High 5!

We officially have a five year old in the house. Here is how we celebrated Josie's big day:

We kicked off the celebration with our tradition of filling her room with balloons.  

Family photo with our little Spiderman before she headed off to Playhouse camp to see Pinkalicious. I was told she was the only girl not in pink... This is when I tell her it's good to be different. 

Books from Cousin Maeve!

Puppet Show Birthday party. 

Hanging from the tree contest after her birthday dinner. 

Josie started gymnastics and...

Tee Ball practice!

Where did the time go?

Well in a little over a week we will have a 5 year old. All I keep thinking is, "where did the time go?!" Josie has always been spunky, bright, social, and kind. I hope she never looses those qualities. They are all what make Josie so... Josie!

She still prefers a hat and boy underwear over a dress any day. I can talk her into a dress for church sometimes, but she'd rather wear her suit jacket. Josie loves to do whatever Dad does. She decided to take up tennis this summer and wants to go back out to the golf course again with Billy soon. They played 9 holes not too long ago and she loved it.

Tonight we wrap up Josie's last game of soccer for the season. So far I think the thing she's loved the most is playing with her friend Jaime. On the first practice we caught them holding hands on the field. She is pretty good at soccer. Josie isn't afraid of the ball and can be one of the first down the field...when she decides to pay attention.

Last week we finished her last Music class with Ms. Deb. After two years of attending classes, Josie won't be attending with her brothers next year. This year Josie liked to be my helper and assist her brothers with the songs. She enjoyed listening to the stories, but her favorite thing was when we'd get to see a new instrument.

On Friday Josie graduated from preschool! Next year we will have a half day kindergartner..."where did the time go?!"

Josie the character

Great Wolf Lodge, KC

 Will, Josie, and Ben getting ready for the water park

Ben giving a motivational hug before Jos hits the slides

Dad and Josie on the BIG slide

 Ben, Josie and Will before SOF pizza night. Josie insisted on dressing up for her teachers. 

This kid has spunk. A mom at the preschool pizza night came up to me and said Josie reminds her of Punky Brewster. Some day I'll have to show Josie that show.

While most of the pictures are from last week's adventure at the Great Wolf Lodge, I'm going to write about the funny things she says.

• When Josie says Hawkeyes it sounds like "hot guys". 
• When we passed the library one night she said, " I don't believe my eyes! The library is still open!!!" She also told me she wishes she could live there. 
• Out of no where she told me, "God made me amazing." I couldn't agree more.
• On the way to KC it was nap time. Will was so fired up to get there he kept talking. Josie said, "Mom, Will is not being quiet so I can't get my beauty sleep."

What a week!

The past week was filled with so much fun. Grandshe stayed with us from Easter till today and let's be honest, everything is more fun when your Grandshe is around. Tonight when I was reading stories at bedtime Josie was holding a wallet size picture of Grandshe and just starring at it. Then she tucked her photo under her pillow for safe keeping. Yesterday morning she crawled in bed with my mom and said, "I miss you when you aren't here". I love that my mom and daughter have such a great bond. I hope they always do.

Ben, Grandshe, and Josie at church on Easter.

Josie at the end of her story time for half day kindergarten!

Josie and I on our way to visit her new school!

Ben, Josie, and Will before swim lessons started!

Just like uncle Jay (G.), Josie likes to read about the presidents!

Below is the best anniversary gift I could have ever gotten. My mom and the kids kept telling me they were rehearsing something for us and before we went out on Friday they wanted to show us the big production. Note that Josie wore her suit and a new bow tie to really dress up for the show. She kept asking for soot all week. She loves Bert from Mary Poppins and apparently was trying to be him in this production. When I was getting ready she saw my bronzer and begged to use some for soot. Ben is next to me saying excuse me in the beginning. Then he wonders off to go get his hippo to dance with so he isn't in this clip. What a fun way to celebrate 7 years! Here's a glimpse of the show they put on for us...

Here is another video taking on Easter of Josie and her scooter. She is really getting good!

I'm Allergic?!

Because Josie's brothers have allergies, it's something we talk about often. Josie often is an advocate for her brothers and makes sure foods don't have nuts before they eat something from someone at playgroups or music class.

Josie was bragging the other day. She asked her Uncle Jay (on dad's side...how many kids have 2 uncle Jays?!) "Do you know what I am allergic to?! NOTHING!" Jay told her she is allergic to something...bad boys. Josie kept asking him about this new allergy.

Fast forward 3 days, we are at Target doing some turbo shopping trying to get things checked off our list. Josie says, "Mom, did you know I am allergic to bad guys? I guess I can't be a police officer when I grow up because I won't be able to catch them..."

I look forward to reminding her of this allergy when she is asked out on a date by a bad boy. Thanks Uncle Jay!

Week 1 of 2 Week Spring Break

The great thing about kids that are in preschool is that we get an extra long spring break.

(I say this at the beginning of week 2, by the end of this week I might be whistling another tune).

We kicked off the first week with a great teacher conference for Josie. I am in love with the kids preschool. Her teacher hyperlinked her conference write up with pictures and videos to demonstrate the skills Josie has accomplished this year. How cool is that?

In order for me to attend conferences, Jill and I shared watching our kids while the other attended their conference. Below is a picture of Lane, Josie, and Ben relaxing after some football.

The boys had school last Wednesday, but Josie did not due to conferences. So she came to class and helped me be the teacher helper. Josie loved it!

A new favorite lunch, toothpick picnics! All the food on their plate can be picked up by a toothpick.

Billy took Friday off to watch basketball games. Before he went to meet up with friends he decided it'd be the perfect day to kick off with some golf with his little girl. They did 9 holes at Jester and had a blast. Josie loved it.

What better way to kick off St. Patty's Day than with green milk and mustache straws?!

These two pics crack me up... Josie's style shines through in them. Love you Josie girl....

4 and three quarters...

Josie's 5th birthday is three months away. We started making summer plans, figuring out what sports and camps she wants to try and of course Josie's favorite subject discussing her birthday! We still haven't finalized the theme, but we know what we want to do! More on that later...

Last week we started doing a sticker chart for dry pull ups in the morning and chores. Josie has always been a heavy sleeper. I know this because the boys can yell, cry, scream and she can sleep through it. It's a gift!

I told Josie that Ben had been waking up with a dry diaper and that's all it took for her to give it a try. She can't be out done by her baby brother! We are now sleeping in unders and doing great.

She woke up at 2:30am to inform me she needed to go potty. While I didn't like getting up I was proud that she didn't have an accident. We went potty (I never miss an opportunity to use the bathroom) and headed back to bed. I tucked her in then fell back to sleep instantly. When my alarm went off at 4:45am to go running I realized her bedroom light was on. I went in there to find her reading to herself. Most kids would wake you up with the mentality "if I can't sleep neither can you". Not my four and three quarters Josie. She read to herself in hopes of falling back a sleep on her own. And for that I am very thankful (among other reasons) that I have my Josie Girl.