"Ode to Mrs. Scott"

An ode is a poem written to celebrate a person or thing. Before our Thanksgiving break, I had my classes write one on something they were grateful for. Here's my favorite (transcribed as written):

Ode to Mrs. Scott

Thank you Mrs. Scott for teaching us the success

You are teaching me the secrets for the tests.

And you are teaching me the best

So I would be great and not be mess.

Giving us alot of work and tests every day

But if we don't do it we throwing the chance away.

We got to pass your class and STAAR but without help

None of us would be passing we will melt.

In all honesty, it has been a really tough term so far. I often feel frustrated about the increased testing in my school and the way it affects my already discouraged/apathetic students. Even without all the testing the holidays are a crazy time; it's so hard to keep the kids focused. Last Friday was no exception, but this little ode made me smile. As long as those kiddos know I care and don't want them to "be mess," I can feel like I'm doing my job.

We're Back!

Back to the blogging world, that is. It's been a busy few months!

July: Matt came back from his Officer's Training Camp on July 4th. It was the BEST day. Our last 4 weeks in Hawaii was perfect. We spent a long weekend at a vacation rental on Sunset Beach, went to the beach every single day, and did a lot of fun things with my family--sailing, beach days, snorkeling, hikes. It was nice to get back home to Houston after being gone for so long, but we are counting down the days until we get to go back!

August: Happy Birthday Matthew! We had a quick weekend in Utah with Matt's family, and also got to be there for my cousin's wedding. Mom and Dad Scott came to Houston for a few days to enjoy the lovely summer weather. And for Matt's birthday we took a trip to Dallas for a little Rangers baseball and trip down memory lane to see his old neighborhood--he hadn't been back there in 15 years.

September: School started. Stress started. But it was also my birthday month! So it all balanced out :) Matt treated me like a princess all month long, and I threw my first dinner party. Best birthday ever.

October: September was when the stress started; October is when it morphed into an uncontrollable beast. I'm being dramatic, per usual, but it really was a busy month for us. Matt had 2 weeks of block exams and everything with my teaching just seemed to pile up so that I was always feeling behind. Lucky for us, October is over, and we are both feeling caught up as November begins. There was plenty of fun mixed in though; Dad Scott in town for the BYU vs. UH game, BYU winning the UH game, a few get-togethers with friends and neighbors, and Halloween of course!

Now it's only a couple more weeks and then THANKSGIVING. I love the fall.