'Tis the Season

I confess. I've already started playing Christmas carols. I really enjoy Christmas music. I have a Christmas CD in my car, in my classroom, another here in my computer room and one in my kitchen CD player. I even confess that this past summer I put a Christmas CD in while I was cleaning the house :)

This past weekend Tim and I watched National Lampoon's Christmas vacation. I might even put another one in this weekend to watch!

I've got another LONG day at school today. After school we have a staff meeting and then I need to stay for a while to get ready for conferences next week. I have also been invited to a surprise birthday party for a former co-worker after school. I expect that I will be getting home rather late this evening.

I was chatting with some of my co-workers recently. We have all been teaching for a very long time and each of us feels like this year we have been on a treadmill. It is non stop and there is always things to do. I am looking forward to our Thanksgiving break!!!

take care,
Dawn

Eno Board

This summer I found out that I was getting an Eno board for my classroom. It is very similar to a SmartBoard. The difference is that you use a stylus, can use magnets on the board and can use white board markers on it.

I have been very busy making lessons on it. It does use SmartBoard software. The kids love using it. I have made a few things inserting music that has made things so much easier. I just tap the board and the music plays. I don't need to insert a CD into the CD player and I don't have to change the CD's all the time. I brought some work home last night and I had trouble getting the music saved as the right file. After about two hours I finally figured it out! OY!

So my dear blogging friends, I didn't get a chance to visit! Hopefully I will be able to in the next couple of days. Please be patient with me :)

take care,
Dawn

Long Week

On Wednesday night I got together with some friends to knit. It seems like it has been quite a while since we were able to do that. I had a great time and stayed out a little to late! On Thursday after school I traveled with some co-workers to my old alma mater to attend a math workshop, followed by a working dinner. I got home late on Thursday night as well. It made for a long day on Friday. After school yesterday I had to take Tim to the doctors for a booster shot. He was a brave guy! I ended up coming home and taking a long nap.

I stopped to buy some yarn after school on Friday to make some wrist warmers for Tim's two teachers for Christmas. Hopefully I'll get them finished. I got myself all comfy in my bed to watch TV and knit. :) Here's the link for any of you knitters out there. Susie's Reading Mitts

take care,
Dawn

Dog Days of November

Rich was doing some work for a neighbor down the street last weekend and Tim walked down to help. The next thing I knew, Rich came in and asked if I wanted to get the camera. Tim was driving our neighbors tractor down the street. We live on a dead end road where there is NO traffic so that wasn't even a concern.

It seems that boys of all ages just loves these "toys". I guess anything with an engine makes a boy happy. Tim told me just yesterday that his "happy place" is on the dirt bike with dad. Oh, don't get me started on that. I am so nervous when he goes on that. I won't let Rich take him on the road. We have conservation land in our back yard with trails that they can ride. He doesn't need to be on the road. At least he isn't asking to ride the bike himself.

Dexter was in the house wondering what all the fuss was about.

take care,
Dawn

Aren't these pretty!!! I got these from Britt and I have adorned my front yard with 8 of them. I've always wanted to put these plants out in the fall but never wanted to spend the money. I did buy some mums and pumpkins and put them all together in my front yard. I never got pictures of the full effect.

Tim carved the pumpkin this year by himself. He had full power of the knife! Yes, I was a bit nervous but there wasn't even a scratch! Just the other day Tim asked if he could take the jack-o-lanterns out to the woods to smash them. I think he enjoyed that more!

This past weekend we took down all of the Halloween decorations and started on the Thanksgiving. As long as my plants stay alive they will be out in the front yard, with the cornstalks and mums :)

take care,
Dawn

Fall is the time for soup!

I do enjoy a good soup. I don't think I've had canned soup for years and years. I only like homemade soups. With the weather cooling down I've found myself making soups. My dear husband and son are not fans of soup so I make a crock pot full and share it with my mother or my friend (and her family that appreciates my soup) that I work with. Last weekend I made a pot roast and saved the left overs for a yummy beef vegetable soup. On Sunday we had a roasted chicken so last night I put the leftovers in the crock pot and made a chicken noodle soup. My other favorite soup to make is linguica and sauerkraut soup. I would like to make some kale soup or broccoli soup too. Do you have a favorite?

take care,
Dawn

Halloween and the grandkids :)

This past Halloween my granddaughter expressed her love of Star Wars by being Darth Vader. She is a girl that doesn't like dolls, or princesses etc. She loves all the things Tim loved when he was little LOL!!! Recently she has become a big fan of the Star Wars movies. :) That's my girl!!

Jack on the other hand just takes what he can get. He was a happy little bee for Halloween. I went to see them on Halloween morning with a pumpkin of goodies...like a good grandmother should LOL!
Here are some pumpkins that they decorated.
I was the lucky recipient of one of Mackenzie's little pumpkins.
Jack seemed to enjoy the painting. Britt got all of these pictures of him. I'm glad I didn't have to clean up that mess!


I'm guessing the creativity gene has found its way to Mackenzie and Jack! Don't you think?

take care,
Dawn

Tim

Ok I know if you are reading this you happened by thinking I wonder if she will EVER UPDATE her blog. I've gotten all the hints...subtle and not so subtle LOL!

Tim just got his school picture back last week and this is Tim at 11 years old. It's his first "official" photo with his braces. He is getting so tall. He's about three inches shorter than I am. Before I know it he will be taller than I am!!

He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES fifth grade and his teacher. A few weeks ago he told me that just for one year he's like to have a teacher that he doesn't like very much, that way on the last day of school his heart won't be broken! He's always sad on the last day. He doesn't like saying good bye to his teacher.

Next year he heads off to the middle school. Luckily it is next door to the elementary school and he won't be too far away from me :) He is hoping to "help" in my class next year after school since middle school gets out an hour earlier than the elementary school. He is growing up too fast!

take care,
Dawn