Joe!

Our Joe has had a big year... Literally! He's just shy of a size 12 shoe and at 13 he's already 5'5". I fully expect him to be taller than me by the time he starts high school in the fall. He's thrilled to be taller than his big sister Kaity!

I don't have many pictures of him, because he hates having his picture taken. I occasionally catch him off-guard, though, or force him to give the camera a big, fake grin. I'll share what I have!

 In August, Joe started playing alto saxophone with the Athens Area Homeschool Band. He did so well that after a try-out, he was asked to move up from beginning band to intermediate for the second semester. He played for solo ensemble and did very well, especially for having learned the instrument only 8 months before.

For Joe's birthday this year, he requested a Star Wars party. The kids had fun in the backyard shooting Nerf guns at the Empire's fleet (balloon targets).

I can't resist a good pun!

The girls love their big brother! Joe plays Lego, chess, checkers, and Minecraft with them, and they love to ride bikes together.

New glasses! He wants contacts next time, so expect a new look come October.

He has his mother's love of puns! We cracked up at his Halloween costume ...

The Old Man and the Sea, of course!

We all got new bikes for Christmas, and we've been on family rides several times. Joe loves to take his bike off-road, often branching off and then re-joining us, just to show that he can ride circles around us!

At our homeschool co-op this year, Joe took a woodworking class. He made a toolbox in the first semester and during the second semester, he made this cutting board and six coasters. He really enjoyed it - definitely inherited his Papa's talent!

Last week we found out that a local private school has invited homeschoolers to join their marching band. Joe is pretty stoked to go to band camp this summer and to get started marching in the fall!