Joey is 13… YIKES! I can’t believe it — I used to ask ‘him what happened to my baby?’, but then I finally figured out he ate my baby. Mike and Joey share clothes and shoes — but it won’t be long before Joey is giving Mike hand-me-downs. He was very specific about having a BIG family birthday party, so that’s what we did! Joey was the first grandchild on both sides, way before anyone else — so this is what a 13 year olds party looks like in our family:
I’m pretty sure the kids had a great time
A house full of family
Tessa LOVES the doodles (and I mean, LOVES them)!
I was nervous about letting the doodles run free with all of the little ones around — I didn’t want it to look like Mutual Of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom — you know, the dogs taking the kids down — and everything happening in slow motion. As we let the dogs out to ‘run free’, they became the hunted and were chased by kids screaming, “DOGGIES!!! DOGGIES COME HERE!!! DOGGIES I WANT TO RIDE YOU LIKE A PONY!!! DOGGIES DON’T RUN AWAY!!!” Both dogs hauled ass and and ran for cover. They got a little taste of their own medicine… it’s good for them.
The following weekend Joey wanted a paintball party with all of our friends, obviously it was a hit. He invited his best friend Joseph — who had never been before, but we knew he’d have fun. I caught a glimpse of him as he was ‘preparing for battle’ and I could see the fear in his eyes — he was white as a ghost — you couldn’t even see his freckles. Turns out he loved it and wants to do one for his birthday party.
Mike taking money from a baby
Preparing for battle — Joseph is the kid staring at Mike, nervously wringing his hands
Ellie. Cute as a button, but put a paintball gun in her hands and she’s out for blood
