Katie's New Adventure

Today is a day I could have barely imagined when I started this blog nearly 5 years ago: Katie's first day of school.  Less than an hour ago I put her on the school bus for the first time.

My mother showed up to be there for Katie's big moment, and we laughed at how Katie is her mother's daughter.  My mom says that I ran all the way to the bus stop on my first day and never wanted to come home.  Similarly, Katie danced and jumped around the house and then the bus stop, so excited to start her new adventure.

Last week she tried on her new smock, while Joshua tried on my dress:

Friday Katie went to orientation, and was thrilled that her preschool friend Mia is in her class.

This morning Katie picked out a dress that I hadn't let her wear yet, one that I had been saving for school.  She loves that it's sparkly.

And then she hammed it up for the camera, so excited to be going to meet the bus.

As I mentioned before, Grandma joined us for the momentous event, and gave Katie all kinds of tips about listening to her teacher, not forgetting her backpack on the bus, and staying with her class.  I don't know how much of it Katie processed as she skipped around the house.  But she was so glad Grandma was there to see her off.

Happy first day of school, Katie!  I hope you love it as much as I did!

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #1: "Mommy, I Love You!"

Drum roll... My absolutely favorite Joshua moment of 2011 was a year ago this week, when he delighted me by suddenly saying, "Mommy, I love you!" He could barely say any words but for a few days he was warming my heart with this phrase.  I saw it as an early birthday present.

I just wish he said it now! ha ha. You've got three days to learn it again for my birthday, Joshua. Come on, you can do it!

Thanks for tuning in for my Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011! More 2011 videos to come, including several of Katie.

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #2: "Oh Man!"

In a prime example of how our children pick up our own expressions, Joshua suddenly started saying "Oh MAN!" this past spring.  He couldn't use basic vocabulary but he could say that.  Here's a video of his unique way of expressing himself, shot June 17, 2011.

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #3: Snoring!

Joshua often falls asleep on his floor, just inside his door.  I think he wears himself out waiting for me to come rescue him, and finally just gives up and conks out.  Anyway, on Sept. 20, 2011, I came upstairs and heard a funny whistling noise, and realized it was Joshua snoring.  He was snoring through the crack under his door so I could hear him all the way down the hall.

Yes, this video starts in blackness.  So turn your volume up and be patient and hopefully you'll get a laugh out of this just as I did.

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #4: "Dip Dip"

My children will eat almost any raw vegetable if they can dip it in Ranch dressing.  But they don't call it Ranch dressing; they call it "white dip dip."  (Many of their friends now do too -- we're starting a trend!)  And I just love how Joshua said "dip dip" back on September 12 when I took this video.

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #5: "Happy Birthday!"

On March 21, our playgroup sang an early "Happy Birthday" to Joshua, who turned two later that week.  Joshua couldn't resist joining in, and I love how absolutely crazy excited he got as he sang to himself!

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #6: Giggling!

OK, so this isn't really a WORD, but it's still one of my favorite Josh videos of the year.  I love how he giggles and giggles at something silly I'm doing.  This video was taken at my mom's birthday lunch on June 17, 2011.

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #7: "BEACH!"

Last February, Josh couldn't say much but he did know one important word: BEACH!!  And he could say it on cue!  This video was taken Feb. 21, 2011.

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #8: "Jesus Loves Me"

Ever since he was a baby, part of Joshua's bedtime routine has been his father or I singing "Jesus Loves Me" over him before kissing him goodnight.  He sometimes will fill in a word or two while we sing, but I almost never hear him sing it on his own.

On December 11, I stumbled across Joshua (wearing his sister's hat, mind you) sitting in his room singing "Jesus Loves Me" to himself.  I thought it was adorable.

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #9: "The Hello Song"

Continuing with my countdown of my favorite things that Josh said over the past year is #9 -- "The Hello Song."  He learned this song in preschool and will often sing it over and over again with the hand motions.

"Hello, hello to you and you and you.  A big hello and a small hello, a high hello and a low hello.  Hello, hello to you and you and you."

Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011: #10: "Trick or Treat!"

I've decided to make a list of the Top 10 Josh-isms of 2011 to celebrate his discovery of language over the last year.  Here's my 10th favorite: He tries to pronounce "Trick or Treat" in order to get one more piece of candy from me on Halloween night.