Veterans' Day

Today is my first Veterans' Day holiday off of work. In the past, we have had school on Veterans' Day. We always had an assembly that brought me to tears every year. The assembly was to honor veterans, specifically family members and loved ones of students and teachers who had served our country that were able to attend the assembly.

Last year, I proudly invited my grandfather to be an honored guest at the assembly. He served in the U.S. Air Force in the 1940's. This year, I'm thanking my favorite veteran from another state and from home, giving me the time to write about it. This man right here, he is the best. He doesn't think of himself as any sort of hero, but man oh man, he has a passion for the Lord like no other and will always be a hero to me.

Life in Durham

Hubby and I started school back in August. As you may know, there is a lot of newness in our life right now. We each just finished our first quarter of school a couple of weeks ago, and we are already deep into the busy-ness of Q2. Last week was my last full week of teaching before we come back from Thanksgiving break. We had a field trip and Veterans' Day this week, and have a half day next week with assemblies during the day, and then all of a sudden, it's Thanksgiving week. How does that happen? How does time just fly by like that? Wasn't it just August?

August

August was full of things like getting our new house in order. We are renting, so we didn't get to have to paint or anything crazy, but I was definitely in full nest-mode. Target is just around the corner, which is just plain dangerous.

Being in a new place, I had to get all new ID cards. In my first two weeks here, I got a new NC driver's license (that is still hard to get used to), a new teacher's ID through my new school district (or what I like to call my "teacher's discount proof"), and a spouse ID card through the university.  If that wasn't newness enough, I stepped into a brand new school with an empty canvas of a classroom. I will have to do a later post to update on all that has gone on at school and with the setup of my classroom. Starting from scratch in a new classroom definitely has its pros and cons. 

    

      
















And, of course, how could I forget those fun, college theme-parties that kept us out too late. During Orientation, the students throw themed parties for everyone to get to know each other. The first one we went to was a 90's party, and we went as Squints Palledorous and Wendy Peffercorn from The Sandlot, one of my favorite movies. The second one was a nerd party, and we grabbed a couple of my math teacher shirts, our fanny packs, threw on our glasses, and called it a nerd costume.

And at the end of August, we both had our first days of school--the true beginning to this new chapter in our lives. [pictured with our mascot, both the bluedevil and the bulldog]

September

With the month of September, came a bit more normalcy but also more new. We have now been "Food Truck Rodeo" attendees. Not that Houston wasn't, but we now live in a very "foodie" city, which we have been loving! I am still cooking on weeknights, but it has made exploring our new city so fun to try all of the new [and delicious] restaurants! We also have a new football team to cheer for. I'm not going to lie, being in blue was a little weird my first game. I've never cheered for a royal blue team before. I don't hate it, if I'm being honest.

    











I also have this other football team I've been cheering for... hubs is playing on a flag football team. Did I mention he is living the college life right now? No, it is definitely not all play, even if it seems like it. Poor guy works his booty off, and he definitely deserves a little flag football time. Avery LOVES sleeping through watching his games! 

September also brought our first visitor from home. Casey, husband of my good friend Caitlyn at Our Schaefer Stories, was in town for work for one day and came to have dinner with us. We LOVE the Schaefers, and we loved getting to spend time with him, even if for just a couple of hours.

The last thing that September brought was my first trip back to Texas. :) I left on a Friday after school, was picked up at the airport by my mom and sister, and it was non-stop family-time the whole weekend. It was awesome! It was a perfect way to celebrate my birthday a little early.

October

October was an interesting month here, for many reasons. One of those was the weird weather that seemed very familiar. It was anywhere from 38 degrees to 85 degrees on any given day. It also rained about 36 out of the 31 days. Yes, I teach math, and yes, I feel like that's what happened. I have worn my rain boots more in the last month than I have worn rain boots in my life... I think. However, October did bring the fall season. I truly love this season and all that it brings. It brings my favorite clothes; it brings cooler weather; it brings out the most beautiful colors in God's creation; and it brings my favorite holidays. We have family coming to visit for Thanksgiving, and I can hardly stand to wait!

Matt participated in one of Duke University's great traditions--he camped out with more than 800 other graduate students in an attempt to be drawn in a lottery for a season ticket to Duke basketball games this season. Well, he got one! He was thrilled, and he even took me to their pre-season opener. It was our first time in Cameron Stadium. I can't even imagine what it's like for a Duke v. UNC game. Wow-EE!

In the middle of October, we took a second trip to Texas. The trip was planned so that Matt could start recruiting for a summer internship during his fall break. I just tagged along, especially since it was his birthday! I left a day early, knowing that I would have to come back really early to go back to school. I did not have the week off like he did. Being there early gave me time to spend with my mom and sister at the Aggie game. I loved being back in College Station for a day! 

We celebrated Matt's birthday the next day with a lunch at my parents' house with some more family. He has been working so hard all semester, I was hoping he could just relax for a few days. It never ceases to amaze me how driven and motivated he is.

November has already been a great month, and I think the rain may have actually stopped for a while. We have so much that we are looking forward to this and next months. I can't wait!

Things Kids Say

49 days in, ladies and gentlemen. I officially consider it not the beginning of the school year anymore.

I have learned, in my ~3.272 years of experience, kids are inquisitive honest. Sometimes, kids are too inquisitive honest. I've never experienced more of this from children than this year.

"Mrs. Bormann, why are your earrings so weird?"

"Mrs. Bormann, the zipper on your shirt is too big."

"Mrs. Bormann, why did you cut your hair? I liked it better long."

I remember judging taking note of one of my HS science teacher's clothes one year. He seemed to cycle through the same shirts very often. Too often, I thought at the time. I apologize for doing that. Poor guy, he was just trying to keep it simple.

A couple of weeks ago, one of the best "things kids say" moments happened. I will not be able to do the moment justice, but I am going to give it a try.

A student in my last class of the day likes to write notes on my white board to my 1st period for the following day. One Tuesday afternoon, right before the end-of-school bell rang, she began writing her note to my 1st period for the following morning, "Happy Wensday!" When I saw it, I tried to enunciate the word for her, "WED-NES-DAY," in an attempt to remind her it is spelled differently than most people say it, to which, she responded, "huh?" I said to her, "remember, it's actually spelled, "WED-NES-DAY," sounding it out again. So, she proceded to fix the spelling. I began working on something else, partially forgetting what had just happened, when she says, "Mrs. Bormann... [looking puzzled] ... when did they change it?"

... "sweet girl, they haven't."

#middleschool

Happy Monday, my friends!