My new life's mission . . .

To confiscate all barrettes from the Chinese Women's Gymnastics Team. I think I'll also grab the blue eye shadow while I'm at it.
And don't worry Romania, you're next.

Welcome to 4th Grade!

Hi everyone! I know it's been a few weeks since I have added anything to the blog. I have one word for you as to what the hold up has been . . . SCHOOL!!! Last Tuesday, the 12th of August was the first day of school for us down here in St. George. I had spent the previous two weeks in meetings and getting my room together. Since I was in the same room as last year there weren't a whole lot of changes except that I got new carpet! I was so excited because they were able to tear up all my ugly tile that seemed to overtake my room and made it hard for desks to stay still and quiet. Now my room is completely covered in just carpet and it's clean, stainless, and doesn't stink. Although I had to get all my stuff out of my room for a few weeks in July I was able to get things together for school to start.
The first week is over and I am exhausted. I always struggle at the beginning of the year with my new class. Not because I don't like them or they don't listen, but because I miss my kids from last year! It seriously takes me until October for the new little guys to get the hang of things, how I work, and get my jokes. Once they do though it just clicks and I love life. And of course it just repeats itself again the next August when I have to get a new group and my old kids are now in 5th grade. I have a good class this year, 26 students and for the first time since I have started teaching they ALL speak English! At least, for the most part. I have one boy who moved from Venezuela last year but his English is really good. He always wants to read to learn new words. He is definitely the class clown and makes us all laugh on a daily basis!
Here are a few pictures of my classroom. As you can see I LOVE bright colors and have every inch covered. Because I am a clean freak and have my kids do their jobs each night before we go home I have been voted the cleanest teacher at the school. You can even smell the Febreeze all the way down the hallway coming from my classroom. I'm sorry, but if everyone were stuck with a bunch of sweaty, stinky, hitting puberty 4th graders all day you would do the same thing! As I see it, Miss Porter is one smart cookie!

Which Team Are You?

For anyone who has read the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer knows what a big deal it is to choose teams. While I was in California this past week the newest book came out and I was shocked to hear all about the Midnight festivities that were taking place just to buy a copy of a book. I was even more surprised to hear that actual people I knew, better yet related to, were going to participate in the madness! I think everyone in my immediate family has read these books at least once if not more and have tried to convince me (Brooke) to read them as well. Now, being related to me they should know right off that not only do I have zero desire to read about vampires and werewolves but I have my mind made up to not give in to the craze. I won't read them just because everyone else is! Kind of like the whole Harry Potter thing. I still haven't read a single page in that gigantic serious and don't lose any sleep at night because of it. I feel the same way about the Twilight books. After all, does it REALLY matter to my eternal progression?

As I mentioned before, while I was in California Craig, Laura, and Justin were all anxious to get their hands on a copy of the new book and find out what happens to Bella and her love triangle. (Oh yes! Laura gave me the whole synopsis while basking at the beach one day!!!)



Now the big question I have for ya'll is quite simple and requires only one word. . . Which team are you for? Jacob or Edward? As you can tell it's causing quite the feud among people, including my own family members. Maybe when the movie comes out in December they'll have to split the theaters in two - Team Jacob and Team Edward. Now THAT could get exciting!