Flag Day...a day early

Since we don't go to school on Flag Day (tomorrow) our kindergarten is celebrating Flag Day today. We have lots of fun activities and projects planned for today. We will be making hats with stripes and stars, making beaded necklaces with red, white and blue beads. I had hoped to find some red, white and blue rocket Popsicles but I searched three different stores and couldn't find any. Yesterday I baked some flag cookies to share. (By baked, I mean took them out of the package and placed them on a cookie sheet.)

At the end of the day we will meet outside by the flag pole. A police officer will meet us there and give a little speech. We will sing a couple of our patriotic songs. Many of us with sign them. I teach my kids how to sing and sign all of the patriotic songs. Speaking of patriotic songs...I remember one year at the beginning of the year we were singing America (My Country 'Tis of Thee) and one little girl started crying. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that she didn't want to sing about her father dying. ("Land where my fathers died"). One of my fellow teachers told me that she had a child ask her why they always had to talk about Richard standing when they did the Pledge of Allegiance when in reality they were supposed to be saying "for which it stands". Ah, you've gotta love little kids.

Happy early FLAG DAY to you all.

take care,
Dawn

Fishing

As I mentioned earlier this week, Tim has enjoyed going fishing with his father lately. They have gone at least once a day (twice last Sunday). Tim has told me that he has caught a sock, some branches, a clam and even the occasional fish! :)

Monday after Rich and Tim went to do an errand they returned with a new tackle box for Tim. I guess he has outgrown his old one. They are saving it for Mackenzie. What struck me when they returned home was the enthusiasm that Tim had as he loaded his new tackle box with his prized lures and such (I say and such because frankly I don't know what one puts in a tackle box!)

As he was fitting every thing into it's rightful slot it reminded me of doing the exact same thing when I got a new sewing box!

take care,
Dawn

6 days and counting

After today there will be six days left of school. Hopefully today the heatwave will break like expected! Today is the day the children have been waiting for for weeks. We are having a pizza party in the classroom!!!! Instead of lunch in the cafeteria we are ordering from a local pizza restaurant. I told the children that Mrs. M (our wonderful assistant) and myself would take their order and serve them!!! It is one of the most fun days of the year!!!

Today the kindergarten teachers are supposed to begin making our incoming class list. We are all assigned a group of children to make "cards" for based on their birthdays. I was working on mine last night when I realized that I did not "sort" the spreadsheet correctly and all the birthdays were WRONG. I had to call all the teachers (who luckily are also my friends) and tell them that I had made a m-m-m-m-m-mistake (that word doesn't come out easily!) and all the info was wrong. I'm so lucky that they are nice ladies as they all were very forgiving of my error!!!

Oh, I finally was able to leave a message with the doctor's office to let them know what days I would be available for an appointment. I hope to come home today with a message that includes a new appointment.

take care,

Dawn

Heat Wave

Oh my, it is so HOT!! For those of you who are used to it I don't know how you do it? It was about 88º yesterday with the same expected for today. That is exceptionally warm for Cape Cod in the beginning of June. It was simply brutal at school yesterday. There was no breeze even with the window wide open! Everyone was hot and uncomfortable. I taught the kids how to make paper fans today. We spent the day working with the lights out to keep it cooler (even if it was only in my mind LOL!). I have two fans in my car to bring to school tomorrow in hopes that it will offer some relief!

I had a meeting in the superintendent's office yesterday morning. They had AC it was wonderful. Later in the day I had another meeting in our school's office and they also have AC. The teachers and the 700 children suffered in the heat. One of the mother's brought some Popsicles for the kids in our class at the end of the day. The hardest part for me was knowing that I have central air at home and if I were here I would have been so much more comfortable.

I think today is the last day of the expected heat wave. PHEW!

take care,
Dawn

Photos, photos and more photos

Last night I sorted out 762 photographs that I have taken in my classroom all year. On the last day of school I give the children a gift and part of that is a photo album of all of the pictures of them that I have taken all year. I take pictures of the children on the first day we meet and then several times a week throughout the year. I try to include special events as well as every day events. I have pictures of them playing on the playground the first day of school, pajama day, the 100th day of school when they each put on a wig and glasses to look 100 years old, pictures of their egg drop inventions, eating green eggs and ham, a picture of each child with me on their birthday wearing their birthday crowns, Chinese New Year food tasting, decorating gingerbread cookies, erupting their volcanoes....you get the idea. I want them to remember their kindergarten year always. I hope it becomes a treasure.

I took pictures during field day last week that I need to develop. I also want to get a picture for their Father's Day frames.

As I said earlier I take pictures of them on the first day of school. Every month they draw a picture of themselves next to a tree and we put them to together in a book to go home in June. The book ends with a picture of them on the last week of school.

I've got my camera ready to head to school this morning for the next go round of pictures.

take care,
Dawn

My little update

I took this picture off of Brittainy's blog. Aren't they cute! Just two more weeks of school and I can spend more time with them.

***
Now to update the doctor situation. I left a couple more voice messages with the doctor's office on Friday. When I got home from school there was a message to call and leave some available days for them. When I called I got that funny beeping sound that sounds like you called a fax number. I replayed my answering machine three times to make sure I had the number right and I did. So, back to playing phone tag I guess on Monday.

***
Tim is still feeling under the weather. He's all stuffed up, coughing and loosing his voice. The poor boy. He hasn't been too sick though to go fishing with his dad. He seems to really enjoy going this year. Rich says he's getting better at casting so he is having more fun. I like when they both go fishing. I get some alone time :)

***
Did you realize the date yesterday was 6-7-8? I didn't until I went to the bank and filled out a deposit slip.

take care,
Dawn

Pink Saturday

My friend Beverly has started an idea of people posting a "Pink Saturday" along with her. I agreed to join in the festivities. The hard part for me is finding something pink. I like pink. I just don't have a lot that is pink. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with this for a while.


Here's my first Pink Saturday entry.

My favorite things in pink are flowers! These roses were a gift from a former student and her family to thank me for their child's kindergarten year. They were simply gorgeous!!!!

So there you have it my first official Pink Saturday post.

take care,
Dawn

10 days and counting

There are ten days left of school (counting today)! I am so excited and overwhelmed at the same time! Yesterday was our field day and it was such a nice, easy laid back day. I want the last ten days to feel the same way! I will be boring you with my countdown until it is done so bear with me!

I tried calling the doctor's office again yesterday and again only got voice messages. The second time I called I left a message that said please leave me a message and let me know when an actual person will be at the desk to answer the phone. I am really getting frustrated because I've left several messages and no one has called me back!!!!!!

I called Britt today and she told me that she got an appointment for Jack. He's having a little surgery. He's tongue tied and nursing is becoming an issue. He'll have the surgery on the 16th of the June. Poor little thing!

Tonight we are having a private retirement party for my friend Kathie. She'll get the framed picture tonight. I am looking forward to a fun evening with friends.

take care,
Dawn

One Ringy Dingy!

I never thought I would sound like my grandmother, but I miss the good old days. You remember those don't you. The days of walking to school up hill both ways in the snow :) How about the days you could call someone and an ACTUAL person answered the phone!!

All day long yesterday I tried to get through to a doctor's office because I needed to change the date of an appointment I have. I do not want to press 1 for the department I want. I don't want to press 4 for the new patient coordinator. I know if it is an emergency to hang up and call 9-1-1. If I knew the five digit extension I wanted I would press it...but I think you actually have to speak to a person to get that extension number. I'm sorry you are not at your desk. I don't know what you are doing. I do know that you are not at your desk to answer the phone! Why does it have to be so complicated to speak to an actual person. The more frustrating part is that I have to try it all over again today!

take care,
Dawn

I gave in and went to the doctors today

The coughing I have has been driving me crazy. I finally gave in yesterday and called the doctor. I have never in my life been seen so quickly :) I was in and out in less than 20 minutes. Come to find out I have bronchitis. I got a couple of prescriptions and I hope to be feeling better in a matter of days :) I am surprised Rich didn't try to strangle me the night before last because I kept coughing so much. I know if it was him coughing keeping me awake the thought would certainly cross my mind LOL!

I got my portion of the budget written last night. That is done for another year. I feel like a burden has been lifted. The big project now at school is the incoming class list and report cards. We've got 12 days left and I hope to get started on my report cards this weekend. I think I'm going to have to make a list of things to do.

An aside: I talked to Britt the other night and she told me that she was heating a pancake up in the toaster and Mackenzie told her to take the pancake out. She told her mom it wasn't for pancakes because it was a waffle cage! I thought that was funny!

take care,
Dawn

Bittersweet

One of my friends and colleagues is retiring at the end of this school year. Last Thursday night we had a retirement party for all of this year's retirees. This picture was taken of all six of us kindergarten teachers. (I had to blur the other faces because I didn't have permission to post them!). We are taking Kathie out to dinner Friday night and I made this digital scrapbook page to give her.

We have reserved a private room at a restaurant so we can "roast" her. We are planning on rewriting the words to Lucille by Kenny Rogers to sing to her LOL! I'm looking forward to the evening this Friday. It will be bittersweet though because it will be time to say goodbye to our friend!

take care,
Dawn

No mother of the year award for me today!

Rich and Tim went camping this weekend. Tim went Friday night only and Rich went until today. I let Tim sleep with me on Saturday and Sunday night. They must have had a great time camping on Friday. Sunday morning after Tim had already been sleeping 11 hours I woke him up so he'd be able to fall asleep at bed time.

Last night Tim woke up about 2 am and proceeded to just move around so much that I couldn't get back to sleep. He kept telling me he was shivering. I did have the window open but I was still hot. Finally he got up and went on the couch.

This morning after I got ready for school he was trying to tell me that he was sick. I told him he only had allergies and he was going to school...and that was that!

Then, I felt his head and he was really warm so I took his temperature. It was 101º. I felt badly for not believing him. The poor boy was really sick! I am keeping him home tomorrow too. Wednesday his class is taking a field trip to the Cape Cod Canal and I don't want him to be too sick to go!

My poor boy!

take care,
Dawn

It's Crunch Time!

It's that time of the year again. Our budget is due!! I have been working all weekend on getting my school budget done for the year 2009! It is a process that takes hours and hours to complete. I know I am lucky to have a budget when so many people don't. I always want to make sure I get just the right things. For some companies the shipping and handling throw me off and I have to go back and figure out what I can do without.

What has made it harder this year is that I have been sick for over a week and it has required more energy than usual. Before tomorrow I have to write it all over again and my colleagues and I will spilt up the orders and write them (yet again) on the schools purchase order forms.

It's almost done and then I can move on to the next monumental task! LOL!

take care,
Dawn

Congratulations to my niece Telia!!

My lovely niece, Telia graduated from high school today! I am so very proud of her. She has worked very hard and is a wonderful young lady. I am pleased beyond words for her. I hope the next step in her life brings her a bounty of happiness. She deserves it!!

It was so windy today at the graduation that things were blowing everywhere. All the kids were holding their mortarboards to their heads so they wouldn't blow away. At the very start it began to rain. (Luckily I brought my umbrella with me). They did cut down the speeches so the kids could get their diplomas before another rainfall came.

Congratulations Telia. I love you!

take care,
Dawn

Girls Night Out

I meet with a group of friends once a week to knit. We usually get together at one of our houses. We have been doing this for just over a year. Last night we went out to dinner to celebrate our "anniversary" . It was just what I needed to wind down from my stressful few days. I laughed so hard and it felt great!

We did an exchange where we all knitted the same bag for each other. It was a surprise for each of us since we didn't know who had who...or is it whom! With a little detective work I think we all figured out who we each had. When it came time for the exchange I got the most gorgeous shade of dark red for my bag and I just LOVE it. It's almost too nice to use :)

Tonight is another party. I almost think I can get used to this :)

take care,
Dawn

STRESSED!!

Yesterday was one of the most stressful days I have had in a long time!! I just have so many things going on and I am one to be easily overwhelmed. Just yesterday morning one of my friends was reminding me of something that was due Friday and I just cried! That's one of my ways of dealing with stress.

There is a retirement party at school tomorrow night and I was volunteered to sing in the "chorus". It's just a few snippets of some songs. For the life I me I can't get the tune of the chorus of RESPECT. I know you all sing it as loud as you can in your car when no one is listening LOL! I listened to it for what seemed liked hours and it still sounds pathetic. How do they do it on American Idol LOL!

We have a volunteer tea after school today and I never even got around to making something to bring. I did finish up my gifts last night so they are ready to go.

I am suffering from allergies and my lungs and chest are so sore from coughing.

The good news (of this whine fest of mine) is that tonight I am going out to dinner with some friends :)

There....now I feel better.

take care,
Dawn

Grandkids update

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with my grandchildren on Friday. Mackenzie enjoyed playing with all of Tim's dinosaurs. They filled some buckets with water and put in reptiles of all shapes and sizes :)

Jack sat on my lap for a while. He likes when I sing Jack and Jill to him. Mackenzie on the other hand asks me to stop LOL!

Jack has the cutest thing going on with his hair. It sticks up like this naturally :) If he were a girl it would be perfect for a pony tail.


When he smiles it is a full fledged smile. What a cutie! I took all of these pictures from one of Britt's accounts. I am sure she doesn't mind if a few extra people get a peek at her beautiful children!

take care,
Dawn

Oh, what a lovely smell!

My whining has paid off! I stopped at Britt's to bring her some things that I had and she gave me some lilacs to bring home. Oh, do they smell lovely. I'm almost thinking that I should just go to a nursery and buy a lilac bush to plant somewhere else in my yard. I suppose I should think about moving the ones that I have already since they do not seem to be productive where they are.

Speaking of productive, I feel like I should have gotten so much more done today than I did. I headed out this morning and bought a new router so I can use my laptop and had a devil of a time (my grandmother used to say that all the time!) getting it hooked up. I have NO idea how I did it, or what I even did, but it seems to be working. Keep your fingers crossed.

I overbought in the summer clothes department for Tim today. He's going to end up with more clothes that he will wear. I don't know why I do this all the time. It's got to be a personality disorder of some sort.

take care,
Dawn

A touch of spring

I did my weekly grocery shopping today and on a whim bought myself some new dishes. I've been looking at these for weeks now and just took the plunge today. Even though there are only three of us here I bought enough for 12! My personality is to have extra just in case!!!!!

I think I am also feeling a bit nostalgic today because corning ware always reminds me of my grandmother. She used corning ware all the time. I have some of her corning ware oven ware that I use all the time.

It feels good doing a little spring cleaning and replacing the "winter snow cabin" dishes that I have been using for the last 15 years or so :) Now I've noticed that I need to go buy some new shelf liner because the old stuff is, well, OLD!

take care,
Dawn

Green thumb??

My friend Beverly posted about her hydrangea the other day and it made me, oh a little sad, to look at mine. It is just a matter of inches tall and no where near ready to bloom! Every year at school we have secret valentine's. In February of '07 I received this hydrangea from my secret valentine. It had lovely pink flowers on it. I planted it last year hoping it would come back bigger and better. I guess only time will tell.

Speaking of lovely pink plants. These are my azaleas in all of their glory this year. When they are in bloom that are just so lovely!!!

My greatest disappointment is my lilac bushes. I have had them 11 or 12 years and they never bloom!! I have neighbors who all have lilacs (some even in the shade) and I have nothing! Oh, how I long for the smell of fresh cut lilacs in my home. Someday I just going to have to go out and buy a lilac bush and start from scratch, hoping that it will eventually bloom.

take care,

Dawn

3 bags full

I get together once a week and knit with a group of friends. We always have the best time laughing, knitting and eating! One week a few weeks back, it was suggested that we have a swap and we decided to knit these summer grocery bags. This purple one is the one I made for my mother for Mother's Day. I filled it with a lobster (bagged and wrapped so it wouldn't leak on this) and the ingredients she needed to cook her meal.

I also made this white one for my friend in the swap. We haven't given them out yet so I can't say who it is for!

This is the first bag I made. It was for my friend Cathy for her

birthday. I filled her bag with a recipe book I made her and all the ingredients to make a spinach artichoke dip, including the dish to bake it in.

These bags are so fun and easy to knit. I also made a blue one for Britt but I haven't taken a picture of it.

Right now I have a yellow one on my needles. It is going to be an end of the year gift for Tim's teacher. I'm hoping to fill it will some summer items. I am going to put a beach towel, sun screen, and maybe a gift certificate to a book store in it.

take care,
Dawn

And the winner is......

David Cook. I was hoping for David Archuletta but I will admit I like David Cook too! He is very talented. It was a great season and I'm sure that they both will have wonderfully successful years!

Now, I have to wait until January to have it start all over again.

I'm sure there are millions of bloggers out there posting the same message.

I'll bet he'll have his song on the radio as early as today.

take care,

Dawn

Seperation of Church and State

I wish I could invite you all to join Tim and I for our car rides home from school. There is never a dull moment :)

Tim had a social studies test today and I asked him how he thought he did. With his optimistic smile he said, "great!". Now he can be taking a test on something he knows nothing about, get everything wrong and still think he did great!

Our discussion then ventured to the Constitution and the amendments. Tim told me that he knew what the 8th amendment was and we had a little conversation about some of the amendments.

When I thought we were done he told me that there was an old man who talked to God and wrote 10 more amendments. I told him what he meant to say was commandments and that the old man was Moses.

He always makes me laugh!

take care,
Dawn

Gifts from the heart

Britt has reminded me that I have been derelict in my maternal duties. You see, the other day when I was posting about the mother’s day gifts I received, I neglected forgot to mention the lovely gift my sweet first born bestowed upon me. This is the goldfish plant that Britt gave to me. It is named goldfish because of the orange flowers that bloom.



I certainly don't want to leave Mackenzie out. This is the pine cone bird feeder that she made for me. I proudly hung it from a tree in the back yard. I won't tell you what it reminds me of. I think you can probably figure that out yourself :).



take care,
Dawn

All the comforts

I guess everyone is entitled to spoil themselves a little and I am no exception to that rule!

I love coffee and for the life of me I can not make a good cup. After what seemed like hundreds of tries I finally figured out the right combination to make a good pot of coffee. But alas, I can not drink a full pot! My friend Ingrid told me about a coffee maker she had that makes just one cup at a time. I thought I would buy one for school. Last summer I ordered a Keurig coffee maker that brews one fresh cup every time. I used it over the summer and liked it so much that I bought myself one for home. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the automatic drip coffee ever again.

take care,

Dawn

What a beautiful spring day!!

Oh, it just beautiful outside. The temp is 64º but it feels warmer. It is hard to stay inside. Today I have been trying to take care of some "outdoor" jobs. I pay the lawn company to come and take care of my lawn (fertilizing, weed control etc.) and this time of the year it just looks so lovely! As soon as the heat comes this way without fail my lawn burns even though I water it. I bought a new sprinkler today and I am having the hardest time adjusting the spray to get water to the entire yard. Rich gets upset because it hits the house and I get upset because it doesn't get all of the lawn. My neighbors must think I am crazy running back and fort to adjust the spray! Ideally I would just like a sprinkler system put in but I don't want to pay the money to do it!

take care,

Dawn

May update

Since I have been "spoken" to by both friends and family, I guess I should update. :)

Today I had Jack and Mackenzie for a few hours. It was the first time I've had them both. Jack is such a big boy. Brittainy says he's about 16 pounds right now.

I was without my car for 9 days while it was being repaired. Rich had to bring me to school every day. I'm lucky to have good friends who were willing to bring me home from school. It's good to have my car back. The repair shop did an excellent job on it.

We are down to 23 days left of school. This is really a busy time of year for me. Not only is there the regular day to day "teaching" but there's class lists to make for the outgoing and the incoming kids. I'm "learning" how to write our kindergarten grant and have an accreditation yearly update report that I am working on with one of my friends (who happens to teach with me).

Mother's day was lovely. Tim made me a lovely tissue paper flower and card. He and Rich got a candle holder that is very pretty and a g/c to A.C. Moore. Mackenzie made me a peanut butter, pine cone bird feeder that is hanging outside.

I knit a grocery bag for my mother and bought her a lobster for mother's day. I'm not a fan of seafood but I thought she would like it...and she did.

take care,
Dawn

There's been a lot going on

I have been so busy with the everyday doings that I haven't had a chance to update. I worked feverishly a few weeks ago to get my taxes done. I love Turbo Tax :) I spent hours one day collecting all my paper work, adding up receipts and getting everything ready to go. I am happy to say that my refund has already come and is sitting in my checking account! One thing down and out of the way.


Britt's car stopped working about a month ago so I have been lending her my car. She finally bought a car two days ago. That was a long day. I drove off Cape with her after work to pick up the car. Keep your fingers crossed that it is a gem of a car for her. She got a 2005 Honda Civic. I hope it's a good reliable car for her. I now have my car back.


Speaking of my car I had a little "oopsie" about a month ago. I got too close to one of those cement pilings at the gas station. As I was pulling out I scraped the side of my car. There are a couple of spots that are broken. One of the doors might need to be replaced. It goes into the collision shop in two weeks. That will be a nice chunk of change to fix it. I have insurance (along with my deductible) but I am sure I will also be paying an increase in my insurance because of this. I have NEVER been responsible for an accident before. I hate this blemish on my record.


Last Sunday I got a call from my mother. My stepfather passed away unexpectedly. I've been busy making arrangements. My mother and he divorced more than 20 years ago but still remained friends. We've decided to have a memorial service in the fall when all of the family can be together. Today I wrote the obituary and sent it in to the paper. That was harder than I thought it would be and a bit more emotional than I expected.



Goodbye Capt. Pete. We will miss you !




take care,
Dawn

Let me tell you about the birds and the bees and 9 year old boys!

Driving home from school last week.....

Tim: Mom, it's too bad that Dad's really not part of our family.

Me: What do you mean?

Tim: He doesn't have the same DNA as us. (This is Tim believing that since my birth he has been inside of me waiting for the "right" time to be born.)

Me: Well, you actually have half of Dad's DNA and half of my DNA.

Tim: What did they do, give me a shot of dad's DNA when I was born?

Me: No, every person is made up of the DNA from their mother's and fathers.

Tim: How did I get the DNA from Dad?

Me: (long pause trying to collect my thoughts and figure out how to have this discussion in the car)

Tim: I know...it's too gross and you don't want to tell me about it!

So began the first step in the birds and bees talk...well actually bees and chickens is where I went with it. There were no other questions beyond that.

Me: wiping the sweat from my forehead for now!!!

take care,
Dawn

The grandkids

After being sick for a week, I finally felt well enough for a visit. Tim took the picture for me. This is me (horrible pic) and Mackenzie and Jack (in full cry!) I missed them. I hadn't seen Jack for half of his life! Mackenzie was happy for the visit. I think (know!) she was happiest to see Uncle Tim. Tomorrow night she will be coming over to spend the night. Jack will enjoy Mom and Dad to himself.

Here are some pictures of Mackenzie in the sweater I made for her.

I'm glad school is over for another week. So many children and teachers have been sick. We need to air out all of these sick germs! I got my report cards finished and sent home. That is always a relief. Next week we will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day and Easter. That's a bit too early for me!!

Speaking of Easter, Tim and I will be decorating tomorrow. It's hard to believe it is going to be here so soon. I much prefer Easter in April!

take care,
Dawn

Ugh! I came home from school Thursday so sick! I ended up not going in on Friday. Yesterday I was better. Today is just about the same. Unfortunately, I can't go see Mackenzie or Jack. I was supposed to have Mackenzie for the day but I am still sick. I hope to get better soon. I miss them!

I am spending today trying to catch up on things I haven't been able to do this weekend. I've got a crock pot of Italian chicken cooking. I have spaghetti sauce in another crock pot to make lasagna today. The chicken is for Britt. I'm hoping to get two lasagne's out of my supplies so I can also give her one. I still have a cherry pie to make as well.

I took a picture of the hooded sweater I made Mackenzie. I made it off white so Jack could also wear it in a couple of years. I am making him a brown hooded sweater now. Britt asked me to put ears on the hood so it would look like a teddy bear.

Today I have to get some more work done on report cards. They go home on Friday. I wish I hadn't left everything in school!

take care,
Dawn

This is a very excited household!!!

Today Timmy (he prefers me to call him Tim, but I can't bring myself to do it yet!) turns 9 1/2. Just a mere 6 months until the double digits. The anticipation is just about more than he can handle!!! All day long he said this was the best day ever!!!

After school we stopped at a store to pick out a half birthday gift. He got more Star Wars toys. The boy is addicted to Star Wars.

As is tradition, we took him out to dinner. This year he picked Kreme N Kone. I also picked up a take out order to bring to Britt and family. I am trying to make things easier for her by bringing her dinner. If you are ever on Cape Cod, this is a must for a burger or seafood.

Dinner was polished off with an ice cream cone!! Ah, to be 9 1/2 again!!!!

take care,
Dawn

He's home!

Jack and Brittainy are home. Britt said she's not getting much sleep. Jack is a hungry boy!!!
I made this sweater and hat for him along with a matching blanket. I was so happy to get a picture of him in it already. I was worried because the sweater looked so small but as you can tell from the picture he's got room to grow.

I gave Mackenzie the octopus that I made her today. She loved it! This past Thursday and Friday she spent the night here. It was so nice having her but I certainly forgot how tiring a toddler can be! Good thing she loves her Uncle Tim so much. He was such a big help with her. They played, watched movies, had popcorn and stayed up too late. Isn't that what you are supposed to do at a sleepover anyway :)

I brought over the fixings for a chicken pie. Brittainy just needs to dump it all in the pie shell and bake it. I've got a few more meals waiting for her. I remember how nice it was not to have to worry about cooking when I came home with Tim.

I've had a four day weekend from school. I'll be back in the swing of things tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, it's a big day for us. I'll tell you about it tomorrow :) :) :)

take care,
Dawn

Jack is here!

Brittainy had her baby this morning at 8:27. His name is Jack Donovan (his middle name) and he weighed 10.9 pounds. He is a very sweet little boy! He looks just like his mother.

Last night Mackenzie spent the night. It was her first time ever being away from home and she did wonderfully. I took her up to see her mother, father and brother this morning. We stayed about 2 hours and now she's home again with me for the night.

We are all so very happy to have the newest member of the family join us. Welcome baby Jack!

take care,

Dawn

Three days and counting!

Britt is scheduled for her c-section on Friday morning. She is so big :) :) :) :) Today I took her to Trader Joe's to pick out some things that she likes to have in the freezer so when she gets home she won't have to worry about cooking. Last night I made to dishes of macaroni and cheese to freeze. I have to make a pot of spaghetti sauce so I can make some stuffed shells for her this week. I want to get a couple more dishes made this weekend.

I'm taking Friday off from school to watch Mackenzie for the big day. I hope she is ready to be a big sister :)take care,
Dawn

Bunnies for the bunch

I got a free issue of Creative Knitting in the mail and there was a pattern for these lop eared bunnies. I made the purple one for Mackenzie and a blue one for Jack (who is due in 6 days) for their Easter baskets. Timmy saw me making Jack's and put an order in for two...a blue and green one. I told him that I would be leaving the Easter bunny a note asking him not to leave bunnies this year because I made some :)

When I made the first bunny I noticed (before the ears) that it would make a perfect gingerbread man. That's on my list of things to make as well.

Mackenzie has a love for octopuses and she's been talking to Britt about a green octopus. I made her this for a little gift when Jack is born. It really is green the color of my pic is off.

I also made a sweater for Mackenzie that I finished earlier this week. It's a bit big but she will grow into it.

Right now I am making a hooded sweater for her. I just have to knit the sleeves and it will be done.

Most of my vacation has been spent knitting and watching Lost :) At least I have something productive to show for it.

take care,
Dawn

The best laid plans...

Last Friday at 3:00 my week long vacation began. Oh, the plans I had! It started out right on schedule then....well....I got lost. The day before vacation I was thumbing through the channels. The writer's strike has made it hard to find something on TV to watch. I came upon a show I hadn't seen before. I watched for about 20 minutes and was very intrigued! I never watched the show when it began in 2004. Quite frankly I didn't fall for all the hype! I did a little search on the computer and found this show (all 4 seasons!) was available to watch on line. I figured I'd give it a try and see what all the "talk" was about.

Well, I have spent MANY hours during my vacation catching up on this show. I've seen all of season 1 and 2 and have begun the third season today. I am totally hooked on LOST.


The upside is that I have been knitting up a storm while I have watched it. The downside is that nothing else productive has happened.

take care,
Dawn