| Relay For Life

| Relay For Life

Back to School!

Today is my second day of staff development and I've been up since about 3 am.!  Couldn't sleep...Pepe's fault!  He woke me up to say good bye.  Grant it, I slept most of Sunday.  I had a severe toothache all weekend long.  My Momma went out about 10-ish last night to buy some benzocane (spelling?)  That helped a great deal.  I've been working in my classroom, and it's looking great.  I'll try to add pics.  I'm feeling really good about this year.  My colleagues are so smart...feeling a little intimidated by all that I'll have to learn and plan for first grade:  lessons, guided reading, report card assessments, intervention, referrals (always happens, right!).  The Science TEKS are requiring "80% instructional time."  It'll work out!

I bought a Palm Pixi to keep up with calendar events.  It's awesome...may change it out for a Pre; haven't decided yet. 

I'm so proud of Pepe.  I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't helped me move in tables and bookcases from the portable.  He's so strong, and smart in ways I'll never be.  !Bendito sea Dios!

Marissa is ready for school.  New clothes!  New backpack!  New supplies!  She just needs a new pair of shoes.  I'm so proud of how much she already knows.  Hope she gets along with her peers!

Feeling greatful for Momma.  She's just moved to Dallas, but is here in Denton to take care of my Marissa, once again.  I'm indebted to her.  I love her so.

Hoping all of my colleagues have a wonderful year!

Baby Tyler on the way

Anna and her baby boy are on my mind this morning.  I've been up since 3 with an earache; working on Jocilynn's leg warmers...pic coming up.   Thought about taking Marissa to (whew I'm nauseous - must be sinuses) the RBB circus this weekend.  Can't afford the tix - $250 for first level/front.  Geese louise!  Marissa just got up and is watching tv.  Time to make us some breakfast and then a shower.  We're off shopping for school clothes today!  Everytime I think about Marissa going to school I get veclempt (spelling?)  Her latest question:  "Momma, can I say stupid in one year when I'm six?  Like about a cat - that cat's stupid!" 

Anna, you're in my prayers today.  I hope you know how much I love you!
Nina

I got a job!

Soon everyone will be saying "back to school", get ready to go back to school kiddos!  Am I ready?  No.  It's okay.  Really, it's okay.  I'm very happy to returning to my old school, and knowing that Marissa is learning and playing right down the hall, well that's the cherry on top.  I pray that her teacher is not only smart (an out-of-the-box type) but kind.  I hope she doesn't jump to conclusions about Marissa because my daughter is unique.  She's becoming bilingual.  She's a thinker.  She's creative and nurturing.  I wish Mrs. Whiz could be her full time teacher...she'd get Marissa.   

On another note, I've misplaced my camera and haven't been able to download my latest knitting project:  leg warmers for my niece Jocilynn's 10th birthday.  She dances and loves red, so warmers are the perfect gift.  My baby brother is turning 32 this year.  No so baby, I know!  Still, he's the baby of the family.    

The leg warmers are kntted in the round...an eyelett pattern...eyelettes move around to the left or right (depends on which leg you slip them onto).

Husband's calling...hope to make the best of this week.  Have to get new pair of glasses, school clothes/shoes for Marissa and I and go to Dallas to see my Godson. 

Peace and love to all,
Nina

broken

I haven't been able to write for a while because I broke the 5th metatarsal bone in my left foot.  I chased my daughter at the grocery store and fell.  It was awful.  It hurt terribly.  I'm half way through it.  I should get the cast removed on the 18th of May.  I've done a lot of knitting, for me anyway.  I finished a baby jumper, and started a kid sweater for my daughter.  I wanted her to have something she could wear in class ...not to bulky.  I haven't taken any pictures.  It's hard to get around.  I'm not able to get online to much since I have to hobble around on crutches and it's very uncomfortable.

I wish I could write more, but I'm tired and I've going to bed.

Good night world

Good things

There are so many good things about being 40.  Even though menapause is knocking at my door, blagh, I'm blessed with an incredibly brilliant little girl, a husband who's still by my side after 15 years, and I still have a knack for learning new skills!  I sitll have the privilege of a good read, regularly!   I look forward to the days of no more post menstrual aches and pains and hormonal imbalances that drive me to the edge of mental breakdown.  That's rough, and these hormones a'mine whoop my ass on a monthly basis; and, somehow my husband and I survive.  Keeping busy helps....Marissa, knitting, gardening, reading, drives and walks around town, and iced tea. 

I recieved an email that made me so happy I just wanted to run around the house!  It would seem I may be heading back to my old school...that's exactly what I wanted for my darling little Marissa.  It's an exemplary school and I know how hard those teachers work.  Marissa deserves that.  I hope the available position is 1st or 2nd, but I have a feeling it will be higher.  We shall see.

On a tighter note...I learned how to knit Portuguese style and I really love it.  I'll practice to pick up speed and work on my tension.  I need a new tool, one of those pins..tensioner??? Whatever it's called, I need one.  I started my friend Anna's jumper but stopped because I didn't like how it draped.  I opted for a more traditional baby yarn and it feels soft. 

I went to the MeetUp group at Barnes and Noble.  After picking up a cup of decaf at Starbuck's I browsed the mag racks for a while (started getting nervous which is so not like me -cute).   Thank you Verena Knitting for distracting me long enough to forget that I was about to meet a bunch of experienced knitters for the first time, not to mention knit in public!  It was all worth it.  I had a lovely time and everyone was so approachable...no snobs, none at all.  One young lady, Nicole, even taught me how to purl through the back loop.  As ridiculous as that sounds, it is possible!  We talked and knitted.  Sarah knitted a lacey scarf in a beautiful deep teal color, the actual color name escapes me at this moment - I'll remember later (maybe).  I sat next to Leslie, knitting a hat, and next to her were sisters ( I think) Kim and Stephanie.  Becky, brought her pattern book and knitted a blue shawl, another Sarah was knitting a 7 hour afghan (or was that 7 days???), Diana was stitching the seams of child sweater and Perry was knitting a scarf in white.  Earlier, I looked through my projects trying to decide which one I should take.  I would be talking so, it had to be straight knitting and/or purling, not sticky patterns.  Eyeletes?  Yarn overs, yeah, I could handle that and still listen in and participate in conversation.  I took a ball of peaches and creme and started a lacey mock cables dishcloth.   I did fine, but I should have chosen a simpler pattern.

I love that I got to talk about Marissa and how I learned to knit. 

Then and Now

Well, I've managed to finish the soaker;  I just have to stitch it together using the mattress stitch and then "lanolize" it!  It is so cute!  I can remember Marissa when she was that little.  How I wish I had taken up knitting back then.  Marissa would have had thousands of little things to wear!  Well, that was then and this is now. 

I've been navigating the web for just the right cardi pattern for Marissa (now 5) to wear to school year round (those classrooms can get chilly).  Funny thing is, I had it all along.  I subscribe to Creative Knitting Magazine and the pattern I've envisioned her wearing is in the March'10 issue.  It's called "Kid's Spring Cardigan" p. 58.  I haven't decided on yarn yet, but I want it to be washable and sturdy enough to withstand kindergarten life!  If you have any ideas, please let me know!

I'm embarrassed to write this, but I haven't started on my Shawl collared nipped-wasted sweater yet.  I finished the swatch for the parasol lace pattern, but I couldn't move forward until I felt sure on how to work the "cluster" stitch (do I knit the stitches after I wrap them?)  Sweaterbabe answered back and told me to do exactly what the pattern asked (don't knit them, just wrap them).  Don't think about it, just do it!  Okay, so why haven't you started, Nina (you may or may not be wondering)?  Well, I started the soaker and now I've started a baby jumpsuit for my friend Anna's baby boy (he's on the way, still cooking!)    Here's a pic of the beginning of a leg.  The pattern is from DROPS DESIGN

On a different note...I'm absolutely delighted about our neighborhood.  Marissa had some little friends over on Friday for "Movie Night!"  It was fun!  I sat and chatted with my neighbor Julie...she's awesome, and smart!  Funny how much women have in common.  She and I parent a lot a like, and that makes me so happy!  Hope to hang out with her a lot more...and scrap!

Well, I have to say God is good to me!  I'm greatful for Marissa and Pepe. 

Now, if I could just get that shawl cardi started!