Forgotten child

All three kids go to three different schools this year which means three different bus times in the afternoon.  Joel gets home at 2:30 and Norah around 3.  Then Colin comes home around 4.  Joel and Colin can just get off the bus and walk into the house. But for kindergarteners we need to show a card with a number on it that matches a number on Norah's backpack. Her bus driver Miss Patty knows me by now but I always walk out with the card in case she has a substitute bus driver. If you aren't there at the bus stop they will bring the kindergartners back to school to wait for their parents. One little girl had to ride the bus back to school because her grandmother wasn't at the bus stop one day.  Norah was very concerned for her friend and also that I wouldn't be there one day.  I assured her that I would always be there especially since I always had to be there for Joel before her. I told her if I wasn't out at the bus stop then have the bus driver just honk and I would come outside....

Well its a good thing we had that discussion because a few weeks ago I completely forgot about Norah.  Joel had come home from school and I had gotten him a snack and we talked about the day.  Then usually I will go outside and wait for Norah.  But somehow that day I completely forgot about her.  I went to the bathroom and heard someone honking really loud but I thought it was on the street behind us. Then I went into all the bedrooms and gathered up laundry and was putting clothes in the washer when I heard the honking again. And again and again. It took me a few minutes to realize that it was Norah's bus!!!! I ran out of the house to a very upset child who was afraid of going back to school.  Thankfully Norah is the last child on the bus because I'm pretty sure she had been outside honking for me for over 5 minutes.  Her bus driver was a little annoyed.

Norah doesn't know that I completely forgot about her. Norah thinks her bus was early that day since a few kids were absent and they could skip those stops. I didn't want to tell her yet that I just forgot about her or she would be a nervous wreck every afternoon waiting to see if I was outside waiting for her.  Colin thinks its all hilarious and likes to tell me that I have never forgotten about him.

Williamsburg Trick or Treat

This summer when we were visiting Mom and Dad I got a text from a neighbor asking if we would like to join them and a few other neighbors for Williamsburg's Trick or Treating. You have to get tickets and they sell out pretty quick.  We've heard so many great things about it so I said yes and immediately got our tickets. The kids have been excited for months for this.  Four families went and the fact that Norah's teacher was coming with us was very exciting for Norah. We went in the afternoon geared towards younger kids so it wouldn't be scary,  I think they do a ghost walk or something like that later that night.  

It was a beautiful fall day. The weather was perfect.  However, it was not like the past few years that our neighbors have gone and they kept apologizing all night to us.  We got off the shuttle and had to wait an hour in line just to get into the trick or treating area and then follow in a line all around for the trick or treating.  Jeff came and met us but they wouldn't let him beyond a rope to get into the trick or treating to walk around with us. But the kids had fun with their friends and it was perfect weather to be outside.

Colin loved wearing his costume.  He said last weekend everyone commented on Norah's dress - this weekend everyone was taking pictures and videos of him walking around.

It was a fun afternoon and now the kids are even more excited for Halloween.

Apple Picking

On the way home from Blacksburg we stopped to go apple picking at Carters Mountain. We were a litte worried about the crowds.  One year it took close to two hours to get up the mountain because of all the cars.  But this year we timed it right and just drove straight up.  I guess late afternoon on a Sunday is the best time to go. 

I haven't figured out if Brent was wearing this shirt in UVA territory as a disclaimer or with pride. 

Ant Ant came with us this year!

 

The kids have been asking since school started when we were going to go apple picking. They were very excited to finally go.

Colin was upset at me the whole time because I wouldn't let him bite into an apple.  The dentist said he couldn't bite into apples or corn on the cobb anymore after he had his chipped front tooth fixed.  I told Colin he could take that risk once he starts paying for his own dental bills.  But I did feel bad he couldn't bite into one. Fresh picked apples are so good.  I had meant to bring an apple slicer but had forgotten to bring it.

A great ending to the weekend!