The Day Ally Didn't Come Home From School

The title is scary, I agree, but the actual story is just as horrible. Ally walks home with some older kids from school, and on Thursday, they came to my house and said that Ally was with them as they were walking and then she was gone. I went up to the school, and she wasn't in her classroom. We went to the office and she wasn't anywhere in the school, in the neighborhood, or on the buses. Panic hit. I couldn't even breath. I thought that someone had snatched my girl! The office secretary had to call the police. They came to the school and started getting information on my daughter. Her height, weight, etc. They asked if I could get a current picture that they could send around and put on TV. I couldn't believe what was happening. It is one one my worst fears actually coming true.
After about a half hour, a bus driver called to say that she did have an extra kid on the bus. It turns out that a teacher told Ally that she should get on the bus because Ally was by the bus lines when she was trying to walk with the other kids. We have drilled into her head that she obeys her teacher and so she did as she was told. Poor Ally got on to the bus and got scared when it started to go and drop kids off. She was afraid the bus driver would drop her off somewhere and she would just be lost, so she hid. I can't even begin to explain how relieved I was when I saw that Ally come off of the bus. She felt the same way. She wouldn't even look at the entire school faculty, the police, or the bus driver.
I guess that is a lesson for moms everywhere. You have to find a way to tell your kids to obey their teachers unless the teacher says something they know is wrong. I just wish it didn't take something this traumatizing to teach me such a simple lesson.

The Goings On

Well, we finally traded in the paint flaking, only drive in town without air conditioning, check engine light eternally on malibu for a tank.



We decided it was time to upgrade our vehicle because our kids didn't fit in the jimmy. This isn't just an excuse to get a new car. To get our kids in the jimmy, we had to start by putting Ally in the car and doing her seat belt. If you put Bailey in first, you can squeeze your hand past her car seat to latch Ally's seat. Next comes Bailey. We put her in next because when Taylor is in, I can't fit Bailey over her. By the time the circus is over, I usually can turn around to see someone looking at the show.
To keep me from teaching the kids some choice four letter words, we decided that something needed to be done, and it came in the form of a suburban. I will say that it takes some getting used to. Driving a car that big is quite an adventure when you try to park, or more importantly, pull out of a parking space. It is a great car though.



I always thought that my kids were so good to each other in the car. Well, I have learned that it was because they didin't have room to maneuver. Now that we have the suburban, they are always harrassing each other. It is a trade I'm willing to take.

The other fun news is that Taylor got a hair cut. It is really cute. She likes it a lot. When she saw it, she said, "pretty hair," and then she looked at the other side and said, "more pretty hair." Comedy.



This last photo is of Ally going to school. Taylor has to copy exactly what Ally does so she has her own backpack. I think it is so sweet.