Almost Famous

Does it make us famous if we hang out with someone who is?

Hmmmm.  

We had a great weekend-- Andy Grammer was in town

to perform at the Boise Music Festival.

 Andy was our headliner last year for our Baldapalooza

(children's cancer fundraiser).  He agreed to meet with us

this weekend-- and we got to have breakfast with his Tour

Manager the day before.

That's Angie, our Baldapalooza Executive Director with

Welshie (Andy's Tour Manager) at the festival on Saturday.

 For some reason, he was charmed by we three girls

(Angie, myself and Calene- one of our main volunteers).

We stayed (in the heat) and listened to Andy wow

the crowd.

I, especially enjoyed relaxing and listening to Andy--

last year, I was running around and answering questions

for about a third of his performance.

 So this was quite the treat--  he puts on a fantastic show.

 Oh, and Monday morning brought some big changes to our routine.

Kean started Extended School Year today--

(I think it is a version of Summer School for those who really need it).

 It was kinda strange for the girls and I to push him down

to the ol' bus stop.  He rode his little therapy bike.

 I'm not sure he could figure out what was going on--

new bus, new bus driver, aid, school, teacher

and classmates.

He is such a creature of habit, I'm sure today

was quite discombobulating.

This was one of those times I really, really wish he 

could talk more than he does!

The Girl and the Boy

Maybe somebody can explain to me when this happened?!?

When Greer got all grown up and gorgeous on me.

We did her make-up tonight for Seussical the Musical's 

dress rehearsal.

 And I've been wanting to post for a while about Kean's bus rides to Kindergarten.

Every morning, he has to climb onto this fence and wait for about 10 seconds.

Then he's off and mama is in chase mode until the bus comes.

 His bus driver in the morning is different from the bus driver

who brings him home in the afternoon.  Don't ask me why-- I just

chalk it up to more friends for Kean.

This is Deborah.

 And this is his aid who buckles him in each morning

and listens to him gab and sing.

 It is kind of crazy, he is the first on the bus in the morning and

I think they only pick up two others.

Your tax dollars at work, folks.

 He loves the bus ride and they are sure good to him.

Look at the little sign they made for his seat.

Boy, do they know him well or what?

 In the afternoon, Scott is his bus driver and Dennis is assigned to Kean.

It is hilarious, I don't think a day passes where Kean doesn't try and drive the bus.

The kid has big dreams.

 Then it is the long walk up the hill

(with those crazy puppies).

The Empty Nesters

Oh was it ever surreal at our house this morning.

Kean's bud driver (and the aid) found our home this time around

and picked him up.

 But geez, it was strange to have them all gone. If you

think about it, Kean and I have basically been attached at the hip

for the past six years.

He had another good day at school.  The report came

back "good" rather than "great" like yesterday.  I guess he

pinched a couple of kids that got in his personal space.  The good news

is they told him "no" and to be nice.  

He'll catch on one of these days.

He came home all smiles-- didn't seem quite so tired

but still took another 3 hour nap.

 The girls were about beside themselves waiting for him to wake up

because a mystery package was delivered while Kean was napping.

 The box was from a group of students at Boise State--

student leaders who put on the Boise State Dance Marathon each year

to raise funds for St. Luke's Children's Hospital and the Children's

Miracle Network.

These amazing and kindhearted students sent him a shirt,

a BSU football, bubbles and a toy motorcycle.

 He was absolutely thrilled.

While we were absolutely touched.

Our future is in good hands with these students coming up to the helm.

They are sharp, sharp, sharp.

Oh, one more thing.  I have come to realize that with all the craziness,

I never mentioned that on the second day of school, Greer withdrew

from her science, technology and engineering magnet and was accepted

into the Fine Arts School in our area (audition only).

She comes home with the biggest smile on her face every 

single day.  She LOVES it!!

Tonight, they had her school's open house.

Here's Greer and her fellow middle schoolers singing

a song they just learned last week.

The Big Boy School

Is it possible to be so excited for a day and yet dread it at the same time?

That was today.

I wasn't sure how Kean would do out on his own in the big world--

and guess what?  He did fine.  No, he did great!

We got him all excited to go down and get on the bus.

Even my dear friend, Pam Brown joined us for the big step.

The only problem is the bus forgot to join us.

We waited and waited and waited some more.

Only to finally get a call from the bus driver that she was lost.

Arghhh.  

So Pam and I drove him to school where we were

met by his aid, Mrs. Baker.

By then, he wasn't too excited to leave his mom

and go into the school-- but he did it

(and I only got a little choked up).

I am so lucky to have a group of girlfriends who threw together

an "emergency support group".

And it worked beautifully-- it was just what I needed

to settle down after a crazy morning.

Kean's Kindergarten teacher had asked me to come

talk to the class about Kean's special needs and the importance

of protecting him from germs so back to the school we went.

I basically asked them if they had little brothers or sisters

and for them to look at Kean that way-- he can learn to and

will be able to do almost everything they can do but it will take

him a little more time.  I asked if they were willing to help him--

and boy, you should have seen their hands all shoot up.

They all wanted to be his helpers and friends.  It was so touching.

We also talked briefly about how he'd been sick, lost all of his hair,

has a special port in his chest to get shots and needs to be super

careful with germs.

It was so fun to catch a glimpse of him in school.

He was thriving and doing just fine when I got there--

and joined right in with singing a song as we left.

 He did come home on the bus.

His aid told me he was a bit frightened to get on the bus

but once he was buckled in and met his "bus aid", he was fine.

 His bus driver and aid told me I had a very quiet kid

on my hands.

 Give him time.

I'm pretty sure he was just downright exhausted.

He snuggled up with mom

and then later with "Aunt Pam".

And get this-- took a three hour nap.

Sweet success for his first day.

I think tomorrow will be even easier on him!

Ouch!

I'm clearly more upset about what I'm about to tell you than Greer.
She went home after school today with one of her little friends from first grade for a play date. I had to write a note so she could ride a different bus.
When I picked her up-- we played the rose and thorn game-- you know where she has to tell me something good that happened and something bad.
She told me on the way to Addie's house, a bigger boy on the bus told her she wasn't supposed to be on their bus. Then he told her he was going to hit her. And are you ready for this? He did. He slapped her on the face. She said it wasn't very hard but it scared her.
Poor GiGi told me she wanted to cry really bad but didn't.
She asked her friend to swap places with her. Once on the inside, near the window, she was left alone.
I'm so mad, I'm spitting venom out of my eyeballs.
Was this child raised by a pack of wolves?
If it had happened to Holland or Reese-- this kid would need a stretcher-- but Greer is my sweet, sensitive child.
I plan on calling the principal and the transportation department to make the bus driver aware. But, alas, I will stop it at that. I promise not to hunt down some punky grade schooler and slap him back.