I have no pictures of eats from yesterday because you’ve seen them to death lately. Breakfast was more pumpkin scones (only 2 left – must make more stat!), lunch was zucchini lasagna, and dinner was buffalo chicken chili, three ways. Kelly, to answer your question, chili three ways is just chili served over elbow macaroni or spaghetti with cheddar cheese – five ways would be with sour cream and chopped onions, and you know I am not doing the onions! š
This flashback Friday is about my step-son Joe. Many new readers will be like “who the hell is Joe?” Well, I don’t write about him a lot because he lives in Texas with his . . .fiance! Yep, Joe and his girlfriend Lizz are getting hitched next summer, so that means your dear Biz, at the young old of age of 44 next summer, will be a step-mother-in-law!
I have to tell you that I was quite worried about Joe being independent. Tony and I got married when Hannah was 8 and Joe was 11. He lived with his Mom and his mom did everything for him – including when Joe was in high school – as soon as his mom heard him enter the shower, that was her cue to go sit in his car and warm it up in the winter.
But I am very proud of him! He moved out after high school graduation. When he called he would say “I made a great JoeVcipe” (a Joe recipe) and would tell me that first you heat up a pan, add some olive oil, add a boneless chicken breast and sprinkle it with Weber Grill seasoning he bought at the store. He declared it delicious!
So last year, after only knowing Lizz a few months, they decided to relocate their jobs to Austin, Texas last July. Joe was 20, Lizz was 19 and away they went to start their new life. And enjoy it, they have! They have an apartment, they have a cat named Jasmine, a dog named Cinnamon Bun (love that name!), and have decided they are the one for each other.
While I still think they are a bit young, all I want is for Joe to be happy and I know he is. š
This family photo was taken a mere 3 weeks after Tony and I met – it was at my then law firms annual summer picnic.
![family photo](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/family-photo.jpg)
These are pics before my time, but they are some of my favorite:
But then he started growing up:
![sleeping door county](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/sleeping-door-county.jpg)
Joe and Tony having their first drinks together at the bar after Joe turned 21:
Joe in action at work – he’s on the left š
Here is Lizz’s engagement ring:
I hope you have a happy life together! I look forward to getting to know Lizz better. I love you!
Ahh, young love, how sweet it is. As a 70-year old, I would love to recapture some of it. Love your beautiful photos. Your SIL and future DIL are very handsome.
Congratulations to Joe & Lizz! What a stunning couple they are!
Though I was engaged at 21 and married at 22, I plan to encourage my own kids to spend some time living before they settle down. However, some people are ready to settle down early and you can’t argue with that!
Have a fantastic weekend, Biz!
Congrats to them! I’ve got scones here too & I’m lovin’ them!
AWWWW, what a cute couple!! I hope they are very happy together!
Congrats Joe & Lizz!!! :):)
Aww yay!! Congrats to Joe and Lizz! š
Congrats for Joe and Lizz! My cousin got engaged this past Tuesday, and she’s 19. I, too, thought that was quite young, but the guy is great and she’s happy.
What a lovely tribute! I bet you’re going to be a wonderful step-mother-in-law. They’re lucky:)
Congratulations to Joe, Lizz and your family!
Oh congrats to them! He is very handsome and she is beautiful…a lovely couple they make! I am having issues with myself about my kids growing up…lol….I want them to stay little forever…but I know it can’t happen. Sometimes its more scary wondering if we did everything we could to prepare them for adulthood ( including, like you said, NOT doing things) and wondering if the things we chose to allow them to learn on their own was the right thing and hoping we didn’t help them out too much…..ugh…very scary indeed! But like you said, happiness and I am going to add, success…however they define it, is the ultimate goal.
how sweet is this! congratulations
Congratulations, Joe and Lizz!!! Biz, I love all the pictures you shared, especially the early family picture. Lizz is going to be a beautiful bride. š
So sweet! May they have all the rest of their days together be happy ones!
What a beautiful tribute to our Joe. He is truly special!
Hopefully we will get to met Liz soon.
You will do just fine as a MIL. How do I know? Because you are a special daughter-in-law. We are blessed to have you in our family.
If you’re going to have the title of “MIL, can “Gramma” be far behind š
Lizz is beautiful and so is her ring
Congrats to Joe and Liz!
And you’ve given me an idea for a post! My sister’s soon to be fiance–he’s getting my grandmother’s engagement ring from my mom today!–and my sister!
Congrats to Joe & Lizz!!!
Loved all the flashback pics!
Have a great weekend!
So sweet! Best wishes to the newly engaged couple. You will be a rockin’ MIL, the coolest ever! Have a great weekend Biz.
Robin
awwwwwwwwww- so cute š I can’t wait to see the wedding pics!! They seem like a great couple. And Cinnamon Bun is like the cutest dog name ever. Have a great weekend Ms. Biz
Congratulations to Joe and Lizz! What a precious couple they are! I’m a very young step MIL to a daughter-in-law and son-in-law. It’s wonderful having these two extra kids to love. You are going to be wonderful. By the way…..I could never get tired of seeing your food photos. You always make me hungry! Have a wonderful weekend, Candace