Pictures from Evie's Birthday!

Here are just a few teasers!!!

Poor guys never had a chance

At Evie's "school," there is a little boy with whom she shares a love-hate relationship. Since she started going a year ago, they have been firmly devoted to one another, and (we are told,) the mood of the day for the entire class can be determined by how the couple have been getting along.

When Bryan went to drop Evie yesterday, she was being particularly clingy to her daddy. So, her little friend, (I'll call him "C") climbed down from his chair, walked over and gave her a hug. Evie responded, in pure two year-old female dramatic fashion, by grunting at him. Bryan then said, "oh Evie, isn't that nice, "C" is giving you a hug!" She grunted again. "C" then hugged her from behind and proceeded to stand quietly by, petting her arm, saying "is okay Evie, I here...."

Bryan then said, "Evie, why don't you say hi to "C" he wants to play with you..."

She grunted.

"C" tried to hold her hand, she recoiled in coy annoyance.

Bryan then suggested she play "Ring around the Rosie" with "C," this, she could not resist. She twirled around and announced, "Hey C, Ring 'Round Rosie!" Excited to finally be getting some attention from his beloved, "C" happily obliged her.

And so the two grabbed hands and twirled and twirled and danced, happily giggling around on the little carpet.

Evie looked up at Bryan and said, "Okay, Bye Daddy! See ya later!"

Bryan left, happy she was no longer "upset," but dejected she could so easily dismiss him for her other male suitor.

It frightens me, really, how much power this tiny little girl already wields over the males in her life.

I now understand my mission: trying to teach her to use her powers for good instead of evil.

A Bittersweet End

On Friday, my first "official" school year came to a close. It was a rather bitter-sweet end as I currently have no continuing contract thanks to budget cuts. It was also tough due in large part to a difficult job-sharing situation with a teacher who was completing an administrative internship and basically left all the teaching, grading, counseling etc. to me, but with half the pay and no respect.

I have spent most of the year working in a partnership with a person whom students have adored for years, who this year could not give them the time of day. I have been the teacher, the mentor, and the mom in a shared-custody agreement; I am the one doing the regular mundane every day tasks, and he would show up once a week and take them to Disneyland.

It's been a very tough year for me, but I have plodded on day in and day out, hoping my own efforts would in fact teach them, somehow make a difference in their young lives.

As I stood there (alone) at the honor roll assembly, I looked at my young students and felt a mixed blend of relief and sadness wash over me. Relief I would no longer have to endure the shenanigans and inconsistencies of my teaching partner (who was again not there,) sadness that I would no longer get to work with and teach my kids as they were moving on, and I was out of a job due to budgets.

There was one student in particular with whom I worked all year long. The student started out very slow and was often not even showing up to school. The student happens to be an athletic prodigy but had some emotional stuff to work through. The student had determined that they could get through school on their talent alone.
I thus had a "come to Jesus" meeting with the kid, sitting them down and telling the story of a young athlete I know, whose athletic career came to an end after they were hit in a tragic car accident. I explained that my friend, who was no longer able to play sports, still went to college however, because they were not only a good athlete, but also an excellent student. I then asked my student, "what's your plan B?" We talked again, days, weeks. And soon the student began to understand that everybody needs a backup plan. So I made a deal with the kid, "you get yourself on the honor roll and stay there, and I will come to your high school graduation and sit with your mom and cry my eyes out. Wherever you are, I will come and I will cheer for you; I'll write letters of recommendation, I'll call colleges on your behalf. Get yourself on the honor roll, stay there and then you'll not only have your athletic scholarship, you'll have an academic one as well.

After some constant follow up and encouragement from me and a commitment of hard work from them, that student not only finished strong, but finished with honors, both semesters; I was beaming.

What was surprising however, was that the mother of the same student came up and thanked me, not just for believing in her child, but for sticking with the kid and "helping" the child realize their own potential. There were tears, and I was very taken back by the gratitude and kindness. More so when the student came running up and hugged me. Then, they both said, "wherever you are Mrs. Scott, we're going to find you, so you can know how I'm doing."

To which I responded, "I'm counting on it."

Following her, another parent and their child did the same.

It was then I realized regardless of the inconsistencies and frustrations of my teaching partner, I did make a difference in these kids' lives, at least a few.

And so I end my year sad, but hopeful. I still don't know where I will be next year, but I am hopeful that something will eventually work out.

I completely stole this entire post idea...

I have never met Holly Burns, although I read her blog regularly. I like to think, should we ever happen to cross paths one day, we would immediately form an impenetrable bond of sisterhood and wonder how it was ever possible we weren't friends before.
Yesterday she wrote a post entitled "A Partial List of Things the Rest of the World Seems to Love and Yet Towards Which I Remain Curiously Lukewarm." I found it both hilarious and very intriguing and decided I would make my own. Because I'm a follower and it is the last two weeks of school and thus I have no original thoughts in my head as of late.

Enjoy.

My list of things the rest of the world seems to love and yet in which I am rather disinterested...

*Twilight

*Sushi

*High Heels

*White Capris

*Harry Potter

*Peasant Blouses

*Hummus

*Designer handbags (or a replica thereof)

*Oprah

*Las Vegas

*Cameron Diaz

*Guacamole

*The DaVinci Books

*Convertibles

*Celebrity reality shows

Pictures of Evelyn!!!

Many of you have been asking for new pictures of Evelyn. This has been challenging lately as work schedules have been crazy and Steph's computer is on its way out and our little Canon Powershot is no more.... : (

However for an early Father's Day present, Steph bought Bryan a new Olympus digital camera so we can get some new pictures and video clips to share with everyone! Here are some of the first pics Bryan took while playing with the camera for the first time.

Obviously

Anna, Evie and I went to Costco today. When we were done shopping, we decided to treat ourselves to a little frozen yogurt.

While sitting on the little red food court bench, Evie was bouncing around, chatting up a storm when suddenly she pat the bench and said "Hey Bella, sit here!" (Or at least that's what I thought she said.)

I looked at her and said, "Is Cinderella here?"

Evie looked at me like I was absolutely crazy and said "nooooooooo, Mommy!"

So I said, "Oh, I'm sorry, where IS Cinderella?"

Evie looked at me, rolled her eyes, put her hands up in the air with indignation and said, "she's in da moveee!"

Obviously.

Evie on here way to the zoo!

Evie coloring witg Anna.

Evie coloring!