Mama Mia!

I wanted to let you know how I've been spending my time lately, I have been learning to cook!

It started with helping daddy make the coffee in the morning, then I started helping daddy make sandwiches for lunch then I moved up to helping him cook eggs - you have to be very careful, the stove can be HOT!

My latest creation - spaghetti and meatballs!

Mommy cut some unions (No knives for Jonas - a phrase that is thrown around a lot around our house) but she let me saute them.


Then to something a little safer, making bread crumbs.



Then to something a little more gross (but you still have to wash your hands first), making the meat balls, I kept asking for a spoon, but after daddy put his hands in, I followed suit, when they told me I could wash my hands again the meat balls were finished.



It was really cold and slimy!


And everyone raved about how good my meal was. I think I still like Mac & Cheese better, but it was still pretty good. Bon Appetit!

Quotable Jonas

Jonas has become quite the conversationalist. Here are a few of his most-common Jonas quotes lately...

Upgraded Catch Phrase

Jonas has been saying 'I'm good' for a while. He says this phrase if he doesn't want to do something, or want's to postpone something we ask him to do. Example: 'Jonas, are you ready for bed?', the reply, 'No, I'm good.' This phrase has been upgraded in the last couple of weeks to 'I'm just all good!', it still seems to have the same meaning, but he does put special emphasis on the 'all'.

Potty Quotes

Jonas is doing really well with his potty training (better late than never!). He is now pretty good about telling us when he needs to go, sometimes in different ways. If he waits too long (until it is an emergency) he starts saying, 'Ouch, Ouch...' every couple of seconds, until we realize why he is in 'pain.' Also, he has now come to appreciate his privacy while doing his business - he tells us: 'Leave please, close the door.'

Just Making Sure

Jonas is confirming our intentions these days. For example, if we tell him it is bedtime, or that he needs to eat his dinner if he wants more milk he will ask 'Are you sure?' We always reply with 'Yes, Jonas we are sure.' Guess he is just checking.

Keeping Halley In Line

Our little dog Halley stays in the backyard most of the time, so from time to time she gets a little over excited, which results in scratching on the glass door leading to our deck. A few weeks ago, Jonas heard me lose my cool after a long night of scratching, shouting: 'Halley stop it!', which resulted in the following from Jonas when Halley scratched: 'NO HALLEY!' in his best non-civilized angry Daddy voice. So we had to soften the way he handle the Halley scolding. Now, Jonas says in a very calm voice 'Stop scratching the door please Halley...thank you!'. Much better...

And for you who only look at the pictures, here is Jonas' second time he was asked to sit with the pilot before takeoff. This time he did not hesitate, he shook the pilots hand, and sat right down, this time he even had his seat adjusted by the pilot, and received a steering lesson.

Easter Weekend

On Easter weekend we decided to go down to Monterey and Big Sur, since mommy had the day off for Good Friday.

We had a lot of fun riding bikes, walking on the beach, and eating too much!

We wanted to ride bikes in Big Sur, but after a quick drive through, we quickly realized Big Sur, has much better areas for camping and hiking. So we decided that would need plan a camping trip for another time - I can't wait! I will just need to get over my rhypophobia by then (fear of dirt)...

Here are Mommy and I on some rocks at the beach on our way back from Big Sur.






We went back to Monterey to ride our bikes around the 17 Mile Drive near Pebble Beach! It was fun and really windy.



On the way back from Monterey on Sunday, we stopped at Roaring Camp Railroads, we also went there last year and it rained on us, but this year was much better, we were bought tickets for the train ride, I was sooooo excited, I could not wait. The 12:30 train came and went, mommy and daddy told me we were on the next one. Soon, I heard our train, it was the #2 steam train, pulling into the station. We waited until everyone was off the train, and then found our seat.



The train ride was really fun! Daddy thought the Giant Redwoods were really cool, they looked like big trees to me. I was really just waiting for the Easter Egg Hunt at the top of the mountain. I was ready-Easter basket in hand, the only problem, it was a 1 hour trip to the top of the mountain. About 20 minutes from the top, I felt like I needed to lay down for a few minutes to save my strength for the big hunt. We were almost at the top when all of a sudden, yep, the infamous Jonas nap time took hold. Mommy and Daddy tried to wake me without success.

Here I am on the top of the mountain...asleep on daddy's shoulder. Just feet away from me are other kids hunting for Easter eggs. Daddy was able to find a few Easter eggs for me, and another little boy offered me some of his candy, since I missed the fun.



I did wake up as the train pulled back into the station. Just in time to get my annual Easter Glamor Shots.

I've Got The Moves!

I wanted to share on of my new favorite things to do these days.

I love to dance!

Last Christmas my cousin McKenzie received a new dance game as a gift. She showed us how to play and I was hooked. Soon after Christmas, Mommy and Daddy bought the game for me. I play it at least once a day and I love it!

Here are a few of my moves on video. My cousin recently came to visit us, I really like to dance with McKenzie. I try to copy her moves.

Here is a duet with McKenzie




This one starts off a little slow, but I really like when it speeds up!

The Happy Hollow Park/Zoo

Last weekend we went to the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose. I went a couple of times last year, but I didn't remember it being this much fun!

There is a lot to do at the Happy Hollow park. They have lots of stuff to climb on, and some big slides.



But I really liked the rides.


Most of all though, I really liked the roller coaster!


I remember it was a little scary last time, but I had a blast this time. The best part, we were able to ride it over and over if there was no one waiting in line.

Even though it was cold, we had a great time, I also met some new friends! Corey from mommy's work brought his kids - Madison, Kaitlyn and Hudson. Madison and Kaitlyn are in the back seat of the roller coaster video.

I like to Ski!

Last weekend we went up to Truckee to go skiing and snow boarding with McKenzie, Uncle Kris and Aunt Kelli. We were pretty lucky all weekend. We headed up on Friday evening, and decided, at the last minute, to stay in a hotel rather than try to drive over the mountain in the snow. Turns out that was our first good idea. Truckee and Tahoe got about 30 inches of snow that night.

We got to Truckee by noon on Saturday. Mommy and Daddy decided to get a half day of snow boarding in. I took a nap. They went skiing at Northstar ski resort. Perfect weather, not crowded, they had a great time!

The next day, we ALL went skiing. We tried to go to Northstar, since Mommy and Daddy had such a good time the day before. But, since it was a holiday weekend (and it was 'ski week' where no one has school in the bay area and EVERYONE goes skiing), there was a lot of people. We waited for a bus in the parking lot for about 30 minutes and finally decided to go to Squaw Valley. It could have been just as bad, but turns out, it was MUCH better - good decision #2. There were some people, but far less than at Northstar. And very little waiting.


It was cold on top of the "big hill" as I like to call it!


Here I am in action. I kept telling daddy to take me further up the hill to the ski lift, but he said I wasn't quite ready for that.



The next morning before we left, we had some fun playing in the snow. Who knew a trash can lid on an icy driveway could be so much fun...

Here is our ice tunnel.



My cousin McKenzie, turns out, is training to be a stunt girl! Here she is jumping off the second story deck into the 4+ feet of snow below.

And Finally...The Big Island

Sorry for the delay, but here is what we did on the last island.

On the first evening at The Big Island, we went to a beach near our rental place to watch the sunset. It turned out to be a great idea, because it was the best sunset we saw during our trip.


Jonas liked playing with and collecting rocks, but he watched the sunset too.


Here are some more shots.


The next day we started early because we had a lot planned. First we went to rainbow falls on the east side of the island.

Next we went all the way to the southern most point in the United States. We went really far out on the rocks to get as far south as possible. The only problem, there were some big waves. I got a little wet.


It was pretty windy too.


McKenzie and I had fun.


Next it was time to do some off road time in the Jeep. There is no easy way to get to the green beach.


But once we made it to the green beach we had a good time. And it really was green!




The next day we went snorkeling, and Jonas liked looking for things in the pools.

What is that Jonas?


Don't pick it up!


Be nice to the crab Jonas. He has no fear.


Later that night we tried to see the lava, but it was not as spectacular as I thought it was going to be. It is not as easy to see the lava up close as it used to be. There is a big parking area and a 10 minute walk to look at the lava from a few miles away.

On our last full day, we took a drive up to Mauna Kea. It is one of the best places in the world to see the stars at 13,796 ft above sea level. We stopped one night going over the mountain to look at the stars. It was amazing, you could clearly see the brilliant Milky Way.

Then we went to try and see the lava again. We were determined to get a close up view 0f the lava.


We hiked for about an hour and it seemed like we were not getting any closer.


We found this tree trying to live in the middle of the black lava field.


This is as close as we got to the lava. Still a few miles away.


After the sun went down, it got dark quickly, we had to hike back in the dark with flashlights.

Jonas did not go on our hike, but he still had a good time on the lava with Grandma. This is a really popular thing to do on The Big Island. People write messages on the black lava, usually with white coral, but red lava seems to work too.


Jonas found this hippo to ride.


Our last day of sight seeing.



At the airport ready to go back to Oahu.