When Life Gets in the Way of Updates

I feel bad that I haven't updated in awhile and never did a "vaction review" type thing. What can I say? Life just gets in the way sometimes. In a nutshell, the vacation was awesome...lots of fun and I have already made the scrapbook!
I have been keeping busy lately...trying to get too much done at once I suppose I have so much to do it seems...and the list just keeps getting bigger.

One thing I have been super busy with is planning Emily's birthday party. We are doing a carnival type theme in our yard this year so I have been busy buying prizes, deciding on games, and getting the invites out. I have all of these great ideas...each of which seems to be more time consuming than originally thought however, I know she will just love it so the time and effort are definitely worth it.

The other major thing I have been doing is research. I am definitely going to start the scrapbooking business sometime soon but I want to have a really good idea of what is necessary first. I have been investigating all areas of starting a small business...taxes, competition, marketing, as well as designing a website that I hope to have up and running soon.

I also have a million and half things to do to prepare for baby's arrival whhich will be here before I know it. Twelve weeks isn't that long of a time at all.

So that my friends is why I have been seriously slacking in the update department. Sorry...like I said life...it happens.

Where the Heck?

I will not be updating for at least one week, as we are going on vacation here.

Where the heck is that you may ask? It is in Yarmouth, MA (on Cape Cod) and it is the time share that my parents own. They are going to Vegas for the week so we are using their time share while they are gone.

I have a ton of things to do but we are all excited and looking forward to a nice week away.

I will be back sometime next weekend at which point I am sure I will have millions of pictures to share!

Budget Cuts

I called the Middleboro Parks Department today to find out if they had any information on which programs for children would be offered this summer.

The nice gentleman that answered the phone explained that the town had yet to aprove the budget, thus, no information as of yet.

He went on to explain that this year's programs will be "drastically reduced" as compared to previous years.

This of course came as no shock. Why I ask do budget cuts always have to affect the children? I know that there are many, many other less important things that could be cut. How about rethinking the Big Dig(little late now I realize since it is practically complete but still)? Or the Romney proposed removal of the rotary at the Sagamore Bridge? Yeah, the rotary is a pain in the ass and traffic is horrendous, I don't deny that. Really though, how significant are those(and many other money-wasting projects) when it means that the children suffer?

The children are our future. Why should they be denied the right to a nice, well-rounded education? Or a fun and yes, educational summer at the park?

It just isn't right. Politicians piss me off in general but I was thinking...all of them(Democrats and Republicans alike) talk about how important the children are, and how they will do this that and the other thing to improve the schools etc. Apparently, they haven't been able to figure out how to re-work the money in a way in which education and children's servies are the last and not the first things to be cut using whatever resources they have available to them. How about they take a pay cut...or just plain and simple donate their own money to the cause? Governor Romney is a millionaire for God's sake.

I know I am living in a dream world...they are after all politicians, but shouldn't they stick to their word...at least where the children are concerned?

I leave you with a few depressing facts obtained here...

K-12 Schools

-- Public education was cut by more than $400 million in the fiscal year 2004.

-- The class size reduction program was eliminated.

-- Early literacy program was cut by 79 percent.

--The state was to have provided reimbursement to school districts for special education at a 75% level, but that amount has suddenly been cut to

27.6%.

-- More than 3000 teachers and other school staff will be lost statewide and 920 teachers are being laid off in Boston.

-- Regional school transportation support was cut 36.7%.

-- Support for MCAS tutoring for low-scoring students was cut 80%.

-- Winthrop's four school libraries were "padlocked" because the librarians were let go as part of 22 layoffs and $1.5 million in cuts,

-- Electives, sports, after-school programs, and library services are being cut and curtailed on a broad front.

Soccer

Emily starts soccer on Thursday...how cute is that?!?! I can't believe how fast time goes...that she is even old enough to play youth soccer is just amazing to me. She is excited. She is so full of energy and excitement for life in general, this comes as no shock. I can't wait to be a "soccer mom"!

Emily is going to be one busy little girl! She has her musical theatre class at The Burtwood School For Performing Arts on Tuesday's, Girl Scout's on Wednesday's, soccer practice on Thursday's and soccer games on Sunday afternoons. Whew! I don't believe in "overscheduling" my children but she wants do all of these things and I am certainly not going to deny her. Besides, she thrives when she is kept busy. Emily is not one to sit around...always on the go she is.

I have also decided to take over as her Girl Scout leader next year. The current leader is resigning due to time constraints. I jumped at the opportunity...Girl Scouts was my favorite activity as a child and I loved having my mother involved. Emily is thrilled that I will be "in charge" as she put it and I am looking forward to planning all kinds of fun and educational activities for the girls.

Too Much Television?

Yet another infamous "Emily" quote!

"Mama, I am making invitations to a slumber party and we are going to stay up til 8, 7 central."

Risen From The Dead

Quote of the Week (from Emily): "Mama, I forget what day it is but someday this weekend, Jesus Christ is going to be risen from the dead."

Quite obviously, my girl has been paying close attention at Sunday School. :)