the annual Hanon-family get-together to celebrate the independence of America. While it was not my 1st birthday party, it was somewhat different than the ones I have been to in the past. Usually, there is cake, ice cream, and a ceremony of opening gifts. This party had no cake, no ice cream and no gifts! I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the watermelon (see pictures below)...

So you say this tastes like cake?.....


Not cake, but I like it!

My Life as a Beach Bum

It has been a crazy few weeks here at the McLaren house hence the lapse in my blogging… Let’s start from a few weeks ago when I went to the beach with my best friend, Kiefer. I have never seen the ocean before and it did not disappoint – matter a fact, I liked it so much that I am considering becoming a Beach Bum when I grow up. Below are a few pictures from our trip to Brunswick.


Practicing my beach-bum lifestyle...


Table for 2, Please!


Dude, you are never going to fit in that box.
Kiefer's daddy is loco en la cabeza!


This is my new friend, Sam.

Miracles are Relative

I might as well name this blog “My Exhausting McLaren Life” as it has been another non-stop weekend of meeting new people, doing new things, and entertaining new friends.

On Sunday, my mommy’s lady colleagues hosted a “meet and greet” for me at our house. While I don’t quite get the concept of shaking hands yet, I have a feeling that I was a hit with the ladies (Sí, soy un hombre de las señoras). Of course, I was on my best behavior (which was tough as I was a bit under the weather last week) but it is amazing how easy it was to wow these gals. A few smiles on cue, a couple of high-fives on-demand, and an occasional bashful smirk and they were eating out of the palms of my hands.

Also, today I came to the realization that miracles are entirely relative. For instance, my parents were astonished at my "motor-skill miracles" today including feeding myself banana puffs, clapping my hands together, dancing, and waving "hola" and "adios". While it’s not quite turning water into wine or walking on water, it apparently meant the world to them.

Here are a few pictures from this weekend's activities...


Daddy and I before the guests arrived. I love my new outfit that McKenzie sent me!!!


Everyone wanted to hold me, and kiss me, and love me...


But who can blame them, who can resist this face???

Jaws of Life

"Jaws of Life” might mean different things to different people. To someone in a horrible car crash, it may be the momentary differentiator between life and death. To me, it exemplifies the quick parental decision between “saving the baby” and “saving the cute pajamas.”

I woke this morning to a horrid smell. I thought for sure something had died in my nursery overnight while I was sleeping. But as I started to do my morning stretches, I realized that the smell was permeating from within my crib, from within my own pajamas in fact. I notified my parents who came running to the rescue. The problem was astutely identified (they are quick learners). As they rushed me to the changing table and started to remove my PJs, the dilemma was quickly upon them:

· Save the pajamas - by dragging the deathly-smelling, excrement-coated onesie over my head, or
· Save the baby - by removing the onesie in a way that would not require any more contact with the specimen.

In a split second, they made the right decision. I heard my daddy say, “Get the scissors!” My mommy quickly appeared with my “Jaws of Life” and cut me out of the situation that could have meant my certain doom.

For more information on “Jaws of Life” check out this cool site: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/jaws-life.htm

While the morning was a bit trying, the day ended well. My favorite Primero Primo and my Abuela Hanon came to spend the night. Before I went to bed, McKenzie read me my favorite bedtime story. She is an excelente reader. Here are a few photos…


I love books about Catepillars.

Look mommy, the Catepillar turns into a butterfly.

I love my cousin!

Pool Play Date

I had another playdate with Kiefer today. Instead of hanging in his crib, we hung at his neighborhood pool. To get to the pool, Tía Adrianne pulled Kiefer and I in a wagon designed for two! I have confirmed that la natación es grande. Mommy and I played in the piscina del bebé but eventually went to the adult pool. It was a great time!

Man, you guys are starting to get heavy!


Thought you said Zero to 60 MPH in 5.5 seconds...

Tommy's Birthday Party

Over the weekend, I attended my first Birthday Party. My new friend Tommy turned 1. Because my mommy was in school (she is muy inteligente), my padre took me to the party. There were lots of kids there including Kiefer, Emma, Atlas, and even Quinn, a pequeño bebé. Seems like all the adults wanted to hold me but once that was over with, I had a lot of fun watching the kids play with the outdoor water toys. There was a lot of good food but my favorite part was the cake. I LOVE cake! Turns out Tommy loves cake too: Check out our pictures!


Turning 1 is fun!



Post-Cake Clean Up



Tío Jason es muy divertido!



Partying sure takes it out of ya!

Meeting my First Cousin

Yesterday at my grandma and grandpa Hanon's, I met my primero primo, McKenzie Renee. She was muy feliz to meet me. She said she had waited a long time to play with me and now that she met me, she “wanted to hold me every second of the day.” I watched her run and laugh and play and read and stand on her head and many other things that I can’t even think of now. I can tell we are going to become amigos muy buenos. Here are a few pictures of McKenzie and me.


Here's my cuz' - she is muy bonita!



Here we are with mommy...



McKenzie inspired me to try to stand on my own. Now, given my current height and weight, I estimate that my head would hit the ground in less than 1.3 seconds...



Mire a la Mamá, Ningunas Manos!!!

Good catch, mom!