2014 is nigh. Joe will be six this year, starting kindergarten in the fall at a new school. Full of angst. Rebellion. Piss and vinegar.

Time for the blog to change a little, too. Welcome to the new Joe Tremblay.

Joe did a lot of stuff this year, including a lot of things for the first time. We’re looking forward to all that 2014 will bring, but first let’s take a quick look back …

Joe’s Grandma and Grandpa spent a few days with us for Christmas. Lots of good food and hanging out, but for me the big story was Grandpa and Joe – they were like old pals the whole time. Thanks Mom and Dad for making the long trip and making this a terrific Christmas!

Buddies

Opening his loot

Cracking wise at breakfast

Finishing a long walk at Petersburg National Battlefield

The Cast:

Grandma taking it all in

Mama with a present

Joe post-eggnog

Grandpa post-eggnog

Dada post-eggnog

From our annual trip to the GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

We spent Thanksgiving afloat. The ship we were on, the Liberty of the Seas, is massive. It was the largest cruise ship ever from it’s launch in 2007 until 2009.

Lots more photos from the trip (and nine people for three days in one van) on Flickr.

Somewhere off the coast of Cuba.

Joe telling his new drinking buddy Francisco a salty tale.

Cousin one, Dixon.

And cousin two, Abigail.

Lia, dozens of feet above sea level.

Our young cruise director.

Almost sunset.

We went to a Christmas party tonight. Joe and Santa became mutual fans.

Plus he met Honey, a companion dog in-training. This photo looks like a live-action comic strip. Calvin Brown and Snobbes?

Joe has finally left the crib. He’s now in the perfect bed for him, and his particular set of skills acquired over the last five and a half years.

It isn’t enough to call this a “specialty bed.” This thing is a work of art. Hand built in Maine by a guy (and fellow Patrick) who designed it for his own daughter – it’s all padded and has a tough netting that zips closed, so Joe can jump and play when he wants, but can’t roll or crawl out at night.

I’m guessing within a week he’ll have diagrams, metal files, a paper mache dummy head and fake passport under the mattress. Just waiting for a new moon to make his move.