It’s Charlie’s Birthday!(not the Pioneer Woman’s dog )

This Saturday is Charlie  ” Bus Drivers” Birthday!   Charlie is the BEST bus driver in the world.

We cheer on the first day of school when the bus pulls up and we see Charlie.  He has been the bus driver for over 8 years for this group of kids.  He is an older gentleman who truly enjoys his job.  He knows all the kids by name and uses their names on a regular basis.  A few years back one of the kids remarked  ” today is my birthday – when is yours Charlie?  He told her and she told me when she came home that night.  We have had it on our calendar ever since.  The kids remember it every Oct. (better than “zip up that coat” )   because it is important to them.

Today they made birthday cards and I just took the cupcakes out of the oven.  Tomorrow morning they will present him with cards, cupcakes and a couple of bags of Starburst (his absolute favorite candy).   Then after they are on the bus I get on and tell everyone it’s his birthday and that they have to sing Happy Birthday all the way to school. ( thank goodness we are the 3rd from last stop).   Charlie just smiles and drives off.

Why do we do this you ask?   Well, I tell the kids that they need to be thankful for such a great bus driver!  And they know it makes him feel good!