1 down. 2,339 days to go.

It happened and we all survived.

Josh had a blast. 

He can't wait to go back. 

Tomorrow, we do it all over again. 

It was the most surreal and odd day of my parenting career thus far. 

My house was so quiet. 

At one point, I found my self pacing until it was time to go get him. 

I missed my little buddy. 

But, I think he had plenty to keep himself busy at school.

Here is the story of Josh's first day of Kindergarten.

 Once upon a time there lived a little boy named Josh.

He was a kind and silly boy with golden hair and blue smiling eyes. 

He loved to stay in his jammies all day and waste away hours playing cars, Legos, and games. 

One day, Josh ate a magical apple that made his legs grow long and lean, his hair lost all it's soft curls, his teeth and his bones grew stronger, and his brain started getting bigger and bigger and bigger.  The magical apple even made him have super powers to be able to ride a bike all by himself- NO TRAINING WHEELS!!!

Never in the land had a boy grown up so fast. 

It was a miracle. 

 Josh kept finding magical pieces of fruit to eat at his house and soon, he learned to read and write and all the little toys at his house just weren't cool enough anymore. 

He needed more. 

So, he found a castle just down the street from his house that trained magically-growing boys like Josh. 

He enrolled, was accepted as soon as he turned 5 years old and was gifted special materials from his teacher and friend to read the night before his first day. 

These special books prepared him for what was to come...

The moment when all the magic stored up inside him came out and POP! 

He officially became a larger than life Kindergartner.

It was amazing.

  

Although Josh was one of the strongest, most magical,  and toughest of Kindergartners,  he still wanted his Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Sister to walk him to the Magical Training Facility for Kindergartners on his first day. The family loaded up for a nice early morning stroll, but it was hard for them to keep up with Josh. The biscuits he ate for breakfast must have given him extra speed power as he was walking faster than a bolt of lightening to the castle. 

As soon as the doors opened, his parents watched as he walked straight towards his new classroom. It was as though the magic was surrounding him like a family of fire flies on a summer evening.  They watched as he grew bigger and bigger with every step he took towards his class.  

By the time he made it to his teacher's class room, he was a full grown boy. 

His parents watched in amazement and wondered if all the other children in his class had magical fruit that made them grow up as fast as Josh. 

He walked in without even a backwards glance. 

 Josh's parents were certain to run straight home and hide all the magical fruit from Josh's Baby Sister, Emily, so she wouldn't grow so magically fast. 

But, already, she looks twice as big as she did yesterday. 

Somehow,  time stood still for the day while Josh was at his first day of Kindergarten. Mommy cried magical tears that didn't seem to stop until it was time to get her baby boy again. But, finally time came to walk back to school and get Josh.  Even Josh's Daddy made it home early from work to welcome Josh home from his first magical day of Kindergarten. As soon as Josh emerged from the doors,  he ran straight to his Baby Sister to tell her all about his day. They were both so happy to reunite after hours apart, it brought magical tears back to Josh's Mommy's eyes. On the walk home, Josh spoke of all the great things he did during his day away. His favorite was when his teacher "pulled a big white sheet down from the ceiling and used a computer to put a movie on the screen." (Movie on the first day??? What kind of magical training is this?) He also spoke of how "amazing" the cafeteria was and how he wished he had his bike to ride on the playground during recess.  After telling us he got a sticker and a M&M for being a good boy, he then declared, 

"Well, I don't remember anything else, I guess my brain is all filled up." 

What a great day Josh had learning how to turn his magical brain and growing powers into good things for the future. 

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

***************

We made a family time capsule in honor of Josh beginning the long journey of schooling. We included some pictures of our family, a picture of our phone and computer, a newspaper from today, a piece of string the length of Josh and Emily's height, a grocery receipt, handprints of the kids, and some of Josh's favorite drawings and things. 

The plan is to open it in August of 2024 on Josh's first day of his senior year. 

Chris wonders if we can keep up with the box for that long. 

I wonder if Chris knows me at all. 

 I will end with my very favorite picture Josh has EVER drawn. 

It's our family, and it's awesome. 

I can't wait to unwrap this little roll of drawing paper in 12 years and find our family portrait. 

It was a very memorial and magical day for all of us. 

Thanks for sharing the journey with us!