joe's birthday

These are pictures of the first birthday we celebrated of Joe's.


It was 2005, six years ago. Look what a baby he was.

He and Tim are still friends.

I think they are, anyway.

Tim socks him. He puts Tim in a headlock.

They pound on each other.

I think it's affection.


He and Heidi met at college, and the romantic story of their meeting is this: Heidi thought he was cute, so she pinched his butt at a party.

Heidi?

Pinched a boy in the butt?

(Good Lor-ED.)


By the time this birthday was celebrated, they'd been together almost a year, and it was obvious he loved Heidi. It's still obvious. He isn't possessive or jealous, but he appreciates the Heidi-ness of her.


This is partly why I appreciate the Joe-ness of him.

Plus, if we need him?

There he is.


This is funny too. His mother and I went to the same high school. We weren't buddies, but we knew each other. She was a nice kid, is still a nice person. She owns a resort up in Wisconsin. And these two kids of ours met in college in Wisconsin?

And his mother is someone I know??

When I heard who she was, I laughed, knowing Heidi wasn't going to have any in-law problems.

heidi's mother in law

Joe,

Thank you for everything you bring to this family, for the fine person you are, and for the love you show p.j. and Heidi every day.


This whole family is better because you're in it. Lucky little old us. Happy Birthday! love, Val and Jay and all the kids

julia and joe on christmas