This Is Your Childhood

a baby blog for Tommy Bruno

March 19, 2010

Joe on St. Joe's

Tommy, it's St. Joseph's Day, as you well know, since he's the patron Saint of our family 'n all. While you were at schoolo, Joey was very busy. With his girlfriend, Becky, he walked down our street, up Grace, down Vine, down Main and back to our street without huffing or puffing. Daddy and I had to go to a meeting about you, you see, so Becky played with Joey in the 70 degrees. Then I pulled Joey in the wagon up to St. Joseph's church and prayed with him. He was very good (without your being there.) I think he likes to show off to you. I thought for sure he'd fall asleep in the wagon, but nope! he was too excited. Next, we came home, and he fell into a deep sleep with little struggle. Now you should be getting off the bus...gotta go!

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March 17, 2010

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

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This is what you look like after school on St. Paddy's Day 2010: just precious.

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My three handsome green fellas.

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I like this picture of your daddy and your little brother. Do you?

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All righty then. This is what happens when it's mommy's turn to have pictures taken with her boys. Suddenly, the camera isn't so interesting.

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Do you know what a 'mama's boy" is, Tommy? Well, I think you 'n Joe are two uvem!

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This is what Joey and I did whilst you were in schoolo. Open gym, baby, for babies! You can go when schoolo gets out. You'll love it! I think.

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This is the bus that comes to get you in the morning. I took it through the window, because if I didn't, you'd be really upset and would probably cry all the way to schoolo.

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March 11, 2010

It's a Miracle!

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Tommy! Tommy! I got pictures of you today with hardly a struggle! Amen! Praise the Lord! And look how proud you are of your fossils. Today you turned 33 (months).

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You are such a big boy goin' to schoolo 'n all!

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You made this all by your self (and with Teachers L, A, and J--hehehe)

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Joey thinks he's a dinosaur.

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This is Joey looking for treasures.

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March 09, 2010

Zee Artiste

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My little sweet potatolove, Teacher Linda sent these great pics of your fingerpainting session from last week.

fingerprint_landscape.gif Oh, uh, how come you ain't comin' after their camera like ya come after mine? Just wonderin', punkin. Is it 'cos you're busy finger paintin' er somethin'?

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March 05, 2010

Friday the 5th

Well, my little prince, you are in schoolo right now. It has been very very very difficult to get any new pictures of you due to your wanting to play with the camera. It's not your fault but you do have an obsessive personality. Having such an attribute can be a very good thing for whatever God wants you to ultimately do with your life, so I'm not criticizing you my any means. It just makes for extremely difficult photo sessions. When I put the camera away, you pretty much freak out and don't stop freaking out for a long time. So that I don't miss a beat of your little life, I've been sneaking videos with the ipod nano (which looks like a Skor candy bar and you don't know what a Skor bar is yet). Still, life is too crazy for me to have time to upload them on demand. Perhaps I'll get some still shots of you while you are sleeping tonight. I am writing this for you but also for your fans out there who get sad when there's no new pics of you and Brudder Joe.

Oh, while you were at schoolo today, Joe figured out how to climb the pub table. He rolls the kneeling chair to the pub chair, climbs the kneeling chair and then the pub chair and then up to the table. You never did any of this, so it's new to Daddy and me. He's very fast, and I'm a nervous wreck. Be nice to Teacher Linda if you can read this!

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February 24, 2010

Investigator?

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This is you after getting home from school. Do you want to be an investigative reporter?

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Ah, there's your happy face! I saw an Olympian with a similar hat and found this one for you so that the sun won't bother your little eyes so much.

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Bye-bye Gramma

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This is you praying with your hands clasped that Gramma wouldn't leave. You even woke up at 5:00. Did you want to see her off? Well, you even went to the airport with her. It was so sad that she had to go home, but Grampa was happy. We were having too much fun to take many pictures while she was here, but here's one.

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February 23, 2010

After School

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You love school. You love leavin' and you are happy when you get home.

bl_tbg_bluered_gma.jpgGramma helping you get your backpack off.

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February 21, 2010

Sunday with Gramma

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This is you and Gramma V.H. after Mass at the basilica in DC. The sun was in your sweet little eyes, hence your face down:'-(.

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And there you are getting to know your shadow?

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Here's you with G-ma back at home pretending to talk on the phony phone.

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You are just precious.

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Poor Joe was so tired. Do you like his little hairs?

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February 19, 2010

Schoolo

Gramma V. wanted to see your classroom and meet your teacher, so we did that today. She was very happy to see where you are learning and now she has a picture of it in her head so when she thinks of you at schoolo, she knows what it looks like. She thought Teacher Linda was pretty cool, too. She is, huh?

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February 15, 2010

Luge 2010

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This is your new favorite thing in the whole wo0rld: Mixed Doubles Luge

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February 14, 2010

Funny Valentine

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Recently, your funny Grampa G. took a trip to Alaska where he made a new friend. Do you think Gramma is jealous? Nah.

This is you and Marilyn Moose two years ago when you were both babies.

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February 13, 2010

Too much snow...

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...to trike outside.

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February 12, 2010

Snow 'n Ice

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This is you and your brother out for a quick ride to see the snow and ice and to tire you before naps. You look tired to me, but it took four more hours to actually get your eyes and brain to relax enough to reach REM.

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These are some icicles growing off our neighbors' building. Don't they look totally tubular and scary? They fall off readily in the afternoon, so we have to be really careful not to stick our heads out the windows. I know, I'm no fun.

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These are your awesome curls sticking out of your awesome hat, which is, of course, perched atop your awesome head.

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This is our back alley a couple days after a couple major snowfalls. I get claustrophic driving down this alley these days.

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Oh, and this is the walkway between our place and the next-door-neighbors' place. The snowblower boys gave up on it after awhile.

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February 07, 2010

George, there's no mail on Sunday!

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This is what our old street looks like, Kid! I wonder how Dino the mailman will get the mail out tomorrow!

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Back On the Warmer West Coast

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Here's "Auntie Angie" (Joey's godmama) after her Benedictine oblation at Mt. Angel in Benedict, OR. L to R= Dr. Clare, Miss Somebody I dun't know, Auntie Angie, and Miss Barbara (Auntie's cousin).

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Here are your old friends from cenacle: BACK from L: Miss Eden, Mr. Terry, Miss Toni - FRONT from L: Godmama Lynne, Miss Maureen, Auntie Angie, Godpapa Tommy (I bet Mr. Willie is taking the pic)

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February 06, 2010

Blizzardous Day

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Daddy's car getting unwrapped.

blog_dig.jpgDaddy beginning to dig a path to China.

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The neighbors' Bug even looks cute when you can't really see it.

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February 05, 2010

The Pianist

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This is one of your gifts, Tom. I don't know anyone else who can play the piano in this position! This photo would explain, though, why I am a nervous wreck of a mom most of the time. Meanwhile back at the Hall of Justice, it's snowin' cats and dogs outside. White ones. And the lights they are a-flickerin'.

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Little Orphan Tommy & the Plaid Pantry

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This is one of your favorite activities--opening and closing the pantry doors. Notice there's no food on the first three shelves. You and Joe love to take everything out and spew it about the house. Doesn't Joe look like he could star in a Charlie Brown special? I love your plaid PJs!

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February 03, 2010

You and Joe

You two boys are slowly mending. I still dunno that you'll make it back to schoolo on Monday, though. Pray, kid, pray! They say they really miss you. And I know you really miss them!

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February 01, 2010

Kid Brother's 14 months

blog_feb1_joe-no.jpgJoey: Am I in trouble again, Ma?

blog_feb1_joe-teeth.jpgJoey's got a weird new thing that he does with his teeth and they're getting little white marks on 'em.

blog_feb1_joe-yes.jpgIf you look closely, you can see a little snot hanging out around the nostrils. Joey's getting much better though. You are another story...

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January 21, 2010

"Auntie Carol" and you boys

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Gramma and Auntie Carol were here from Vancouver for two full days. They left this morning for DC. Auntie Carol is so much fun. She loves you so much that she even washed, dried, and poofed up her hair just before this pic was taken.

carol_and_company.jpgGramma didn't want to be photographed for some reason, but she really was here and gave you plenty of kisses on your foreheads. You two little boys are really sick, so you don't look very happy. Hope I'm not embarrassing you!

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January 20, 2010

Linus Blanket

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If we would let you, you'd carry this guitar (or is it a cello?) around with you all day and it would be like your Linus blanket. An uncomfortable one but one nonetheless. Say, today is your Uncle Pauly's birthday. Did you want to call him and play "Happy Birthday to You" for him?

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January 19, 2010

Joe-lia Child

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This is your brother Joelia in the kitchen.

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This is your brother Oscar making his mama grouchy by getting into the garbage!

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January 16, 2010

Healing Brother's Hand

burn_afterbandage.jpgWe took the bandages off Joe's tea-burned hand tonight. The burn happened ten days ago. Below are pics from a week ago.

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This is a poorly focused view of Joey's burn on January 9 (3 days after burn).

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Another view. Poor baby.

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Tommy Sleeves

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This is you coming after the camera. Lately your plog only has recent photos of dear ham brother Joe. This is my desperate attempt at getting one of you. Tonight we walked up to Mass, you and me. When we got home I realized I'd dressed you in your little brother's (newish) clothes. At first I couldn't figure out why your sleeves came almost up to your elbow and seriously thought it might be the latest boy style. Not the sharpest knife in the block, am I.

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January 15, 2010

Nana Kathy Comes to Our Place

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And here you are with Daddy, Bubba, and Nana Kathy who was in town for a conference and paid us a visit. You hadn't seen her since her CMA conference in Atlanta when you were just four months old, so she said she wasn't sad that you didn't remember her.

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Tommy, I've been having a very difficult time getting you to simply have your photo taken. This is what you look like when you are trying to get to the camera. Frantically get to the camera.

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Behind the Camera

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You are officially obsessed with the camera (you take after your godfather Tom indeed), and this is the result of my giving up, giving in. This is your first shot.

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And your second.

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You get better with each one--here's your third...

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January 11, 2010

Trouble

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This is what your brother looks like when he's been caught playing with the wires behind the armoire. Guilty!

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January 09, 2010

After a long day

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This is Joe after he'd gotten off his shift at the shop.

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Mad at Mommy

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I think you're cute even when you're mad at me for not letting you toss the Rebel around the house. Oh, that's Uncle Evan in the background wishing you'd just stack blocks with him. No, you're a photographer, a real artiste. All you want to do is create, create, create. Oh, Bruno.

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Joe's not as obsessed with the camera; this is him with Uncle Evan.

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January 07, 2010

Baggadonuts update

Yo, your brother, Baggadonuts, yeah, him. Well, the plastic surgeon said his "moderate second-degree burns" will heal up just fine.

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January 06, 2010

Joey Baggadonuts' First Fight

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He won but it was brutal. Thankfully Becky was here to break it up.

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Joey's intimidating glare at the opponent.

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And here he is offering a gentlemanly handshake. Tomorrow we'll see a plastic surgeon who'll look at the second- degree burns under that wrap caused by his getting Uncle Evan's kettle-hot tea! Mommy hurts more than baby Joe, but Uncle Evan hurts more than any of us. I'd put a thick sweater on him so his chest was not hurt. How often do i put thick sweaters on you boys, Tommy? Never. But today I did. Guardian angels at work once again.

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January 01, 2010

Joe is 13, a teenager?

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This is what your sweet little brother looks like on the day he turned 13 months.

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December 31, 2009

ba- bye oh-nine

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Your first bubbly.

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Joey watches what you do.

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2010: who cares!
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Joe: Good-bye 2009, good'a knowya.

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December 29, 2009

Grampa G. Sends a Top

Grampa G. picked out this beautiful choral top for you and your brudder. It arrived via UPS this morning and you two couldn't get enough of it!
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December 28, 2009

Golf Pants

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Your aunt and uncle and grandparents v. sent a bundle of clothes to you and your bro for Christmas and today they arrived. These are my favorite--your golf pants and bright shirt. And it appears that Phyllis would like to be your happy caddy.

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December 26, 2009

Connect Four

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Joey's new game is Connect Four. He looks like he knows how to play, but he doesn't have a strategy just yet.

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December 25, 2009

Phyllis

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This is your new pet, Phyllis the pony. She is chomping on your fingers in this photo. You like it. It makes you laugh.

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Joey's used to be really scared of Phyllis, but now he likes her. Doesn't he look like a baby Santa Claus with those rosy cheeks!

phyllis_tomandasparagus.jpgYou liked the idea of feeding Phyllis our asparagus, but in the end Mommy and Daddy got to eat it. We're afraid Phyllis might poo on the carpet if we start feeding her yummy veggies.

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Christmas Sickos

We're all a bunch a sick pups this Christmas Day in Virginia. You and your brother have noses that drain, Daddy's getting a sore throat, and I'm hacking, hacking, hacking, draining and without voice. But it is still Christmas.

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December 24, 2009

Christmas

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The Wise Men are on their way.

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December 20, 2009

Snow

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Poor Joey was so hungry and tired and his ears cold since his hat wouldn't stay on and his gloves...

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Ah, and here he is happy after a hot-buttered rumja.

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December 19, 2009

While You're Nappin'

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Whilst you snooze, I went for a walk and took these pics so that later when you wake up, you'll know what you missed. Just tons of snow, Kid. It's windy and cold too.

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December 09, 2009

Strum Strum

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December 02, 2009

Climber

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This is Joey practicing his mountain climbing skills on the stairs. He's now climbing them like you, a big boy. His little legs are barely the length of each step but he steps just like his big brother. When you are at school, he doesn't know what to do with himself. He clings to me. We miss you during the day a lot, Tommy.

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This innocent little face later decided to run quickly back to the stairs after Daddy's brought him up and then took a dive down 'em. Daddy dove after him, catching him in mid air and then tumbled down only half of the stairs so that neither of them got hurt. This is why we pray to your guardian angels so much!

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December 01, 2009

Joey "Golden Boy" has 1st Birthday Party

It's your little brother's golden birthday--one on the 1st. We're going to have a tiny party for him tonight, since most of our friends and all of our family live a zillion miles away. Stay tuned...

joe_cake1.jpgJoey likes birthday cake.

joe_cake2.jpgBut he got bored with it pretty quickly. Your diets aren't so full of sugar to begin with, so, thankfully, Joey dun't like it much. You really don't like it much either.

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You boys much prefer meat 'n potatoes. Er, pasta!

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joe_hunger_points.jpgLook at Joey go. He's pointing at you, you silly boy.

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This guitar was given to us by our new neighbor who has the same exact name as your Great-Gramma Sue. For a kid guitar it has real swell sound!

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Joey Got Mail

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Well, today the doorbell rang and it was Mr. Postman leaving Joey birthday gifts from Gramma, Tawny, and your Godmama Angela. He is reading the new book that Godmama sent, wearing the groovy glow-in-the-dark Space Needle tee she sent too, and holding a puzzle piece from Auntie Tawny and G-parents V. Bent up like a rag doll is the Raggedy Andy in the background. Gramma V. made it for Joey Andy and it is just precious!

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November 30, 2009

Godpapa Tommy

You better call your Godfather today; it's his birthday!

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November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Turkey 'n Olives

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Well done. You love the adult-sized fork and not the "baby fork" that your brother uses.

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You loooooove olive fingers!

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Gobble, gobble. We just wanna gobble you up!

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November 25, 2009

Bow Woes

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Poor Little Brother Joe
some fool put atop his head a bow
and now his muscle he does curl
so that we know he is no girl.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

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You helped make your own hatmajig at schoolo today. It was very serious business.

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Seriously fun!

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November 24, 2009

2nd Day

Tommy, I can't come into your classroom anymore, but I wanted to let your relatives and friends know that Teacher Linda said you did very well and that you were very happy and smiley and giggly. I dunno why she was surprised, as that is your usual disposition, but I'm so happy that you're doing well at schoolo. Mom
Wait just a minute! Teacher Jason took these yesterday and had them sent to me:-). You look like you're having a great time, kiddo!
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November 23, 2009

First Day

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This is you with me, your mom. I only look crazy, because I'm trying not to be too sad leaving you with strangers. Oh, I suppose they won't be strangers for long, eh.

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This is what you look like when you are totally upset that your mommy is leaving you for several hours in a strange school.

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And here you are again, crying your head off unable to do anything but throw a major fit.

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November 22, 2009

Pre-flight

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Tomorrow is your first day of schoolo, so we thought we would see if we could muster up a proper backpack for you; instead, we found this nifty jetpack. Now you won't have to wait for that silly yellow bus, just press those buttons, kiddo!

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November 20, 2009

New School (not that you have an old one)

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This is your new school. Your first day will be Monday, November 23.

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This is the playground at your school. I've never seen such a playground at a school. Whatever happened to basketball hoops and hopscotch? I'll explain later.

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This is Teacher Linda. She will be your new girlfriend, I'm sure.

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This is Teacher Jason; I'm sure you two will be great pals.

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This is Teacher Alma. She's very cool.

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This is Teacher Anita; she is a speech therapist and will teach you to talk to me.

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Oh, and this is, well, your cute brother Sir Joseph.

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