Our week in Sandusky

I love to cook. I love to cook for a crowd, for guest, for neighbors but mostly I love to cook for my family. Its got to be one of the most important things that as a wife and mother that I do...besides washing clothes, cleaning house, scheduling everything, scrubbing toilets, kissing boo-boo's, raising kids, wait where was I...oh yes cooking. It has to be one of the most important things that I do because lets face it you have to eat, I guess everyone could eat cereal but who wants to do that. I love that every single night we sit down at the kitchen table to eat as a family, I love that when I yell "dinner" all I hear is toys dropping and foot steps a running. Its nice to just sit as a family, to relax, to hear each other talk, to just come together as a family after being apart all day....and to eat!

Columbus zoo

A day at the zoo with friends

Shake it like its hot...or maybe not.

Tonight a friend and I are attending for the 1st time and hour long belly dancing class at our local gym. I like to shake what the good lord gave me and he gave me plenty but Ive never shaken' it for an hour long. I may need help walking afterwards. Hubby has also offered to watch not only our kid but my friends kid so that she can go with me and I dont have to shake my money maker by myself...such a sweet hubby. We did have to promise to show him some of our moves when we return but well worth it Im sure. Lets hope my hips dont give out on me!!

Burnt Deriair

Went to the pool today and discovered something new. I pretty much wear the same bathing suit to the pool everyday so my tan lines are always the same, however today new parts of my ass are burnt which can only mean one thing....I must of been going around with a wedge all day and new fresh, white skin was showing and that fresh meat is now burnt. I can take being burnt anywhere on my body but does it have to be on the one thing that I use to sit.

I heart ice cream

Dear Haagen-Dazs ice cream flavor pineapple coconut I think I would love you however my local stores never have you sitting in their cold freezers. There is just an empty space waiting to be filled, waiting for me to take you home and eat you. I think I would love you so much that Id be tempted to even buy 2 of you at a time and I even signed up at Haagen-Dazs.com for delivery notification of when you will once again arrive at the local stores. Until then I guess I'm stuck dreaming of you while I eat other flavors, other flavors that aren't pineapple coconut, other flavors that I don't love...just other flavors.

Life=good

Sitting at home with Preston waiting for the pool to open up at noon and eating lucky charms out of the box while watching cartoons....life is good!!!
Thank you hubby for this time I get to spend at home with the kids.

Saw Transformers II-Revenge of the Fallen.....it was AWESOME!!!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

This 4th of July will be spent with family and friends at our house. I hope everyone will remember that while we are enjoying our evening with food and fireworks that there are still many men and women who can not be home with their families because they are protecting us, our rights, our nation and our freedom. Happy 4th of July!!

Our TN trip

Happy Fathers Day to my wonderful husband, to my dad, to my father in law, and to my step dad. I love you all!

Table talk

Preston has been calling me "Heather" because he hears our neighbor kids calling me that so I have been correcting him over it. Here is how the conversation went at the dinner table last night.

Me: Preston tell daddy what you called me today.
Preston: (looking puzzled) Did I call you stupid?
Me : Umm no or atleast not that I heard you say.
Preston: Did I call you poopie?
Me: No and we dont say either of those words.
Preston: Oh I know I called you Heather
Me: Forget calling me Heather lets get back to where you heard poopie and stupid and why your calling me that.

I guess him calling me Heather isnt as bad as I thought since apparently his vocabulary has picked up a few more words.

Prestons 4th Birthday Party-Transformers

Kids say the darnest things-at the darnest time.

While at the local thrift store gathering up new "projects" to do, which I will post once done. My son saw a very pregnant woman walking down the sidewalk and asked if she had a baby in her butt too. Trying to keep a straight face while saying no and scooting him into the store as quickly as possible is not as easy as it sounds. He is way to observant for his age.

4 year birthday

Dear Preston,
Today is your 4th Birthday and boy time flys by. Over the past year you have certainly become a little man. You are more comfortable with yourself and others as well. You know no strangers, you will talk to anyone, you love playing with your bestfriends, your neighbors and all of the kids on the street no matter their ages. Your laugh is so contagious that just hearing it is the best part of my day with you. You still dont like chicken nuggets but you can scarf down a cheeseburger in no time, you love starbucks strawberry and cream drinks, you love pizza, and you eat more yogurt than any child I have ever seen. This year you have become more independent in riding your bike and you have no fear. You fall and get right back up. Your favorite toy is transformers and you love playing games on the computer. You are very curious and smart and you will start preschool this fall. I cant believe you will be going to school. I am so excited for you and what the future may hold. I hope you always remember your manners, to never give up, that we love you and that God has big plans for you. Happy Birthday son.

Jazz the dog

Pictures of Jazz:

I wrote that during our memorial day weekend that I almost broke my toe from falling (jumping) from a bike and during that entry I stated that I would spare you the pictures....I lied. Here is a pic of my big, swollen, sore, blue, purple toe.

Haywire

We are having no luck when it comes to electrical type items for the past 2 months. First the air conditioner went out in my car, then my radio/cd player went out in the car and now our main tv that is the newest one in the house isnt working. What is up with all of these items breaking. I never realized just how much Id miss the radio in the car. If there is an electrical fairy out then we need you now.

Mat project

If your like me several years ago you purchased a cute summer looking outdoor mat to greet your front or back door guests into your house. Only to realize that after 6 years of being in direct sun the cute picture is gone, it has seen better days and the thought of throwing it away just because the picture is gone isn't an option. The mat itself still does the job, it works just fine but has no cuteness to it. This weekend I did this to our mat. I used outdoor paint that I had left over from painting the shutters and front door and just painted a B on it for our last name. Welcome back cute mat!

Lessons of the day

Today was a holiday so hubby was home and the only stores open are grocery stores, so we did what anyone else with nothing to do would do since the pool is closed...we went grocery shopping. I know your jealous. However before we went to the grocery store I kind of passed out in the street. This is what I get for riding my husbands bike and cant really touch the ground with both feet at the same time. Instead I kind of teeter the bar (good thing I'm not a boy) and play the guessing game of which foot will touch ground first. Anyways, Preston was riding along with me on his bike and a car was backing out of the driveway and I wasn't sure he saw them so the only logical thing to do was the jump from the bike to make sure that he got away from the driveway. Isn't that what any momma would do, the only thing is that since I cant really touch the ground and it was a last minute decision to go bike riding so I had on flip flops that when I jumped, that jump turned into a fall, and I stubbed my big toe so hard that I blacked out for a bit. My toe feels broken but it isn't its just really big right now and purple. Its so beautiful that I will spare you a picture. Today's lesson is don't wear flip flops when biking, make sure that you can safely touch the ground with both feet and next time your son wants to go bike riding send your husband.

Circus is in town

Our day at the circus: Hubby I love you but the picture of you is a bit creepy.

Some of my favorite cleaning things:

• OdoBan Air Freshener/Fabric Refresher-smells like eucalyptus so it smells natural instead of flowery. It kills 99% of germs. We bought it at Walmart for our wood burning stove smell but it works great for pet odors as well.


• Premoistened wood polishing cloths found at dollar store. The kids love to help clean and its perfect for them to grab one, clean and throw away.


• Tilex shower cleaner-no scrubbing needed just spray it on and leave for several hours and rinse off.


• Natures Source natural all purpose cleaner-smells really nice "A MUST SMELL" and lately there have been tons of coupons floating around so it was cheap to purchase as well.

You know your a TN'ean when...

My sister in law sent me this and I just had to post it because they are all so true. This is why Ohio people look at me funny when I speak sometimes. I have to throw in one more, my husband makes fun of me because I call pants -britches. It took me a while to understand what pop or soda was here.

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM LIVING IN TENNESSEE!

• Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
• There are 5,000 types of snakes on earth and 4,998 live in Tennessee.
• There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Tennessee plus a couple no one's seen before.
• If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
• Onced and Twiced are words.
• It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.
• People actually grow and eat okra.
• "Fixinto" is one word.
• There is no such thing as "lunch." There is only dinner and then there is supper.
• Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar
• Backards and forwards means "I know everything about you."
• DJeet? is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
• You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is.
• You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.
• You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.
• You measure distance in minutes.
• You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
• "Fix" is a verb. Example: "I'm fixing to go to the store."
• All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
• You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
• You know what a "DAWG" is.
• You carry jumper cables in your car . . . for your OWN car.
• There are only own four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup.
• The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.
• The first day of deer season is a national holiday.
• 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm."
• We have four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.
• Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time known as"goin' Wal-martin" or off to "Wally World."
• A cool snap (below 70 degrees) is good pinto-bean weather.
• A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola or pop . . . it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example: "What kinda coke you want?"
• Fried catfish is the other white meat.
• We don't need no stinking driver's ed . . . if our mama says we can drive, we can drive.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO MY 3 MOMS.....not many people can say that they have 3 moms but I can. I have my mom, my stepmom and my mother in law. All of them play such a different and unique role in my life and I love them all. I hope you each have a wonderful day.
Love-The Bolin house

Mothers day gift

Preston made this for me at the childcare of our local gym. This is my first official mothers day present that Preston has given me that didnt come from daddy. Inside are paper flowers that he helped the teacher make, the outside is a plate that Preston colored and a hershey kiss attached to the outside. Its the best present ever!

Cute church sign that I saw down the road from us:

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it"

Sad

I found out today that a girl that I used to babysit for and used to work with her mother was killed this morning by a drunk driver. Honestly I cant take anymore deaths. That is 4 deaths in 3 years of people that I know. Im so saddened by the news. 3 of those deaths were from car accidents. I never want my kids to drive....Ever.

This is my favorite spot outside our house. This is the area around the front sidewalk and we have done a lot of work to it since we moved in a year ago last month. It was well worth all the work to see everything bloom this year.

Craft project

About a month ago I saw these old white wooden shutters laying out in someone's trash. I picked them up not sure what to do with them.... until this week. I made a headboard for our guest bedroom and all for $5.00. Husband did the cutting for me because it was 2 very long shutters that I needed to make into 4 smaller ones, I purchased some new hinges and spray paint. I painted this saying on it because I thought it was so true and a lot better than sweet dreams "The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep".

Some days I feel like a robot when it comes to getting things done. I have always been the type of person that once I put my mind to it, it cant wait. It must be done right away, it drives my husband nuts sometimes because I have been known to get in car and drive to get what ever crosses my mind as far as projects go.
So... Because the weekend was so busy for us and so many kids in and out I decided to make use of the last sunny day for the week to clean carpets, its suppose to be rainy the rest of the week and not be as warm. I cant clean carpets in the winter because it takes to long to dry but a good sunny,windy day and they are dry in no time. Today was that day. Robot mode got me this done already before 2pm.

All upstairs carpets cleaned-check
hour at gym-check
home to let puppy out-check
playdate at park for Preston-check
home to let puppy out and put Preston down for nap-check
All downstairs carpets cleaned-check
kitchen moped-check
purchase and delivery of wireless petsafe system-check
Everyone is fed, popped and napped-check

This day needs to end before I pass out from exhaustion.

Terrible Tuesday

Yesterday must of been lets see what we can do to test Heathers patience day....

It started off with my allergies acting up and the benedryl the night before still in my system so yeah I was feeling pretty out of it. Good but out of it. Pupils were huge!!

Around noon'ish it started to hail.

Electricity went off, then on, then off again.

Preston threw up all over me, him, the couch, the blanket. No warning, no symptoms just out of nowhere. At what point do they learn to run to the bathroom to barf?

Electricity going off and on made the smoke alarms start beeping and wouldn't stop beeping. Note to self: Puppy does not like beeping sounds.

While Preston is in shower getting throw up off of him, puppy is barking mad at the alarms, electricity is going off and on which scares Preston who is in the bathroom with no windows, I'm trying to clean up mess, Im on phone with husband trying to get instructions on how to get alarms to stop. Husband ends up coming home early to help out, try and get the alarms to stop only to figure out after I have removed 3 of the 5 alarms that its not actually the smoke detectors beeping its the carbon monoxide alarm beeping...GREAT!

Needless to say I could of done without Tuesday. Thank goodness its Wednesday!

Easter

We celebrated Easter a day early with my inlaws. The kids made out like bandits and still have a surprise tomorrow morning from the Easter Bunny. This is the kids on their search for Easter
eggs...and this is our new puppy after 3 kids hyped up on sugar played with him. Happy Easter everyone!!

Newest edition to the Bolin household

After months of Preston begging for a dog, after visiting the local pet shop many times, after our grill was stolen off our back porch steps away from my back door and after losing sleep for the past week we got a dog. Lets say my husband surprised me with a dog because Im pretty sure as he was walking out the door the last thing he said was I will be back, Im going to get hamburger buns and when he returned he not only didnt bring me buns but he had a puppy in his arms instead. Meet Jazz-(preston named him after a transformer) he is part boxer/shepard.

Dear Victoria Beckham wanna be girl in my gym. First off the treadmill is not a catwalk, stop walking as if you are on the runway.
Second, your blingy hats are distracting and blinding if the sun hits it just right, stop wearing blingy hats with a star on them, they are not cool.
Third, your baby tee's look like they would fit my 7 year old.
Fourth- EAT SOMETHING YOU SKINNY B_ _C H!!!

Valuable info from self defense class:

I went to a free self defense class offered by our local swat team and it was wonderful and I learned some valuable info that Id like to share . If you ever get the chance to take one of these classes I highly recommend it and take your children. There were a lot of little girls around the age of 7 last night who learned how to protect themselves from strangers which I thought was the best thing their mothers could of done for them.

Most of you know to put ICE (in case of emergency) in your cell phone address book instead of a name along a phone number, but the police also mentioned that you should also put ICE 2-a second emergency contact in case they cant get in touch with the first person. For those that don't know about ICE, here is an example: Instead of listing my husbands name I would put ICE and put his phone number in so that if in a wreck the police would know who to contact.

Most cell phones have a built in GPS system that you can set up on your own for emergencies only. This would be used so that the police can find your location should something happen. They can call your cell phone and find the nearest tower close to you. We have all seen this on TV before where someone went missing and the police called their cell phone to pinpoint their location near a tower but its not something your phone will do automatically for you. Not all phones have this capability ,but if yours does it is worth changing it and your kids cell phone. You can also take your phone to your nearest cell phone dealer and they can change it for you. Its called ALI (automatic location information). Go to SETTINGS and then scroll down till you find LOCATION from there you want to change it from 911 ONLY to LOCATION ON.

Conversations

Conversation with a 3 year old.

Preston- Mommy can I have a popsicle?
Mommy-Yes you can as soon as Im finished.
Preston-Mommy you need to bust a move into that kitchen cause I need a popsicle.

Not sure where bust a move came from but Im noticing a lot of new words coming from his mouth since we are going to the gym daycare, cant wait to see what he learns in school!?!?!

Striving

For some reason lately things are getting busy around here or maybe its me, maybe I feel that Preston is growing up and doesn't need me as much as he did as a baby and now I have time to do things that I enjoy. Either way its a struggle. A desire to be needed and a desire for a bit of freedom.

I have been doing things for myself lately and enjoying it, such as I'm still going to the gym 5 days a week in training for a marathon. However I just found out that the marathon is the same day that we are also going to the circus with other families from the moms club that I belong to. Still trying to work that one out with marathon in morning and circus around lunch time. I may have to run as fast as my feet will let me and meet everyone at the circus, stinky and all. Maybe the smell of the elephants will distract everyone from smelling me.

I am on a new committee for the city that we live in, its called community development and its on Wednesday night. It will meet once a month and we will help plan, develop, and discuss what we would like to see the next 10 years for our community. I'm looking forward to this one, I had to call the mayors office last year to be put on a list and they just now called to ask me to join them.

I'm attending a free self defense class offered by our local police next week. We live in a very safe area however you can never be too careful and I just love attending things that our local area offers. I think its important to support local restaurants, city offerings and community events. Especially in todays economy. I think we are lucky that they still offer things for us to do and care about bringing the community together. Eat local people ,you will find out that for the most part the food is actually better than some of the larger chains.

I was offered an opportunity for a chance at a job with wonderful hours however it was going to be a drive and wasn't worth the cost of putting Preston in daycare. It would of been a great job, great hours but just too far. There will be other opportunities. Nice to think that maybe just maybe I still have it, even after being out of the game (work) for 4 years as stay at home mom.

Lots of yard work that I have already started on. Working in my flower garden already. The perimeter of our entire house has some type of flower garden/ ornamental grass/work needed. Mulch has been ordered and will delivered soon to our driveway so that will be a job in itself trying to get that spread out.

Moms club still meeting each week and I'm looking forward to us moving our indoor stuff to local parks now that the weather has changed.

Spring cleaning-started, hate it, have much to do, wish I could hire it out, need warmer weather so I can clean the carpets so they can dry out fast, who started spring cleaning-I bet it was molly maids or some other type of home cleaning service trying to make more money and making everyone feel that this must be done.

Striving is today's word, that sums up everything going on in my life. Transformers-that would be Preston word lately, he loves transformers. I have had to convert 3 of them already this morning while writing this post. Do those things have to be so hard to convert, they come with page long instructions.

Just Peachy

Because peaches sound springy to me..don't ask, you should just go buy them and make this:

Peach Crisp With Maple Cream Sauce

1 cup flour
½ c. sugar
½ firmly packed light brown sugar
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. salt
½ c. (one stick) butter, cut into bits
5-6 cups, peeled, sliced fresh peaches
Juice and grated zest of ½ lemon
2 T. maple syrup
*Maple cream Sauce, for serving (see ingredients to make this below)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in
medium bowl. Cut in butter with fork or pastry blender until mixture is the
consistency of coarse meal. Place peaches in 9-inch square baking pan or smaller
baking dish. Gently mix in lemon juice, rind and maple syrup. Top with crumb
mixture. Cover tightly with foil and bake about 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake
20 to 30 minutes more or until top is crisp and brown. You might want to broil for
a couple of minutes to ensure good color. Serve warm with maple cream sauce.

*Maple Cream Sauce
1 ½ cups whipping cream
5 T. maple syrup
3 T. light corn syrup

Combine all ingredients in heavy sauce pan; cook over moderate heat, stirring
constantly until thickened and reduced by 1/3, approximately 20 minutes. Chill.
Drizzle generously over Peach Crisp.

Spring YIPEEE!!!!

Hello Spring at my front doorsteps, bring on the mulch.

Efforts down the drain

Today hasn't started off too well. In fact its already full of disappointments. First off I didn't win the HGTV dream home and after entering online everyday throughout the contest I fully believe that I should of won it. For goodness sakes I already dreamed of myself cooking in the fantastic kitchen. What a let down.
Second, I didn't get the job I wanted. Our local town had a great position available that I was more than qualified for and after waiting months to see if I would get it I found out today that they moved someone in house. Basically they moved someone from another city position into that position so I had no chance whatsoever.
Third, Preston and I are off schedule since returning from our trip so it throws my entire day off and feels odd. We are used to getting up, eating breakfast and being at the gym by 10am. That obviously didn't happen today.
I think I'm just going back to bed.

Dear Taz,

You have been such a great friend and the best dog. Anytime I saw a dog on a sign, tv or a stuffed animal I would name that dog Taz because you were my favorite. You never ran away when I wanted to be near you, you played with me, let me lay down on top of you and were always so sweet. I will never forget you, I hope they have lots of treats in heaven for you.

I love you~Preston

Today is Three Day.

Three names I go by:
Mommy , Heather, Hey you

Three Jobs I have had in my life:
Nurse, Financial Analyst, Mom

Three places I have lived:
Nashville TN, Knoxville TN, Ohio

Three TV shows I watch:
Big Love, Nip Tuck, House

Three places I have been:
Vegas-Hoover Dam/ St. Louis -Arch/ New Mexico

Three places I want to go:
Hawaii, Canada, Paris

Three of my favorite foods:
Pizza, country ham, soup

Things I am looking foward to:
kids growing up, growing old with hubby, traveling

Three pets you have owned:
Kodak -dog, KJ-dog, fish in college

Three favorite drinks:
Coke, tea, coffee