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

How I've spent my week.

Those of you who have read this blog in the past know that my dentist and I spend a lot of time together. I went to visit him last Monday because a tooth I have already spent $2,500 on is infected (again!). I have an appointment to get it pulled on February 7th. Then I will need an implant. I keep telling him once he fixes one tooth he curses another LOL! Because of the infection I also have a swollen lymph node (it's much better today). It hurt to even open my mouth to eat.




On Friday, I met Dawn, one of my knitting friends, to go to a yarn store I hadn't been to before. I stocked up for a few projects. I want to make dragon scarves for Mackenzie and Jack. A short while ago I saw a place to sign up for a free issue of a knitting magazine. I got my first one about 2 weeks ago. It's called Creative Knitting. I love it! I am going to start a lop eared bunny today with the lavender for Mackenzie. The blue is for Jack. I also picked up some yarn (pink and brown) for a sweater for Mackenzie.

I've been procrastinating all weekend. Today is the day I need to do all those cleaning jobs that I put off.

Take care,
Dawn

Waiting for Jack

Jack is due to make his appearance in this world next month. We are anxiously awaiting his arrival. Being the grandmother makes the wait a little easier. Britt says she's just about done being pregnant!

I knitted this blanket for Jack and I have a couple of other projects in the works but Britt reads this so I am not posting them until later :)

This past spring I was at my local yarn store and I saw on the employees knitting a beautiful baby blanket in a nice off white. I asked her if the pattern was available to buy and she said only if I bought the yarn from them. I already had the yarn I wanted so I went home and figured out the pattern. It is a very simple one so it didn't take much thought. Here it is. I think you could probably find it in just about any pattern book or search.

Instructions:

CO 147 sts on size 7 circular needles. ( I used a 40" cable) The blanket is about 36" wide so you could use smaller cables.

K 8 rows.
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7,9 and 10 (RS): K
Rows 2, 4,6,8 (WS) : K5, *P5, k1* repeat between * *to last 10 stitches, P5, k5

Repeat rows 1-10 until desired length.
(I did 27 repeats)

K 7 rows

Cast off.

Happy Birthday to the first love of my life :)

Ever since I was 12 years old (1973!)I have LOVED John Denver. In honor of his 64th birthday here's a little something I want to share!

take care,
Dawn

For Mackenzie

This is Mackenzie's favorite Christmas song. :)


I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas Lyrics

Fa la la la la

Tim's 3rd grade concert was tonight. I hung around school until it was time for the performance. It really didn't seem wise to drive home just to turn around an hour later to go back to school. All in all I was at school for 12 hours today. The upside is that I did get some work done :)

The concert was just wonderful. One of the songs that they sang was Don Gato. I remember learning that song in elementary school a LONG time ago. It's always been one of my favorites :) It was all I could do not to run up to the stage to start singing with them. Those of you who know me know how hard it was to control myself LOL!

One little boy sang a solo part in the Beatles song Blackbird. He sang so beautifully it brought tears to my eyes. I was so proud of him. (I had him in kindergarten and just love him!).

After the concert we got pizza so there was no cooking for me. I still have two days of school to get through and then I can enjoy my vacation. The time can't go fast enough for me.

take care,
Dawn

How I've spent my December

Why is it, knowing full well when December comes every year, I find myself working until the last minute making gifts for friends and family. This year it is knitting. Here's my recent stash of books I have been pulling my projects from. I am about 2 hours away from finishing what I thought was my last gift, and I have decided that I can squeeze just ONE MORE project in! Each year I promise myself I will spend my summer vacation getting ready so I don't put this pressure on myself. Last summer I promised to get all of my Christmas cards made. If you are on my list you should have received your lovely store bought card by now! :) :)

I'm getting ready to print out the pattern for the next item I am hoping to make...by Thursday! Wish my luck.

take care,
Dawn

It's now December and I still haven't blogged.

I am making it a resolution to be better about blogging. Sometimes I feel that I am so behind that I don't know where to begin.

So...I'll begin with this week!

What a stormy few days we have had. The weather was so bad on Thursday that school was closed 45 mins early to get the kids home quicker. Sadly, it took 35 mins to dismiss the kids 45 mins early! Go figure. By the time the high school and middle school kids were home the buses came back for the elementary kids. You'd think they would take the little guys home first. Today we woke up to snow but by late morning it was all rain! It has been raining all day. I hear it will freeze up tonight!

I am thrilled that there are only 5 days left of school before our Christmas vacation. I am looking forward to the time off!

Britt got pictures back of Mackenzie last week. Oh she is so adorable...(that's the grandma in me speaking!) Here, take a look for yourself.

I promise to be back soon!

take care,
Dawn

It seems like I am just a monthly blogger!

Well, let's see. This time change has really taken a toll on me. Here it is only 6:30 at night and I swear it feels like 9:00!!! I'm home for a couple of extra days this week. I have the respiratory illness many of the children in my class have had! I went to the doctor's yesterday and I already feel a bit better!

Last weekend we had one doosey of a storm. We lost power at 4:00 last Saturday afternoon and didn't get it back for 11 hours. There were many people here on the Cape that were without power for days! We settled into the dark evening with a game of Trouble and then a card game (Addition War!) After a while Tim and I decided to put on some Christmas carols and he and I had a sing along. Rich wasn't joining us LOL! When I got up Sunday morning I noticed that a tree was down in the back yard. It was sad! Rich was outside right after breakfast cutting it down, chopping it up and cleaning up the mess. Next year we'll be able to use it in the fireplace. It will be sad come next summer to see the shade that tree gave us gone.

Last weekend was also the anniversary of my father's death. It's hard to believe it has been 12 years. I think about him everyday and miss him very much. While I was thinking about him I found this picture of he and I from 1962.
I still have my Halloween decorations up. My plan is to have them all down by tomorrow. I don't even know if I'll get Thanksgiving ones up. Before you know it Christmas will be here.

I have been busy knitting and knitting and knitting! Right now I am making a blanket for my new grandson to be and a pair of fleece lined mittens. I want warm hands this winter while I am doing my recess duty!

That's my update for now.

Take care,
Dawn

Pumpkin Patch

Today was a beautiful fall day. I decided it was time to go get our pumpkins. We went to a local farm and picked out some pumpkins to carve and some to draw/paint on. Timmy picked out four pumpkins that he wants. He has plans to make the small one an alien LOL!

I picked up some cornstalks, bales of hay and some mums! The cornstalks and hay wouldn't fit in my car so I came home and had Rich (and his truck) come back with us. Fortunately the farm is very close to our house. It was so pretty there with all of their mums on display. I love how pretty fall mums are. We got our "goodies" home and I put them around the yard. I think I still need to head out and buy a couple more pumpkins. I also have to take a trip to the attic to find the scarecrow.

While I was in the store paying for the things we bought I left Timmy and my camera outside. He decided to take a few pictures. I thought they came out pretty well!!

take care,
Dawn

A tragic loss

This past Sunday I learned that the daughter of my cousin lost her life in a car accident. She was 28 years old, a wife and mother of an 11 month old little girl. I hadn't seen her in years but the tragedy of her death is still heartbreaking. I think of my own 27 year old daughter and don't know how I would be able to cope with such a sudden and tragic loss.

Today was the wake and there were hundreds of people there to honor her memory and support her friends and family. The obituary in the paper was one of the most tender, loving obituaries I have ever read.

My heart is so heavy for her family right now. I just feel so sad!

take care,
Dawn

It's been a month!

As I have said before the beginning and the end of the school year simply exhaust me!!!! It's been tiring for sure. It seems like every week there is a meeting, and then after school I've been busy with the dentist (yes, again) I just got crown #13! It seems most every day there is something after school that I need to do.

Most days I get home in time to start dinner, get ready for the next day, do a few "chores" and get to bed! On Friday's after school I watch Mackenzie and then again all day on Saturday. Sunday is shopping (for my mother as well as my own family) and laundry and then it starts all over again! I have been good and made it to our knitting club meeting every week :)

A couple of weeks ago I came home to see police across the street. Our neighbor had suddenly passed away. Poor Tim was just distraught! It's very sad to look across the street and see it so empty.

The good news this past month is that Britt went for an ultrasound and it looks as if she is having a boy! She's goes back at the end of the month for another u/s and hopefully there will be a clearer picture to remove all doubt!! :) :)

I have really enjoyed this long weekend. I actually had a two day weekend. I liked it so much in fact, that I am looking forward to Veteran's Day next month LOL!

Well, there's my brief, and boring update.

take care,
Dawn

What a whirlwind week!

Wow, what a busy week it has been. Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we met with the kindergarten children and their families one on one to get to know them all and welcome them to kindergarten. I really enjoy getting to meet the parents and having the special time to get to know each family and their child.

Even this weekend was busy. After school Friday I went to Britt's to watch Mackenzie while she worked. I also had Mackenzie on Saturday. I love how independent she is and I can understand most everything she is trying to tell me.

Yesterday was the first day of kindergarten. I came home from school so TIRED I couldn't even move! Bedtime was such a joy! Today was easier. It is so hard trying to help the children just learn school rules. They need to be taught how to walk in the hall, how to use the cafeteria, playground rules, classroom rules, listening and even how to sit in a group. It is not only mentally exhausting, but it's also physically exhausting.

Brittainy was such a good daughter yesterday. She came to my house while I was at school and did my ironing for me! I so appreciate her doing that. I wonder if I can make this a habit? Britt if you are reading this consider it a subtle hint LOL!

This weekend (Saturday) Timmy is having his birthday party. I still haven't really planned what I'll be doing with him. He wants a Star Wars birthday party. I read somewhere online about using pool noodles cut in half as light sabers and trying to keep balloons in the air. I have the supplies for that. I just need to come up with another idea or two. Sunday Jay and Mackenzie are having a combined birthday party so we will be attending that get together.

I think I'll have a day off on the 23rd this month LOL!

take care,
Dawn

Turn around and you're nine!

Where are you going my little one, little one. Where are you going my baby my own. Turn around and you're two. Turn around and you're four. Turn around and you're a young man walking out of the door!


This song always makes me weepy! I can't get over the fact that my baby is 9!!!!! I looked backed on some older pictures the other day and it made me miss that little baby boy he used to be.



Timmy got some Star Wars Legos (we had to remortgage the house LOL!) and he is in heaven right now. In a little bit we are headed out to Outback Steak House to have dinner.

Only 366 days (leap year and all!) until the double digits!

take care,
Dawn

It wasn't meant to be

I had a dishwasher given to me at the beginning of the summer. Yes, I'm one of those people who do not have a dishwasher. I asked a friend of the family to come put an electrical outlet in so I could start the process of installing the dishwasher. He stopped by this morning to get started. He and Rich measured and it sadly will not fit! I was so hoping to have a dishwasher this year. The washer itself was not in the best condition so I sent it off with the dump fee to find its new home!

Now, I need to decide if I want to go look for one that will fit (even with all the carpentry work that Rich will have to do) or just go without. Or....win the lottery and remodel my entire kitchen!!! So my dear friends when you have your dishwasher running, picture me washing mine by hand!

take care,
Dawn

Time is drawing near

With just a day left of my summer vacation I am left to wonder where the heck the time went!!! I had (as I do every summer) grand plans for what I would accomplish. I didn't get everything done that I wanted to. The last few weeks I have been trying to savor EVERY moment. I also have been to school to work on setting up my classroom. I'm done with the set up. I just need my official class list to start writing names on the hundreds of items that need to be labeled.

I had the twins that were in my class last year for a couple of days when their mom was working. Oh, they just make me smile :)

I have been asking Rich for about 2 years to fix some shelves that were slanted. Finally with the promise of making him an orange cake for his birthday it was finished!!!

I used my newly cleaned scrap area to work on a circle journal I'm doing with some friends from the OT board at 2P's. This is our second round. My theme this time around is Attic Treasures. I finished it just under the wire!

I also have been working on some knitting projects. I still have two unfinished projects to finish. I have half a sock to knit and a handle for a basket for my friend Beverly.

Brittainy and Mackenzie have been spending most every day with me. It's been nice. I'll miss our time together when I go back to school. Maybe that will prompt Mackenzie to actually say my name!!!

Timmy is beside himself with excitement. His birthday is Tuesday and he just wants to wake up and have the day here! Oh, to be young again.

Well, that's my last few weeks in a nutshell.

take care,
Dawn

Happy Birthday Brittainy!!!!

My baby is 27 years old today. Where has the time gone? It doesn't seem that long ago that she was born. Now she is having her second baby! How come she has gotten older but I still feel like that young thing in the picture?

Brittainy was the first grandchild in my family. For eight years she was the only grandchild. For 18 years she was my only child!

I just wanted to say a great big happy birthday! I love you!

take care,
Dawn