Would it, could it, should it?

I couldn't sleep last night for two reasons.

1. Our dog (*grumble*)
2. The last article I read in our local paper.

I knew that budget cuts were hitting our school, and every other school in Iowa, since the lovely governor made a 10% cut across the board. I'm sure that looks all great on his pretty little budget paper, but when the particulars are printed in black and white for the paper - it looks just about as horrible as you can get!

Cutting a million dollars from an annual budget - yes that's right! a MILLION! - causes these wonderful ideas to be put on the table for implementation:

- make one of the principals a part time position (what?!)
- cut 8 teachers, resulting in larger class sizes (24 kids isn't large enough already?!)
- eliminate one bus route, causing even LONGER bus rides (we all know how I feel about that!)
- eliminate the ENTIRE elementary art program (I am sick about it!!!)
- eliminate 7th grade athletics
- cut one of the elementary reading coaches

Since art is at the top of my kid's FAVORITE things to do (and Will wants to be an artist as an adult), I am especially distraught over that cut. They already only have it once every 6 days, which is less than it was at his old school. So it got me to thinking... why can't art be a class kids take outside of school, similar to dance? Would parents pay for it? Could I start a kid's art studio? Would it make it? Etc, etc etc. Last year, I looked for such a summer class for our kids when we lived in Cedar Rapids through the community college. It was nothing like what I wanted. I wanted REAL instruction, like perspective, depth, technique, etc -- not a 'sit here and draw whatever you want while I babysit you' class. It was a total waste of time.

So, I'm mulling all this over in my head. Would such a place make it?

THE BUS IS HERE!

Holy Moly it's 7:00 am and I'm already two kids down.  All went well and good for this first morning of bus riding, but I'm not optimistic that the bright-and-cheeriness will persist into the year as I continue to wake the boys up at SIX FIFTEEN AM every day.  oh boy. Last year they caught the bus at 7:45, so it was a pice of cake.  6:55 am is a different story.  UGH! I had to set my alarm to get my own butt out of bed to wake them up!  

I'm also having doubts about the length of the rides.  That's right - rideS, plural.  They take a bus for a half hour to one school, (which we are two miles from that stupid school, yet we're the second ones on the bus - what moron made up that bus route??  when you are the 2nd closest to the school, shouldn't logic conclude you'd have the 2nd SHORTEST ride?  grrr don't even get me started on that one...) some kids get off - then they hop on another bus for fifteen minutes to their school.  After arrival, they play on the playground until 8:20 as school doesn't start till 8:30 am! See why the heartburn?  

I drove them yesterday so we could figure out where everything was, and we didn't have to leave our house until 8:00 which was nice.  So, I'm very anxious to hear about their bus travels once they get home.... that is presuming they make it home on the right bus!!!

 

Teeth, hair and school

First off, I apologize for the long span between entries. I am trying to get back into a routine after moving. We are slowly getting settled in box by box! We still have a LARGE amount of items still in the garage, which we are sorting through.  It's amazing how much 'stuff' is accumulated over time!  WOW!  

My latest dilemma now that we are here is school.  Not for me - the kids!  This community has a very small elementary school, which runs K-fifth grade.  For fifth grade, all the kids from a neighboring town are bussed here, and then 6-12 all go to the neighboring town for the rest of their educational experience (I know - weird).  We are roughly 2 miles from the k-5 school and about ten from the other town.  It's a nice little elementary school, and I was at first excited about the close proximity, but as I compare the two schools.... I'm having second thoughts.  The other school is bigger (although for you Denver folks it's still TINY - roughly 100 kids per grade), has nicer facilities and probably more to offer - but I've been gearing the kids up for the move to THIS school for over a year!  Ugh, with registration under a month away, I hate to switch it up on them.... but I think I might just have to.    I plan to meet with the 'other' principal this week to help me make up my mind... more on that later.  

Two things on a lighter note, both relating to CHARLIE: 

1. He lost his first front tooth!

2. He looks smashing with his new haircut!

Yes, that's a BALD SPOT on his head!  During his latest hair cut, while I was in the other room changing a battery for the tiny clippers, he took it upon himself to cut 'one long hair'.  Mmmm Hmmm.  I came back to see a very guilty look on his face.  "What did you do?" I asked.  He just smiled while guiltily looking down at the ground... and that's when I saw it!  "CHARLIE!  You gave yourself a bald spot!!!" I said, laughing. His reply was "I did??"   He had no idea he had shaved himself to the skin on top of his head - he thought he had merely clipped ONE hair! We had a good laugh, which soon turned to embarrassment for him - poor guy.  We had to shave his hair super short to decrease the abrupt change in hair length, to make it less noticeable.  Will was a good sport as well, and while he wouldn't shave a bald spot on himself like Charlie requested he did, he did have  me shave his head all over - practically bald - to make Charlie feel better.  BROTHERLY LOVE! :-)