Happy 23rd Birthday Joel!!

First off...how can my baby boy be 23 years old already? It seemed like just the other day when we were at Granny and Poppa's celebrating his first birthday. Look how stinkin' cute he was!!

Like lots of little boys he loved Lego and Spider-man. He used to dress up in his little costume and try to climb the walls!

He loved his Shadow. No matter where he was Shadow would find him and lay with him. Sadly she passed in 2018.

Checking out the sheep and climbing on the round bales was always fun when we would visit the farm. Here they are standing on top of the round bales in the barn - looks like he is enjoying the height a bit more than Jade!

We used to drive from Woodstock to Port Franks in the summer. Port Franks is the beach I was used to when we were kids, so it's where I brought mine. The nice sand and the sand bars made the kids feel like they had a bit more freedom, cause they could go out a bit farther but still be in pretty shallow water. I think we went there more when we lived in Woodstock than we do now that we live a half hour away!

Visiting the Grand Bend Zoo was our one tradition for summer. We would pack up the wagon and pack up the van with all kinds of food for the animals and head back to Grand Bend. We were pretty bummed out when the zoo closed.

Then there was the mullet time period!!!! Joel wanted to grow his hair long and donate it to Locks of Love.It never got long enough for him to donate it.

                                                          Joel and Oscar

                                                         BEFORE hair cut

                                                       AFTER hair cut

 Every year Joel gets a jar of peanut butter for Christmas!

 A cool shirt that Trevor the air-brushing fella made for Joel

 This kid could make a bubble sit anywhere!!! At least he was clean!

He was never afraid to try new things and to meet new people

 Beach volleyball clinics at the Otten's in Delaware

 OELC camp

 His very own volleyball - that opened a whole new chapter is Joel's life. He met some extraordinary young men over the course of his volleyball seasons.

His love for animals has never changed.

He loved his Granny

This is my all time favourite picture of Joel and Granny. Just sitting on the couch chatting. 

One thing that has never changed since the day he was born to this day, is his love for his sister. Sure they fight and argue every now and then, what siblings don't? But when it matters, he has her back, just like she has his. I'll be honest, that is one of the things I am most proud of with both my kids, that they love each other and are there for each other. 

 Always some shenanigans when these two get together. But the sound of their laughter is one of my favorite sounds on earth.

I could not be prouder of the man he has become. I love this kid more than words can say.

I'm so happy I got to be his mom.
Chow for now, 
Jacqui