I can see clearly now the rain is gone...

A couple of cute conversations with Joey to share:

*We’re on a walk and we go by a dead bird.
Joey: Mom, what’s wrong with that bird?
Me: Well, it looks like he got hurt.
Joey: Is he dead?
Me: Yeah, I think so.
Joey: Should we call a bird doctor?
Me: I don’t think that will help Joey. He needs to go to heaven.
Joey: Who’s in heaven? His friends?
Me: Yep, his friends and Jesus.
Joey: Baby Jesus?
Me: Yep, Baby Jesus.
Joey: Are there bird doctors in heaven?
Me: Yes, I suppose, but don’t be sad. He’s in heaven. So, he’s happy now.
Joey: Yes, he’s going to like heaven.

*On that heartwarming note, Joey pooped his pants at Lisa’s. Lisa is changing his pants and he says, “Lisa, when you get done getting the poop out of my butt, can I have a cookie?”

*We were out on our driveway last night, and Joey came up to me and said, "Mom, there's a little girl here. There's a little girl. Come see her."

So, I went down and saw her on the sidewalk. Joey went up to her and said, "Can I sing you my baseball song?"She looked at him and said, "Yes, you can." Joey said, "Help me sing that song mom." So, I helped him sing "Take me out to the ballgame." The girl was losing patience, and started to ask her dad a question at the very end, and Joey looked at me and hung his shoulders, sad that she had lost interest. The dad said, "Josie, listen to his song." And, Joey got happy again and finished it. At the end, he looked at her and said, "Did you like my song?" and she said, "Yes, I did!" And, he said, "Mom, she liked it!" He was so proud!

That same night, the little girl bent down to look at something on the sidewalk and ripped a very loud fart. Joey looked at her and said, "Ewwww, you farted! That's disgusting!" It was hilarious. Very few times in a girl's life where she can just rip a fart in front of anyone and not be the least bit concerned. I told the little girl to enjoy these times while she can!

We decided to have Joey's "family" birthday on Thursday night. He doesn't turn 3 until Saturday but we wanted to give him his gifts alone, and so he could play with them a few nights before we head to Carroll for Joe's softball tournament this weekend, and before Ely. We got him a Fisher-Price Batman Bat Cave, and Joker and Penguin. We were just as excited as he was. Joe played outside with Maddox and Joey, while I got a cake ready and got his presents wrapped. When he walked in the door, it was pure excitement! It was so much fun!

I just made cake out of the box. My sister makes homemade cakes for her girls' birthday, which I think is cute and wonderful and I think those girls will always remember that about their birthday. Joey will always remember that I bought his cake for his party. But, on this night, I didn't want to run to the store, so I just made one from a box. He'll have his "real" cake on Saturday. I used plates that I got from my Aunt Cathy for one of my birthdays. I try to remember to use them for all of our birthdays. It makes it a little more special. Once again, something I probably appreciate more than my boys ever will. Here's the cake plates and cake! Joey asked for a Spiderman cake, and so, I just set Spiderman BY the cake, and told him that would have to do. Little does he know, he will have a Spiderman cake on Saturday! I can't wait!

Maddox loved the birthday cake. Funny how different you do things with your second child. Joey never had birthday cake until his first birthday and even then, I gave just a little bit to him. With Maddox, I was serving it like he was 16 years old. I loved watching him enjoy every morsel! And, Joey loved his Batcave! He literally played for 2 hours straight with it. He was in heaven. It was so sweet because he would come up to me and say, "Mom, I really like my bat cave." He said it about 5 times that night. What a sweet boy.

We are officially flooded in the state of Iowa - and I'm not just talking about our basement. It's awful. People are being evacuated, homes and businesses are completely lost, people are stranded, and there have been a lot of injuries. Most recently, a tornado hit a boy scout camp and four young boys died. My heart aches for those mothers. Until you're a mother, I don't think you can truly comprehend what that kind of loss must do to a mom. I keep praying for those families. It's hard to complain about your basement, when there is so much worse going on out there. Here's Maddox looking out our window at the pouring rain and wishing the rain -- and all the problems this rain has brought -- away.

It's sunny out today and the weekend is looking bright. Maybe God heard us! I could use a little sun. We're going to my mom and dad's for the weekend and I know Joey will want the sun shining so he can play outside. He's SO excited that he can hardly stand it. We've been counting down the days for 5 days now....we'll celebrate his birthday at a park on Saturday! I can't believe he's 3!