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Last week Josie started swim lessons for the fall. She has a great class of 3 students! She already knows the other two kids too because they are Will and Ben. Works out well for us. All three at the same time and this is the first time that I don't need to get in the pool with them! Score for mom.

This week was suppose to be the week Josie has been waiting her whole life for... Josie was going to ride the school bus. She very seriously told Billy's co-workers (when we went up for lunch one day) that she has gone on party buses before (aka trolley buses after weddings) but not a school bus. Then she said the line that melted me. "I've been waiting my whole life for this!"

The field trip was cancelled due to rainy cold weather. It is suppose to happen next Thursday, fingers crossed. We didn't know it was cancelled till we were already leaving for school. I felt so bad that we had bundled up and then she found out last minutely it wasn't going to happen. But with typical Josie attitude she said, "that's ok. Next week will be better." No big deal. The kid goes with the flow better than most.... and yes I am referring to her younger brothers!

Today Josie had her first spelling bee. It was 20 different upper case letters. She thinks she got a 100%. Either way, we worked on those letters so much I feel good knowing it's done!

Lastly, on the way to school, Josie heard a fire truck and told me she used 1 of her 5 senses to hear the truck. I didn't know she was learning about them so it was cool to see her apply what she learned to everyday life....and made me realize I need to start reading the newsletter from school!

Josie, Ben, and Will waiting for their lesson

Will, Josie, and Ben... I love mornings like this!

Waiting for school to start I took this pic. It's my view for a good chunk of each day.

Stop Growing!

I say it to all three all the time. Stop Growing!

I'm joking for the most part... but I'd be lying if I didn't say I wish they'd stay little and innocent for a bit longer. Someone once said to me, the days are long but the years are fast. I couldn't agree more. There are days (more often than not) that I am exhausted at the end of it all. However I feel like I blink and my kids grow physically and emotionally. There little brains at work are amazing.

Which brings me to Josie... My baby girl has a loose tooth! Yes, the top left tooth. It wiggles just a bit. She discovered this last night at dinner. She said, "Dad, my tooth is sore when I eat." To which Billy wiggled and sure enough it started to move. While Billy proudly gave Josie a high five and Josie hopped up and down, I held back a little tear. I just kept thinking, how can my baby be loosing teeth?! (Don't worry, 24hours later I am embracing this milestone better).

I've also noticed another change in Josie. Lately instead of listening to Mary Poppins, Fresh Beat Band, Tangled on CD, etc... She started requesting the radio. She said she likes the variety of the radio. Which is a nice change as I'd love to hear some fun songs as I drive. But I also think she is loosing the innocence. She'll ask me what is this song about? Why is Taylor Swift sad? It's funny to hear the questions she comes up with.

1/2 Day Kindergarten school pic

This is what I meant for her to wear on picture day... I just wrote the wrong date down!

Josie, Ben, and Will's pictures at the dentist office. We went there last week right before the loose tooth.

That's my girl! Breakfast singing.

Josie 5 year facts

Here are a few of Josie's favorite things:

Favorite cuddly thing: Clifford the big red dog

Favorite food: Pizza at Red Rossa

Favorite song: Twist and Shout by The Beatles

Favorite toy: Bat Cave

Favorite place: Omaha

Favorite movie: Brave

Favorite book: Super hero books

Protein or Stones...

Josie was helping herself to some water. She told me, "Mom, I'm drinking a lot of water because it is good for me. It has protein." I was getting ready to correct her when she said, "Oh wait...Not Protein! I meant it helps me with my kidney stones!"

I didn't have have the heart to correct her, so if she tells you she has kidney stones she doesn't... and she won't if she keeps drinking all that water!

Welcome to 1/2 Day Kindergarten!

On Tuesday Josie started her first day of 1/2 Day Kindergarten. She was a little nervous, but she did awesome.

I wanted Josie to give her teacher an apple on the first day of school. I told her it was for good luck. This is her teacher's first year and I thought it'd be funny and a cute way for her to remember her first day of teaching. Josie would normally do this without any hesitation, but on Tuesday at the last minute she decided she'd rather eat the apple. Can't win them all. I was also hoping to get a quick picture of Josie with her teacher and she firmly shook her head no. I'm not used to seeing Josie nervous. The kid has enough confidence for the two of us, usually. But even with the nerves, she walked in and sat in her seat without holding our hands. (Part of me was hoping she wanted to hold my hand till the very last second.) She gave hugs to her brothers and was ready for us to leave. Billy and I looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders as to say now what, then we headed to the door.

After we got the boys buckled up in the car, Billy gave me a great big hug and said, "We did good babe, she was ready!" That's when I realized even though I wanted her to need me, I couldn't be more proud that she didn't.

The week before school we tested out the playground

Friends from preschool Mia, Josie, and Luke

Let's get this party started!

Mama's baby girl... note the apple in my hand

William saying good luck 

Benny giving hugs

End of the day. I asked Josie what she thought. She said, "Mom. I didn't like it.... I LOVED it!" 

Summer Ends...

We've had a wonderful summer. Here's what we did the past two weeks before we started school...

Bounce house with cousin Maeve

Celebrated Maeve (7), Will and Ben (3) birthdays

Horse back riding

Porky tickling Josie

4 kids horsing around

Goofing with Grandshe

Playing with cousin Jules 

Testing out the playground at Westridge Elementary

Josie saved money for the past few months to buy her brothers' birthday presents

Picnic play date at Jester Park 

1/2 Day Kindergarten Orientation

All of the above is why we nap well... note the sleep mask!

Home Body

This week Josie didn't feel like doing much of anything. She was content with just staying inside and playing with her brothers. Anyone that knows us, we are usually on the go. We don't stop. So the change in pace requested by Josie was definitely welcomed.

When she told me for the 4th day in a row that she wanted to just play at home, I realized the 5 year old is right. We have had a busy summer - tennis camp, gymnastics, swimming, playhouse camp, couple week long trips to Omaha, and a weekend in Montana. Sadly there are just two weeks left before Josie starts half day kindergarten. We'll be getting up and at 'em every weekday morning soon enough. I'm with you Jos, let's savor these last few moments of summer.

We did make it out to the library yesterday.... Lane and Josie catching up on some light reading.