The Importance of Marriage

I know that a solid marriage is important to me and Joe, but it is essential to our children too. I think kids can know that too without even being able to express it in words. Joey expresses it in his love for a picture from our wedding day. He frequently asks about one we have hanging in our dining room and we have discussed the basics about that day and what it means.

One day he noticed a smaller one in a frame on my dresser and immediately took it to his room with a huge smile on his face. A couple of days later I put it back on my dresser thinking he wouldn't even notice or care. Well, notice he did and he was not happy about it. I let him take the picture to his room for keeps and it has a permanent place on his dresser. I frequently see him looking at it and it must be visible to him when the lights go out at night. It is illuminated by his space lamp, just like any wedding picture should be.

Honesty, Joey Style

Joey came home from school today with a picture of Humpty Dumpty. They colored it and below it was this phrase with a spot for them to fill in as they wanted.

Humpty Dumpty did not want to fall, So I made him a ____________ to get off the wall.

Joey filled it in with......I would push him off the wall.

The teacher put a smiley face next to it.

EDIT: I found the picture, so I just had to add it.

When It Rains...

Joey absolutely loves the rain and that is an understatement. In the summer in South Carolina it rains most afternoons and when it rains, it POURS. As soon as Joey hears or sees the rain he has a little ritual he has come up with. He excitedly yells, "IT'S RAINING!!!" while he runs outside. While running, he rips off his shirt. He then hits the trampoline and jumps as high as he can. As Andrew has gotten older, Joey now has a partner to share this ritual with. Andrew needs a little help with getting his shirt off, but it is a necessary part of it. Once his shorts get wet, Andrew usually takes those off too.

Joey's Birthday Party

I let Joey pick where we would have his birthday party this year.  He picked Rolly Pollies, of course.  It was a good choice because we all had a lot of fun.

"Whose birthday is it?"  "MINE!!!"

They are plotting something.

Attack the parents!

It HAD to be a Batman birthday this year.  He still won't tell me what he wished for, but I hope it came true.

Painting Time

The boys really love painting (when I am brave enough to bring it out). Joey was quite serious about his work and didn't crack a smile. He mixed all of his colors together, so all of his pictures ended up being brown. He didn't mind one bit.

Joey's Birth Day Memories

It was 5 years ago today that we welcomed our first child into our family.  

I was trying to find pictures for this post and couldn't find any brand new wrinkly ones.  Then it dawned on me as to why.  Interesting how you can forget things.  Here is a bit of his story.  

Joey had a bit of a rough start.  He inhaled meconium during his birth.  They were prepared for it so they had a respiratory therapist waiting when he was born.  We were all dead silent as we watched them work hard to get him breathing.  I am not sure how long it was, but it felt like an eternity.  I was able to hold him for less than a minute before they took him away.  The nurse said it was a good sign that they let me hold him.  I didn't feel all that reassured.  

Four LONG hours later we finally got to have him forever.  It was an amazing and scary time.  We had no idea what we were doing and it seems silly now the little things we worried about.  I remember calling the nurse in to see if we put his diaper on right.  Seriously, did we do that?!  At least he won't remember how inexperienced we were.  We survived the sleepless nights, the crying, and the diapers all for the love of that little baby.

We were so excited and nervous to see our first born.  

Here we are five years later.  He is now a very big boy.  He has a full vocabulary and loves using it every waking second (hmm...seems familiar).  He has an amazing imagination that seems to take him anywhere.  He loves riding his bike, shooting his bow, fishing and playing with his friends.  He has endless energy.  He loves to cuddle and hug just like his mommy.  I never have to wonder how much he loves me because he tells me all day, every day.  He has such a big heart.  

Joey, I love you more than you will ever know.  Thank you for making me a mommy.

I'm Sorry, Daddy

Joey has always loved a wooden C-17 model of Joe's, so Joe put it in Joey's room for him to enjoy. It gets played with some and a few small pieces have been broken over time. Today, Joey broke a couple of big pieces on it. I told him how upset Daddy would be, so on his own he went to our craft drawer and made his Daddy an "I'm Sorry" note. He then had me fold in into a paper airplane. It was really sweet of him.

My Ski Jumpers

Right now Andrew's favorite Wii game is the ski jump.  

Oh, no!  It's Joey's turn.

Planting Popcorn

We were eating popcorn the other day and Joey started pulling the unpopped seeds out.  He really wanted to plant them outside to see if they would grow.  He talked Daddy into digging him a few holes for the popcorn seeds.  He planted them with such care.  Then we had to water them.  Now we will have to wait and see what comes up.