MY AMIE

While Joey and I were visiting in Ohio, I'd ask her occasionally,

Mommy: "Joey, where is Daddy?"

Joey: "Amie"

Mommy" "In Miami?"

Joey: "Yeah, in your Amie."

MISS INDEPENDENT

Grandma, Joey and I flew to Ohio 2 Sundays ago and Joey and I flew back this past Sunday (Grandma is still visiting).

Joey, being older than 2, got to have her own seat this time.

She also insisted on pulling her own luggage through the entire MIA airport.

P.S. to Kaki:

1/2 of everyone we met that day LOVED Joey's boots!

HO HI HO

Grandma, Joey & I are in "Ho Hi Ho" (Ohio) for a week.
(The menfolk stayed home. Someone has to support my lifestyle.)

Joey is having a blast. (Of course, Joey can have fun anywhere.)
There is no computer access at Grandma Higgin's house, so I probably won't write anything else till we get home.

Went diggin' for worms in the mornin' and caught a bass before lunch.
Beat that!

SUGAR ATTACK

If Joey starts to slowly move towards you with an "I'm-gonna-get-you" look on her face and her hands, like claws in the air... then you're about to have a SUGAR ATTACK.

And she'll tell you, "Here comes a sugar attack!"

Sugar, as in the Southern "Give me some sugar."

(In Miami, we'd translate that as "Dame un besito.")

She dives into your neck and gives you multiple, fast, tickling kisses.

It's absolutely wonderful.

Kaki taught her that one.

HOW OLD IS MOMMY?

(Maddie's 3rd birthday is tomorrow)

Doyle: "Maddie, how old are you going to be?"

Maddie: "3! Joey, how old are you going to be tomorrow?"

Joey: "2 seconds! Mommy, how old are you?"

Me: "I'm 30 years old."

Doyle: "Joey, how old is Mommy?"

Joey: "Forty."

Me: "NO! NO! NO!"

Everyone else: (howling laughter)

SPIT & POLISH

After having applied new hooker red nail-polish to Joey and my piggy toes and fingernails (her color choice), I had a little bit on the side of my hand.

Joey: "Oh, look Mommy, you're dirty! Here, give me your hand."

Joey takes my hand in hers, sticks her 2 fingers in her mouth, and begins to wipe my hand clean with her spit.

And it worked.

LOLLI-POSH

Mark went to tickle Joey's feet and she hollered out:

"NO! Don't touch my lolli-posh!"

Joey and I have matching glitter pink finger nails and piggy toes.

She loves it.

MOM-MOM'S EASTER EGG HUNT

Over 400 eggs, for 4 children.

Nope, that's not a typo!

I spy with my little eye...

Patiently waiting.

Joey just wanted to follow Austin around.

Madison is so helpful. She would go around filling up the little one's baskets so it would be more fair in the end.

No, it's not cheating.

Do you know how long 4 children can stand still together for a picture?

Apparently not that long.

Pool time!

SWITCH OF YOUR HIPS

You know that switch-of-your-hips walk that some women have?

I always thought it was something a woman learned to do.

My daughter does it naturally.

Mark: "We are in so much trouble."

Happy Mother's Day!

CARTOONS

We're about to have a meal, Joey is sitting at the table and I put one of her plates down.

Joey: "Look Mommy, CARTOONS!"

Mommy: "No, that is just CARS."

Joey (Shaking her head) "No, Mommy, CAR TOONS!"

Mommy: "No, Joey, it's not called CARTOONS, just CARS."

Joey: (Puts her hands on the tables, and with a very deliberate look) "No, Mommy, say CAR TOONS!"

Mark: (body is shaking while he is trying to hide his laughter) "(insert 5th grade girl laugh)"

Mommy: "Okay, you're right."

Joey: "Mommy, say CAR TOONS."

Mommy: "CAR TOONS."

Joey: (smiling, nodding her head, with an I'm-proud-of-you-for-finally-getting-it look that was odd to see recognize off of my own face.) "Good, Mommy!"

BARKER'S BEAUTIES

Easter morning for Joey.

(Yes, it's kinda like a mini Christmas in April in our family)

The next generation in Bob Barker's beauties.

Joey displaying the prizes for the camera.

Now she's modeling them for us.