The Brick

Joseph Austin Hofmeister, 2 years

Grampa Dale and then his son, Lanny, used to say that certain of our kids had the "devil in his/her eyes". I never liked that much, the reference to the devil, because the look in the eye was just mischievious, curiousity, okay, pure orneriness to me. And that is what I see when I look in Joseph Austin Hofmeister's eyes, pure, unadulterated orneriness.

Joe is busy, active, agile and impulsive. His dad calls him "the Brick". Joey's eyes give him away alot; I can see what he's thinking sometimes -- before he acts -- but then other times -- Not! He's quick to think, to act, to do!

I think he is ever curious, ever watchful, ever learning. I've mentioned this before but it is a good illustration. He watched his cousin, Jack G. ride a 2-wheel bicyle at age 3-1/2 years. If you remember, when you are young and get off your bike, you don't put the bike on the kick stand. You hop off and drop the bike down on the ground. Joey, not able to balance a 2-wheeler yet, pedaled the tricycle up and down and up and back. Got off the trike, and laid it on it's side. Then he rode it some more and laid it down again. Big boys don't just get off the bike, Joey noticed; they lay them down. And that is what Joe did.

Happy 2nd year, dear Joey. Love, Nana