(Melody writing) 2019 has been another wondering year. Teaching has been going well. I continue growing in terms of ways to make my students engaged and excited to learn math. I asked students at the beginning of the year what they thought of math, and almost all of them said "hard" or "boring". I recently re-asked them the question, and this time they replied "fun" "collaborative" and "like a puzzle you want to figure out". It's amazing watching these kids grow.My big milestone this year was getting married to my lovely husband Nicholas. We had a beautiful honeymoon in Portugal. The architecture and landscapes there are absolutely stunning. It was so much fun wandering through the narrow alleys, visiting historical landmarks, shopping in bustling marketplaces. I even learned a bit of Portuguese to help me get by.I definitely still feel like I'm in a honeymoon phase. Nicholas and I complement each other really well and I feel like we are both growing a lot as people because of it. We have made a lovely home out of our apartment here in Oakland, with its collection of furniture from Craigslist and fake flowers from IKEA. We enjoy having slow mornings to make brunch and stare out at the views of mountains and the bay.Living in the bay area is wonderful because the weather is perfect year-round. This year, I've really tried to make use of it. For example, did you know that Six Flags is still open on November? And that because it's not peak season, lines for rides that are typically two hours only take 20 minutes? Our spontaneous trip to amusement park was filled with rollercoasters and we finished off the night by making funnel cakes at home. Gorgeous weather also means that I can host barbecues by the lake in December or go kayaking after school once my lessons are finished. It's been a lot of fun soaking up the sun.Hoping all is well with you, and that your year has been filled with warmth and love.