Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

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Monday, July 23, 2007

Goodbye Baby, Hello Toddler

We’re home from the San Jose area after a wonderful long weekend celebrating Joey’s 1st birthday and baptism. The drive up on Friday was uneventful and, if you’re at all familiar with California’s 5 Freeway, you know it was a boring drive until we cut off and took Hwy 152 west. Then the landscape got a little more interesting.

We arrived at our hotel in Santa Clara around 1:00 pm and met up with Joey’s grandparents, his Aunt Jenny, and another couple who are also longtime friends. Joey and his mom came over for an afternoon visit and then dad joined us after work. We all had a wonderful time getting re-acquainted with the birthday boy who has left babydom far behind and is now definitely a toddler. Here's the cutie in his big boy Hawaiian shirt:


Saturday we all got up, had breakfast and then, a few hours later, we drove over to Joey’s San Jose grandparents’ home for his birthday party. We had a marvelous time and Joey was incredibly happy and not fussy at all. Joey’s dad and mom prepared all the food and it was scrumptious…particularly the pulled pork sandwiches and wonderful slices of tri-tip. I know, I know…I promised photos so here’s one of my plate filled with the “good eats.”

The only thing I can say is “Yum!” Joey’s dad gave me his recipe for the pulled pork and I promise to share it with you once I finish unpacking…the recipe is at the bottom of my suitcase for safekeeping.

Sunday was baptism day and everything went off without a hitch. Thankfully there were only 2 children being baptized so the ceremony was fairly short…oh, did I mention it was rather warm in the church? Joey’s mom had purchased a little white tuxedo for him to wear for the occasion and he was, without a doubt, the handsomest and best dressed male in the place!


The rest of the afternoon was spent with Joey and his parents and then we all had our last dinner together. Joey and his mom are coming down tomorrow to spend some time with his Southern California grandparents so the good news is we’ll hopefully get to see him lots more in the next week or so.

Looking at Joey now, it’s so hard to believe that it was a year ago last week that we all jumped in our cars and headed north to be there for his birth. I know they say “time flies” and, when I see Joey now…a happy and healthy one year old who is learning to walk, who is cutting teeth, and who is beginning to vocalize...I realize how true that saying really is.

18 comments:

jaded said...

He is so handsome! I'm looking forward to the pulled pork recipe. It is so cool that you get to spend so much quality time with the little man, a real gift indeed.

Linda said...

What a handsome little fella he is especially in that white tux of his! Mom and Dad will have their hands full with that one when he's older!

Sounds like you had a nice trip except for I-5 which I'm sure has not changed at all since the last time I traversed it back in 1992!

I finally got around to posting about the lovely Blogger Awards you gave me. I'm not exactly prompt these days but as they say "slow and steady wins the race"!

Iamthebookworm said...

Such a cutie-pie!

Renee Nefe said...

Congrats to the birthday/baptism boy! Glad you had a great time.

re: HP party, our Library system is phenominal! I don't know how much funding our system gets but they spend it very well. They did some test driving of a few self-check out machines (I think they did that for free) and we now have a really awesome system. Our "card catalog" is online and accessable from home which is really great, because if a friend of mine mentions a great book...I can pop over and reserve a copy from home...that's how I got to be #13 on the hold list for HP#7.

The party had a few sponsors...the food was provided by Target and they may have provided the prizes that were given away...but I believe that the Library paid for the owls that were there...and then there were all the librarians who worked the party...they were all awesome. My only complaint was one librarian lost it with a group of teenagers that were there and she almost used a swear word in front of my child. I didn't say anything to anyone about it because I know that she was really frustrated with the teens (I was too!), but I think she needs to work on controling herself. Perhaps instead of threatening to throw them out...they should have really done it.

Otherwise a great party.

meno said...

There just nothing more handsome than a man in a tux. The picture is the proof.

Lynn said...

What great pictures. He is one adorable young man (to-be). Hope you are not to busy seeing him this week and that you still have time to speak with me :~)

Val said...

I remember Interstate 5: boring as!

Mr Tuxedo looks darling.

And I'll be another one anticipating that pulled pork recipe.

Joan said...

Patches: Stay tuned for the recipe...I promise it's coming!

Linda: Ah yes...Joey will be a ladies man when he grows up! And about the awards...I love your blog and you absolutely deserve them!

Iamthebookworm: He sure is!!!

Renee: Having dealt with unruly teens in the library, I can understand the librarian's frustration although I absolutely agree with you that bad language is never ever acceptable!!!

Meno: A man in a tux...be still my heart.

Lynn: I hope not only to speak to you but to see you as well. :~)

Val: I don't believe Interstate 5 has changed in the nearly 40 years I've lived in California!

Kelly said...

awe, what a cute little boy!!

Mom said...

what a cutie! Family is such a blessing.

Midlife Mom said...

He is just gorgeous!!! A tux no less!!! :0)

Pulled pork! Yum!

Michele said...

Oh my goodness... he is adorable! He is going to be a heartbreaker, no doubt. wow... incredibly handsome already!

Carole Burant said...

Welcome home dear Joan, you were missed:-) Sounds like you all had a fabulous time at the birthday party and the baptismal...Joey is just so darling, look at that sweet face!! And omigosh, doesn't he look handsome in his white tux! hehe I love pulled pork on the bun but have never made it myself...looking forward to you sharing the recipe:-) xox

rosemary said...

Nothing worse than I-5 but it is fast you have to admit. Cutie pie boy....love pulled pork and maybe I could have it for a special meal. Eager for the recipe.

Patti said...

What a cutie pie he is. Thanks for sharing the photos, Joan.

Joan said...

Myutopia: Thanks! We all think he's a cutie!

Mom: Family is everything!

Midlife mom: We couldnt believe his mom bought him a tux but it turned out she spent only $15 on it.

Michele: He's handsome just like his dad.

Pea: You're one of the few people who actually knows what pulled pork is all about.

Rosemary: We could have taken the 101 Freeway but 5 is definitely faster!

Patti: You're welcome! I'm trying to use more photos but I hate carrying my camera around with me. Cant wait to get a camera cell phone!

the moose buyer said...

The baby is an absolute cutie. I am so happy that both you and Rick are getting the chance to share his life. I know how special he is to Rick.

Joan said...

The moose buyer: Yep...he is definitely one cute little guy and Rick is definitely one very proud grandgodfather.