The Wheels on the Bus Tour 2009

Sitting in the Driver's Seat!

For anyone who reads this blog, it is NO surprise that yellow school buses hold a strong place in William's heart. For the past year, he has been obsessed with them. We have 5 of our own school buses that go everywhere with us and I mean EVERYWHERE. Let's not forget his 2 year birthday cake which was a 3D school bus and totally fabulous. You really must go back in the archives and check it out. It was so life like that William thought he could play with it and cried for about 10 minutes before his party because he didn't understand why we were going to eat it.




I believe his love for the yellow bus stems from our own front yard. We spend every last second of good weather outside and enjoy walking along the bike trail that parallels the neighborhood streets. Long before William could talk, we would see the big yellow buses coming down the street, sometimes 4 at a time. As it turns out, we live about a stone's throw from the Arlington County school bus yard. This is where the county houses all the school buses and where the drivers head out and return home. Anyways, I quickly learned that if we were outside around 9:00 or close to 4:30pm, we'd hit the jackpot on the bus parade. I remember William sitting in the stroller and as soon as he'd spot a bus or hear the motor, he'd squeal with delight, point at them and kick his legs. Around 22 months, he could say the word "school bus" and our lives changed.


He'd shout it from the rooftops, freak out in his car seat if he saw one, stop dead in his tracks if he heard the familiar hum of the motor, talk school bus, play school bus, push his school bus, and dream of school buses (yes, he actually said "school bus" out loud one night when I tucked him in and he was dead asleep). To date, we've amassed an impressive collection of those yellow wheels including a Mama size school bus, a Dada size school bus, a baby school bus and a tiny baby school bus, 2 learning toy school buses, 1 wooden school bus, and 1 3D school bus book/tent (thanks Santa). WHEW! Color us yellow!

Mr. Dan showing William the workings of the school bus STOP sign!

So, all this to say that yesterday I called the Arlington County school bus dispatch office and talked to a nice man named Mr. Dan - how appropriate! I recounted the saga of how obsessed my son is with school buses and Mr. Dan told me I could bring him over to see them in person and even climb inside one. HOLY COW! So, I waited until we were in the car to tell William. He beamed from ear to ear....."ride school bus mama, baby school bus, doors open, lights, ride school bus!!!" We met Mr. Dan and several other drivers (who in William's world are celebrity status) who kindly took us outside to explore the bus. At first, William was very nervous and clung to me with a tight grip (he does this in new places), but after I beeped the horn, he laughed and he was in the driver's seat!

A very, very happy boy!

William honked the horn, turned the wheel and explored the aisle of seats and seat belts. Mr. Dan showed him the stop sign and how the doors open and shut. Before we left, Ms. Sara, a fellow driver, gave William a tiny, tiny school bus to add to his beloved family of wheels. It was quite a treat for the little guy and he has not stopped chatting about it since!