Florida Jones'

We were in Florida from July 20th thru July 25th. This was Gabriel's 2nd airplane ride (3rd if you count in the belly) and Noah's 1st (2nd if you count in the belly). Gabriel was a gem on both airplane rides, and Noah was for the ride there, was a little cranky on the way back, the flight was at 8am, and he cried a good hour of the 2 1/2 hour flight back to Des Moines. Thank God it was direct. I didn't feel good, so Bart walked the plan aisles with him until he fell asleep. That night Bart stayed up all night sleeping on Gabe's floor as he had the same stomach flu I had. What a great Dad.

Anyway, the top priority for the time there was the Jones Reunion. We were graciously hosted by Grandpa Jones' brother and his wife, Roger and Betty Ann and their great family. We had a great cocktail night on Thursday night (after a fun day at the Magic Kingdom) at our rental home. The next day was downtown Disney for the Mommy's and kiddos and golf for the Daddy's, and then to Roger and Betty Ann's for a great dinner and fellowship. Saturday was the BIG day at Kevin's (Roger and Betty's son) with all day pool, waterslide, and great food. Gabe was SO GROWN-UP. He hardly needed us at all! Sunday was a brunch at Aunt Janis' and finally Monday was the plane ride home. We had a great time with all of our family and we can't thank Grandpa and Grandma Jones enough for the opportunity to go!

Noah's first airplane ride.

Now that is a big family!!! We are blessed! Gabe is absolutely in love with Lee in the front on the right in the orange shirt, Matt in the tan shirt next to him, and Kurtis in the yellow behind Lee. He loved these "big boys" and was their little sidekick all day, and it seemed to me that the boys loved getting to know their little cousin Gabe too.

Kevin has a great salt water pool. Gabe really took off swimming and went alone (with careful eyes watching) as long as he had his floatie.

No big deal, Gabe climbed up the huge 2 story water slide all day with the big boys and went down in like a champ. He had some definite road rash and a big bruise under his chin that night, but he sure slept great.

Noah and I enjoyed some lunch.

And All Jones bean-bag tournament was also on the menu. Bart's cousin Cami and I were partners, we hung in their to the semi's, but in the end we were eaten alive by mosquitos. Gabe helps Daddy on the end with his bean bags.

The kiddos swam like fish at our pool at the rental home.

Noah tolerated the pool just fine as well.

Jason notices an alligator in the pond behind the rental home, so he lures it over (it is only about 5' long) with hotdogs.

Our French neighbors really enjoyed Jason acting like a "stupid American." We enjoyed laughing at the speedo.

Yikes!

What a great getaway. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Magnificent Minnesota Stay-cation with the Halling/Jones/Tenley Family

We had fun, long stay-cation up in Eagan with Nana, Kristen and John. Obviously, we all were missing Papa and Natalie, but we tried to make the best of it, loving each other and growing as a family together, making memories that we can hold onto. We drove up after I got off work on Wednesday night, we made it from our door in Van Meter, to the Tenley's door in Eagan in 3 hours, 30 minutes. Both boys slept the majority of they way, until the street lights illuminated the Interstate, then both boys cried until we got there. Gabe wanted to play with John when we arrived, but at 12:30am, both boys reluctantly went to bed. Kristen and John let us have the run of their basement in their beautiful new home and were such gracious hosts. We slept in until 9:30 the next morning, went out to lunch and then to a splashpark after afternoon naps. On Friday we braved Como Zoo, the last free zoo in the nation, Gabe said he loved the gorillas and watched the polar bear play in the water with a 55 gallon drum for over 30 minutes. The grizzly bear swam right over to Gabe and gave him a high five.

Gabe enjoyed the monkeys at Como zoo.

We only lost Noah for a moment, when we found him up a tree...ha ha.

Gabe watches the polar bear intently. A bit of trivia from uncle John, "Polar bears are the only mammals to actively hunt humans." Go ahead, google it, I did, it is true.

After the Zoo, uncle John came home from work and we tried the Mall of America/NickUniverse after a fun dinner and a beach themed restaurant at the Mall of America. I can't remember the name but it was a bright restaurant, with Adirondack chairs and tiki torches. Kristen, what was the name???

Gabe found his pal, Woody, at Legoland.

Gabe gave Noah and Mommy a ride in his "Big Rig" at NickUniverse. Noah smiled the whole time. See that suspicious red mark on Gabe's shoulder, that is the start of his Lyme Disease. Yes, LYME disease. I can't believe he contracted this, but we are praying we caught it early, and 21 days of antibiotics cures him and he has no long lasting effects.

Gabe ran right up to this character and wanted his picture taken with him. He doesn't know who SpongeBob is yet.

Gabe knows who Swiper is from Dora the Explorer - Swiper NO SWIPPING!

Noah loved the little kid rides and Gabe was such a great big brother teaching him who to ride them and indulging him in this fun.

Go faster bus driver. Noah is in the back, his tummy must have been getting upset, because when we got back to Kristen and John's house, in the jetted bathtub, Noah pooped in it. It made Kristen stop and think if she wants more kids - just kidding - but she was really grossed out. We are glad to "break" her in a little bit to the joys of parenting - poop in the bath tub and all ;)

Gabe enjoys a little story with Auntie Kristen.

On Saturday, we tried out Schultz lake beach. So I had a mini-Mommy meltdown prior to going about something so silly, but all ended up lovely, and we enjoyed a fun day together. Sometimes Mommy's have meltdowns, ok? Gabe loved the sand with Uncle John, as they have a close connection, sharing the same birthday and being "pirates" together.

The water was so warm, Noah just plunged right in.

Noah is really blossoming as a toddler. He has no words yet, but understands everything. He smiles on command for the camera (this is his camera smile) and nods his head in agreement/disagreement appropriately, gives kisses, blows kisses, gives high fives, and signs for more and please. Has anyone seen Toy Story 3? There is a character on that movie called Big Baby, who doesn't talk, but has a large presence and lots of "goos." We call Noah, "Big Baby" in tribute to that character. And he likes it.

We didn't think to bring up some beach toys for the kids to play with. No problem. Noah makes friends no matter where he goes. Obtaining these toys was a 15 minute process. He sat down by a pretty girl (named Grace), smiled at her, waved at her, and watched her play with them clapping for her when she used the toys for 10 minutes. Then he touched her leg, smiled, and then stood up and danced for her. <cue Noah with his big diaper butt bopping his legs to no music other than those notes in his head> Then he took her toys, she just smiled and shared. What a Casanova.

 

Gabe is getting braver in the water. He has always had a healthy fear of the water, (Noah does not), but he really experimented with his body and it's abilities up at the Lake.

  

Gabe shows off his muscles.

Noah gives Nana a kiss. What a lover.

Noah show us his baby blues.

John smiles with Noah and Gabe.

Gabe shows off his blue eys.

Gabe and his 2 favorite ladies. He has predicted that Kristen's new baby in her belly is a boy, and he told me (and Kristen) that Kristen is SO Pretty. I think so too Gabe, after all look at that pretty Mama she came from!!!

Thanks for a great weekend Tenley's and Nana!!! We love you!

The Jones' invade Okoboji

We were so lucky to spend a week in Okoboji with the entire Jones family, Grandpa, Grandma, and the Bjork 5. We were not blessed with warm weather, but we were blessed with love and family. And that is what it really is about really. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

We started out by spending a few days on the Aurelia farm helping Grandpa get his calves ready. Then it was up to Okoboji. Noah was so great on the ride north from Aurelia (about 1 hour) and when we got there I realized why, he ate a piece of a lift the flap book. He had blue pieces all stuck in his 5 teeth. Oh well.

Sunday we celebrated father's day, with Bart's dad, and of course Bart. I couldn't help but miss my dad so much. I want him on father's day too, again, make lemonade. At least I have a great father in law and father to our boys. Breathe it in...

Tuesday we celebrated Bruce's birthday.

Addy and Gabe really enjoyed the pool this year, Gabe is a little fish!

Noah loved the water as well. He just sat back and relaxed, he seemed to be making mental notes for next year.

The big "cousins" got tattoos. That is what Gabe wanted every morning. "I want my cousins!!"

We spent a day at the indoor waterpark, Boji Bay, due to the weather being so cool. The kids were obsessed with playing pirates, and when we got to the waterpark, there was a HUGE kiddos pirate ship. They were in heaven, and the water was like a bath!!

Noah loved the zero entry pool and this little whale he could ride on.

Gabe braved the lilly pad crossing with Daddy to help.

Noah tried on some sunglasses. What a cutie.

One day of beach fun.

Gabe and his beloved cousins, Ela and Addyson.

Noah went for a boat ride.

Gabe drove the boat. He was so excited to do this. He was so polite and waited his turn with Grandpa patiently. After we got off the boat and back to the cabin he said, "I was disappointed, I wanted to drive the boat all by myself, but Grandpa had to do the levers, I just could steer." Oh Gabe, you don't miss anything.

 

Riding the rollercoaster with Ela at Arnold's Park.

The 3 cousins drive the boats.

Daddy takes both boys on the carousel.

Noah worked on perfecting his mohawk.

A quick snuggle with Daddy.

Gabe did the jumping thing, he jumped high.

Noah loves to slide!! He wants to go more and more and more.

5 Jones grandchildren enjoyed tons of fun. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!!