March 11th

March 11th, March 11th. We've heard it a billion times as Joey explains that he will be four on March 11th. He either didn't want to say he was three, or he was hoping for lots of presents, because this is the explanation everybody got if they asked Joey how old he was.

We shared a "cake day" again this year, and had family over to celebrate. He gave me elaborate details about how his cake would be, so we tried our best. He wanted a basketball cake, with a cactus as the basketball stand, and a ball going into the basket. Well, we found a few fun ideas, and ended up with this...

Joey's birthday was on a Sunday, so we made special pancakes with sprinkles before our early church, then came home and waited for Dad to get home before we opened any presents. He was thrilled with the presents, and kept asking for more.

We did the traditional streamer and/or toilet paper decorating before he woke up. Usually the kids tear right through it, but he insisted we all crawl under and over it so that it wouldn't get ripped down.

Joey is a much needed, much loved boy. We are so thankful for him. He loves books, and stories. He loves to draw, and watch others draw. He in very creative, and keeps up with the imaginative play of his older brother and sister. He's learned what makes his little brothers happy, and is always willing to oblige. He wants to be a police when he grows up. And really, he already seems to grown up. He's a smart guy for sure! He often says extremely smart things that cause Mike and I to look at each other like, "how do we handle his smartness?" (yes, we're his mom and dad, and lots of us feel that way about our kids, it just comes with the territory of being 100% bias). I adore his contagious laugh. I'm so glad it's not time to go to Kindergarten soon, because I'd be so sad to have him go just yet. He's great to have around. He's my awesome Joey!