I can’t believe my stepson is turning TWENTY NINE years old today.  Considering I am only 39 and all. 😀  

Seriously though, I can’t believe where the time has gone.  He was 10 (okay a few months shy of 11), but Joe came into my life in the summer of 2000.  

I remember one of the first times he spent the weekend with us (he lived with his Mom) and I went to unpack his backpack, and it was just filled with toys.  No clothes, no underwear, toothbrush.  I guess he just brought what he though was important!

You can read the story about my favorite snowman of all – the one Joe made from the trunk of our first Christmas tree we had as a family.

I think this photo was from our spring break to Florida?  Joe was probably a sophomore in high school here.

Another one of my favorite pics – Joe at 16.  We were in Door County on vacation and he was just about to parasail and that face was really saying “holy fuck, do I really want to do this?”  He loved it by the way.

I’m guessing Hannah and Joe are probably in high school here?  Maybe Hannah is a sophomore and Joe is a senior??  Not a drop of blood relation, but they could really pass as brother and sister.

Joe – know that your Dad is looking down on you and is so proud of you.  And I am proud of the life you and Lizz have created in Austin.

You were such babies!

And now you are all grown up!  That’s Lizz’s brother in the photo bomb.

I wish you would have had time to squeeze in a visit with me this last weekend while you were in town, but I know you had a lot going on.  Next trip to Austin we’ll catch up!  By luck Joe and Lizz live about 10 minutes from my brother Charlie’s house. 😀

Happy 29th birthday Joe!  Enjoy the last year in your 20’s!  I love you to the moon and back!

Happy Friday friends – make it a great day!