{Cousins}

We got to spend our long weekend with family. That doesn't happen often, so we were VERY excited to see them. We wore them out, had lots and lots of laughs, ate yummy treats from the Amish Market, and didn't get much sleep. What a great weekend!

The gang walking around the Washington Monument. We were on our way to the White House-which despite their differences in Politics-Destry and Loni obliged going to see :)

Devin and Jonas on the stairs of the Jefferson Memorial.

I just thought this picture of Devin was funny. He's reading the words on the side of the monument, but he looks like he is posing. I also love that you can see where Jonas spent all his time. With Dad. He loved having Dad home for a few extra days this weekend!

Jonas had a pretty good life with Dad around. He enjoys sitting on Dad's shoulders. I get a kick out of him pulling Devin's ears and running his little fingers through Devin's hair.

At the FDR Memorial. Devin and Jonas made their own fun. Everyone loves jumping off rocks and spinning around.

Who doesn't love sneaking out to see the water a bit closer? Where there was water, there was Jonas. He's like a magnet to it!

Ms. Auryana is a CRACK-UP. We laughed and laughed and laughed at this little one! She has quite the vocabulary, and ideas all her own.

Even though he's not a baby any more, there is something sweet about seeing your baby asleep :)

Its safe to say that Uncle Devin was quite popular this weekend. (He always is.) From wrestling, to playing ball, to dishing up ice cream (after their parents said No), he won the hearts of three little girls this weekend.

Our first night home. I guess Aury was worn out. Destry and Loni drove all night Thursday night and their kids did a lot more staying awake than sleeping on the 6 hour drive. We wore Aury right out. She fell asleep at the kitchen table eating chips.

Brynn and Keagyn. I love how this picture shows off their cute personalities. Keagyn is generally sweet, soft spoken, and so tender hearted. Brynn is outgoing, adventurous, and adorable. We loved having them here for the weekend and tried to convince them to stay. They decided their parents and school were the way to go. We get to go to their house in a few weeks though, so we can make an attempt at convincing them where all the fun is then!

And lastly, Mr. Jonas has figured out what the camera is for. He likes to get it down, hand it to you and say.."Chee". Its cute. So we have a lot of these pictures. Good thing he's got a face I love!

Another CHEE moment :) Love this boy

{Fun with Dad}

This is from a while ago. It still makes me laugh when I hear Jonas laughing so hard. He ALWAYS laughs with Dad. (They're BFF's :])

{Jonas' 2 Year Old Pictures}

Our talented friend, Diana, took the most amazing pictures of Jonas for his 2nd birthday. Taking pictures of Jonas is hard work. He won't look at the camera. He turns in every direction that you are not. He refuses to smile. So poor (7 month pregnant) Diana really had her work cut out for her on this one. I felt so bad that Jonas was so uncooperative, but Di got some amazing shots. I love every one of them. Even if there is cookie on his face and no smiles. The pictures are beautiful Di. Thanks for sharing your talent with us :)

This is my favorite picture.

{Nothing Much}

We've been pretty boring around here lately. The weather has been hot and sticky mixed with some serious Thunderstorms. I've been contemplating a move to a state with LESS severe weather threats.

Jonas and I went to the Butterfly gardens with our friends a few weeks back. I need to take him back to explore the area more. He wasn't so thrilled with the butterfly's. Well...he loved them..but he loved them too much. He wanted to pick them up and show them to me. The workers there about had heart failure. He means well :)

This is the best picture I could get of Jonas looking at the camera.

We made a trip to IKEA last weekend to get a few things to organize all the toys that Jonas is acquiring. (thanks for that G&G's) The next day while Devin was putting things together, Jonas was quite the handy helper. I think all the stuff he's learned from Handy Manny came together :) He was hilarious! He got right in Devin's face to make sure Dad was doing it right.

Devin is incredibly patient and its a good thing. Jonas WOULD NOT leave him alone!

I mentioned the storms. They've been horrific. Lots of people out of power. One instance of a tree into an apartment building. AND if you know me, you know that I spent most of my Thunderstorms in bed with my little brother. I hate thunder. I know. Its weird, but I hate it. I was outside one day doing yard work when the rain just started pouring. I was soaked in no time..so I got Jonas and we made the most of it. The rain storms in MD are warm...so its fun to play in the rain since you don't get cold. Jonas loved it. His fascination with water continues.

We spend lots of days in the pool trying to keep cool. Jonas especially loves making Dad put his head under the water. It cracks me up because poor Devin can barely catch his breath before Jonas is shoving his head down again.

This picture was taken just moments before Jonas finally figured out how to spray these guns. It scared him to death when it shot right in his face, but he didn't cry. Notice the bubbles in the pool? Also his favorite: Bub Bub's.

{More Celebrating}

We had a super fun party for Jonas while we were in UT. It was a nice, happy celebration after a long hard week. Jonas was so lucky to get to have lots of family to celebrate with him. Although he is covering his ears in this picture..he LOVED having everyone singing to him. I have a video of him..but I can't get videos to upload lately.

Jonas covers his ears when he is scared....but also when he is excited :)

HERE IS THE MASTERPIECE! I can't believe Grandma Stevenson spent ALL day making this cake for Jonas. He L.O.V.E.D it! He really wanted to touch it and play in it, but we wouldn't let him. Its all done by free-hand. She's an amazing cake decorator. I need to take some lessons.

After cake and ice cream (homemade ice cream that was SOO good), we opened presents. The rule was no presents, because we had to pack everything in a suitcase. Grandpa and Grandma Stevenson didn't listen very well. That's OK. He loved this lap-top. Of course it helps that its Handy Manny. He also got a new shirt with Manny on it. If I let him choose his clothes...he picks it! His new Handy Manny PJ's are his FAVORITE. He was one spoiled boy!

*why is this text underlined? UGH*

Here he is with his laptop. So far he just likes to turn it off and on. He also hits the nails and tries to work the screwdriver. It was a dream come true for him to get it. I've let him play with it in Target for months now. He finally got to take it out of the box!

There were also great times after when the golf clubs came out. I think Grandpa Pierson, Uncle Duane, My Dad, and Kaylee lost a lots of balls in the hay field across the street. :) I wish I would have taken pictures!

Thanks so much to everyone for coming and celebrating Jonas' fun day. It was great to be together as a family for a Birthday!! Special thanks to Grandma for making THE best home-made Vanilla ice cream on the planet AND the best Handy Manny cake EVER! We love you :)

This picture has nothing to do with J's birthday. Its my sister, Taryn's, lunch one day. Not one, but TWO baked potatoes. So much she had to put it on two plates AND it takes her 45 minutes to make them. (They were already baked) They taste good though...right Tayrn?? Love you :)

{Our little J is 2!}

I think everyone says it: "Wow! I can't believe my baby is..." It really is crazy how fast time flies. Its safe to say Devin and I have had the best two years of our lives so far. Jonas is so much fun, so frustrating, and always hilarious. We took Jonas to Chick-fil-A for dinner, and then to get ice cream afterward. He was in heaven. That's his idea of a perfect day.

Jonas and Dad opening his new race track. They've both had lots of fun with this gift!

New books. One of his favorite gifts. Always.

A new Handy Manny chair. He's a little afraid of it. It folds up pretty easy. He's taken to putting his blankets in it and pushing it around the house instead. You know, just to avoid any incidents.

Then we headed upstairs for one last surprise.

"Mom, there's nothing in the bathroom."

"Oh wow! Look what Dad found!" I love it!

Reaching, Reaching, Reaching....

YEAH!!! It went in! We bought the basketball hoop with money from Jonas' Great-Grandparents. They're so good to him. He LOVES this thing! He's so funny and stands on the front of the stand to try and slam-dunk it. He also runs around saying, a ball, a ball. It was worth the frustration of trying to fit it in our little car. We really need to get a bigger car.

Happy Birthday Jonas Boy! Mom and Dad sure love you!!!