Happy 28thJoe!

Happy 28th Birthday Joe!!!! I love you so much.

Here are 28 things I love about Joe:

1. Joe is very easy to please, I wish I could say I am a good cook, I just have a very easy to please husband.
2. He adores his kids. When he gets home from school, it is all about us and he tries to forget about school and all the stresses.
3. I must say that Joe is a WAY better cook than me, I may be able to follow a recipe, but he is able to go above and beyond me by just looking in the cupboard and combining whatever he sees and it actually turns out delicious.
4. Joe is a dreamer. I have never had this trait until I married Joe. We love to dream about our future and the good we can do. Joe thinks it is a poor man's way to have fun.
5. Joe is adventurous. A few years ago Joe had a break from school. We were undecided what we would do with our time, and then the night before, he decided we should make arrangements with my brother in Boston and go out and visit. So the next day, we woke up at 4 in the morning and drove all day. It was so fun to be with your family Andy and Katherine!
6. Joe is a great wood worker. I don't know how many of you have seen the beds he has made in our house and little other projects, but I think he is top notch. He just finished making a sand/water table for the kids. Thankfully we live in a place where there is a lot of fallen wood.
7. Joe is smart. Especially while being in Law School, I have seen him become much more intellectual. Maybe it is because law is so over my head, but at least Joe fools me :).
8. In order to keep sane, Joe always needs a project or something to work on. He loves it when I have lists of things for him to fix when he gets home. I love having a Mr. Fix it always ready to fix or build something.
9. One odd thing about Joe, that I am sure most people hate (I know I do), is that he loves to move. He is always the first to volunteer when someone needs help moving. He considers it a good workout and finds joy in picking everything up in the house, I know, it's weird, but I am so thankful for it, because if you know me, I am probably the weakest person ever and Joe helps me out a lot in this area.
10. While we were dating, Joe made me the most amazing quilt ever!!! It is one of those that I don't use often because I don't want it to get ruined. You would think it is odd for a male to be a great seamstress, but Joe is, and I love it. When I make things he loves helping me with ideas for the project. I remember when Joe bought me my sewing machine for Christmas one year, he had to show me how to thread it (how embarrassing for me.)
11. Joe is patient. I know this may sound like I am just trying to pull anything out about Joe, but it is true. Joe is the most patient person I know!! He HATES any kind of arguing, gossiping, or any bad talk at all. Okay, maybe when it comes to driving he isn't quite as patient, but in every other aspect of his life he is!! I needed to marry a patient man!
12. Joe would eat potatoes all day, every day, for every meal, snack, dessert, you name it, he almost always wants a potato.
13. If I come home with 2 or more tubs of sour cream from the store, he is ecstatic and sadly (we need to get his cholesterol checked) it doesn't last very long. He could eat sour cream on EVERYTHING!! One day I caught him dipping chips in just sour cream. I just had to laugh.
14. Joe has been planning out his dream home ever since we got married (and probably way before then too). He loves asking me how things would make my life easier and he incorporates them in his plans.
15. Joe has a strong testimony of the gospel, and especially about the Savior. He has touched so many lives with his convictions.
16. Joe reads the scriptures with the kids every day. He is WAY better at remembering this than me. By the end of the day, I just get so excited to get them in bed, but Joe has a sensitivity to spiritual things and loves telling Kayla and Isaiah all about Jesus and other gospel things.
17. Joe lets me eat chocolate and even buys it for me. I have a huge weakness for chocolate and it makes Joe's day when he sees me sneaking some from the chocolate chip bag in the cupboard.
18. The only time I hear Joe sing is when he sings for the kids. He loves to sing to them at night time or whenever they are sad.
19. Joe thinks he is boring, but I think he is the funniest, most adventurous person I know. While we were dating, I told him I would always laugh at his jokes, I think that is what made him decide to marry me. :)
20. Joe loves to buy me flowers. He doesn't do it really often so it is expected, but when he does give me flowers, it is at the most perfect time.
21. Whenever I am pregnant, Joe always is right there to help me from finding new remedies to help with the nauseousness or actually helping me throw up in the toilet.
22. Joe is a magician. He reminds me of my dad growing up, always has a new trick to show the kids. Kayla and Isaiah think it is magic that he can pull things out of their ears.
23. Whenever we don't know how we are going to pay for bills, food, or whatever it may be, Joe always finds a way. A few semesters ago, we were really struggling, and Joe put a whole bunch of books to sell on Amazon, and it all worked out. He is a problem solver.
24. Joe has learned to love real crab (my favorite food!)
25. Joe is good to my parents and loves them.
26. Joe is good to his parents and is constantly trying to keep in touch with them.
27. Kayla adores her Daddy and gets jealous if he shows me any sort of affection. Joe loves having 2 girlfriends.
28. Joe is the best husband, friend, and son anyone could ever ask for!!

WE LOVE YOU JOE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!