School Has Begun...

Well, again I know its been a while! School started for both Kelli and I and there has really been little time to actually sit down and post on the blog here! I am still teaching 3rd grade in Littleton and she is still teaching 1st grade in Pagosa Springs! It has been a hard start this year, there have been many new changes at my school so there has been a lot to learn! On the upside of that, I have a GREAT class this year and I am looking foreword to learning and growing with them! Kelli and I are still doing very well and are continuing to journey together! Her sister and my friend just had their first child a boy who was born on Sept. 12th this year! He is a very cute kid and I cannot wait to watch him grow! With that Kelli has been here a lot, he thought it was time to come out, then decided not to, so there were many trips to and from and then finally on the 12th out he came! So things have been really good, as a matter of fact some of my friends are expecing their 2nd anytime now so that is exciting as well! I am still adventuring every chance I get, I am still taking photos like crazy when I can, and with that I have two photos that won awards at the Archuleta County Fair this year! I received a 2nd place and a 4th place! Please visit my photo blog to view the award winning photos: http://myjournies2.blogspot.com/ I was very excited to be honored this year! Got my spunk back into pictures! On a sad note, I had to put down my dog of 16 years this past week! Abu will be missed greatly and it was a hard decision but the right one for him, so he is in a better place now! My picture this week is of Abu on his last camping trip a couple years ago up to Steamboat Lake! This was on our drive home! Last but not least I have left myspace and joined http://www.facebook.com so you can also find me there, I love catching up with people!

What Happened?

Okay, I know what you are thinking...Matt gave up on blogging. No! I have been so busy that I have not really had any time to myself! Lets talk school for a minute, I finished my first year of teaching 3rd grade and it was a HUGE success! 100% of my class was either proficient or advanced in writing at the end of the year and we showed HUGE growth on CSAP as well as on NWEA standardized tests. I had a great group of kids this year who worked really hard, and it was very hard to let them go! I look foreword to seeing them again in the fall and see how they have grown over this summer! Now to life, I think last time I posted that I mentioned I finally left Mom and Dad and got a place of my own near downtown Littleton, which I love! Kelli and I are doing amazing, we have now been together for over a year and I cannot imagine life without her! She is looking for work hopefully in the Denver area, so if you know of an open teaching spot, let us know! I was renewed at Hopkins for another year but now we need to find her somewhere to teach! We are looking foreword to the future together! I also had a great opportunity to travel to Napa Valley, California a few weeks ago to meet some of her extended family and her great grandma who lives just feet from a winery! It was a great time, and something I will never forget! My family is doing well, my brother finished his first year at college and had a lot of stories to share! I hope that everyone who reads this is doing well, please leave a comment and let me know how you are doing! I will be in Denver for a few days starting this Saturday June 28, 2008! Talk to you all soon!