Happy Fathers Day to my husband, dad, father in law and stepdad. " A father is a guy who has pictures in his wallet where his money used to be".

American Red Cross article on the Bolin kids

This is the article that The American Red Cross did on me and the kids a while back. It was sent out to ARC members and donors with the article and picture included on a newsletter. A copy was sent to me in email so I wanted to share it.

Swim Lessons: What Every Parent Should Know

Heather Bolin and her family swim at the Groveport Aquatics Center on weekends and throughout the summer. Both her children including Preston , age four and Trinity, age eight are learning to swim in Red Cross lessons. “You can watch your kids like a hawk, but they need to know what to do in the water. I enrolled them in swimming classes so they could help themselves if they had to,” says Heather. An added benefit to the training, “the kids loved the instructors and even recognized a few as lifeguards they are already comfortable with.”
American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim lessons are held throughout greater Columbus at community partner facilities including the Village of Groveport Aquatics Center. Lessons teach participants how to swim skillfully and safely. Courses are fun and interactive. More advanced-level students refine their skills, learn the basics of springboard diving and how to incorporate swimming into a fitness plan.
For Heather, the difference she has seen in her kids since starting the lessons is big. “My four-year-old recently learned to swim under water and my eight-year-old is perfecting her dive. She was just asked to be on the swim team and was so proud of her achievement.” Heather remarked that both kids are excited to come to lessons and that she plans on keeping Preston and Trinity in the lessons until they “graduate” from the program.

http://columbus.redcross.org/pdfs/august%202010%20bulletin%20hi-res%20over%20test.pdf

My little froggy

While at swim lessons this morning for Preston the aquatics manager came over and asked if I minded if they move Preston up to the 6 and 7 year old class. She said that he was ready to move up and then asked when he would turn 6. I had to inform her that he just turned 5 last week and she said he was ready to move regardless of how young he was. He will now join a new level of swimming class and be with 6 and 7 year olds. So proud!

Faith at Relay

While at Relay a woman was passing out inspiration cards about cancer and she said she was a survivor and wanted to share what she had learned from it. I thought I would share it with you.

What Cancer cannot do:
Cancer is so limited it cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, destroy peace, kill friendships, suppress memories, silence courage, invade the soul, steal eternal life or conquer the soul.

For nothing is impossible with GOD
Luke 1:37


I love that she had this bible verse on the card. I know that many people with cancer have faith and it shows in the American Cancer Society as a prayer was said before the ceremonies began. All things big and small should begin with a prayer and as Preston says even before eating a snack or going to the bathroom. Apparently at his Christian based prek they prayed, then ate snack then had a potty break so whatever works for ya I guess even if its praying before potty break.

Relay for life 2010

Relay is over and I have very sore legs and feet to prove it. This years Relay for Life meant so much to me and hit so close to home. It was my favorite years yet being involved with the relay and it was so much fun to do it with all of my friends. This year I pulled double duty being on the American Cancer Society Committee, being over the Registration tent and belonging to a team. After working at Relay for 9 hours on Friday and sitting down maybe 5 minutes and then walking on Saturday morning from 6am-10, leaving from 10-11 to see Preston playing Tball and then going back from 11-12 to start walking again my legs, feet and entire body hurt and it was worth every minute of it. I made the banner this year for our team and was in charge of tent decoration and Im proud to say that we won best banner and best tent!!! Wohooo! Our team raised close to $5,000. Im glad this relay is over and Im looking forward to next years. Ideas are already swirling around in my head. I still have on my relay for life rubber bracelet and havent taken it off since Friday because I want to remind myself each time I think about how sore I am the reason why I did this. ....for dad, for Uncle Sammy, for Grandmur and for Pappy!

Here is a picture of our team banner, on each butterfly are names of those in memory of so one of the butterflies says June Pyle and one for Charles Weber. Also is a picture of me with some of my friends at Relay. I will post more pics as I get them.

Happy 5th Birthday Preston

Today is Prestons 5th Birthday. Wow, I cant believe he is already 5 years old. Its been a busy year for him and for us. In the past year I think he has grown another 2 feet. Everyone thinks he is 6 years old. This year he has graduated from Prek, he has finished level 3 in swim lessons and will start level 4 here in a few days, he is jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side on his own, he is playing tball, he wants to play football this fall, he is going to disney for the first time in about a month, he is the sweetest and friendliest kid I have ever met, he isnt shy, he loves playing with his friends and neighbors, he loves StarWars, he can play any Wii game with no problem, he can read a few words, he gives the best hugs and kisses, he is excited about starting kindergarten this fall, he loves having playdates and we have a lot of them, he likes to sleep in just like his momma, he loves being right between daddy and mommy and will sometimes take my hand off of daddy and put it on himself, he has nice manners, he loves legos, he loves company at our house, he likes helping me bake and running the sweeper on the hard wood floors. I could go on and on about this kid but it all boils down to the fact that he is loved and a great kid and we are blessed to call him son.

Preston and I got a great surprise for his birthday party on Sunday. About an hour before the party was going to start the doorbell rang and my mom and stepdad were standing there. We had no idea they were coming from TN to surprise us. It was the best surprise ever!

Preview of Star Star wars cake

Our next door neighbor is making Prestons Birthday cake this year for his birthday this weekend. Its a star wars cake and here is a preview of what the cake has in store. This is Yoda, it will be 1 of 2 characters on top of cake and is made of fondant so its edible. I love it and once it dries she will remove the toothpicks holding his ears up. (click on pic to enlarge). More pics to come as the cake continues to come along.

Day at the Zoo

Today we went to the zoo with Preston's best friend Riley and had a great time. The new polar bears were my favorite! I love our zoo. (click on pics to enlarge)

$5 project

Meet my $5 project. Several months ago I bought this chair at a Thrift store for $3 but it was white chipped paint when I bought it. I painted it with free paint that I received from Glidden for being one of the first 100 customers to respond to an offer they had. I had leftover burlap from making my flag (I paid $2 for the burlap and made this pillow and 2 flags out of it. I then used my cricut to cut out the letter B for tracing. Here is my $5 project, its not perfect and still needs to be tweaked, the sides of the pillow are going to get ribbon to tie to the edges of the chair but it was only $5 and its come in very handy for me to throw my clothes on when I dont feel like hanging them up. Who doesnt want a chair in their

master bedroom to throw crap on??

If I could wish for anything it would be for my house to stay clean. Its never ending when your actually home with the kid and he has the chance to destroy each and every room with his toys. I find toys in the dining room, bathroom, our bedroom, our closet. When did he even go in our closet? I once found a toy in the fridge. When I asked Preston how his toy got there his response was I got my cup out so I left my toy. Kind of makes sense to me.

Got lots to do over the next few days including trying to keep the house clean.....I said trying. Maybe if I close my eyes and wish really hard then "POOF" it will clean itself. Nope didnt happen.
Today Im working
Tonight I have a charter meeting
Preston has a tball game tonight
Tomorrow we are going to zoo if weather permits
Saturday I have 10-15 women coming over in the morning for a Relay for Life meeting.
Saturday afternoon Preston has tball pictures
Sunday is Prestons b-day party with the family

Game day

Game day !!!

Franken Berry Rocks

Picked up 2 boxes of this for the weekend cause I love my man and he loves this! And its so stinkin' cute to see he and our son eating bowls of the same cereal.

Prek gradution

Prestons Pre-k Graduation. Look out kindergarten here I come!!!!

1st Tball scrimmage

Pictures of Prestons 1st Tball scrimmage.
Practicing with daddy before the game.

Dancing with the Stars

Trinitys Dance Recital, she was so good. She could be the next Dancing with the Stars contestant!

Heinz snobs

This is my pantry. Your probably asking yourself why is she taking pics of her pantry. Good question....and the answer is because I am married to a Bolin and together we have 2 Bolin kids which means that Heinz ketchup takes over our pantry. Not just any ketchup mind you, it MUST be Heinz. At any given time there is always Heinz ketchup in our pantry and right now there are 7 bottles plus another one in the fridge. I know what your thinking, how could somebody possibly need that much ketchup and Ive wondered it myself until I see just how much my hubby and kids use and that they use it on everything. Basically we are a bunch of Heinz snobs. Ive made the mistake of bringing in the other brand of ketchup and it was not pretty so if you come to visit us you can rest assure that we may not have other food but by golly we will have ketchup.

My little Jedi in training....

Today Preston's teacher asked the kids in the class what did they want to be when they grow up. Most said teacher, firefighter, policeman but not our son , nope those jobs are far too easy and predictable for him. His answer was I want to be a Jedi. Im not sure if his teacher even knows what a Jedi is but she thought he had the most unique response and had to share it with me. His dreams of becoming a Jedi might not work out for him but he has a hell of an imagination so maybe he could be the next George Lucas. Maybe Preston could continue the Star Wars saga and they could fight Transformers or Iron Man.

Kick Cancers Ass

Since this is my blog and I can cry if I want to then the same goes for I can write what I want to and today we are talking about cancer. Almost every family is effected in one way or another with cancer. I have volunteered for the American Cancer Society Relay for life for 2 years now and this year I am on the committee and I have always thought about my grandparents and loved ones that died of cancer while volunteering but little did I know just how close cancer would hit home to me. My uncle was diagnosed with prostate cancer several months ago and because of its severity and growth my dad decided it would be a good time to get stuff checked out for him as well. My dad informed me this weekend that he now also has prostate cancer as well. His tests came back positive and he will undergo radiation of some form since surgery is not an option for him. Im not sure what to even think about all of this. Its one thing to hear that my dad was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis a few years ago but now this. I know that he is the toughest man I know so I know he is going to do everything he can to fight this. I want him to be here for a very long time so Im asking for lots of prayers for my dad and uncle and to kick this cancers ass because if anyone can do it I know these 2 can. This years Relay for Life will be for my uncle and dad and its going to have a lot more meaning to me as a volunteer and committee member.

Today I worked on the back deck a bit and planted some new flowers. Preston and I also planted lettuce and spinach leaves. (click on picture to enlarge)

Funk......

Funk...ever been in a funk and you have no idea why or what caused it and you cant seem to get rid of it. Thats me lately...in a funk. I cant seem to shake it and its getting annoying. Go away funk I have no time for you.

Green, greener, really green

This spring I did some more work in the flowerbed out front along the walkway. I also made a few projects such as the house # sign and the initial star. The front walkway looks great right now with all of the rain we had last week. I really love working outside in the yard. Next project is buying flowers for all of the flower pots on the back deck. (click on picture to enlarge)

Mother's Day is approaching and I cant tell you just how much I love being a mom. Most days atleast, there are those days that I would like to change my name from mom to anything else that isnt being yelled at the time. Preston is going through a stage lately that as soon as I leave the room he starts yelling for me. Which isnt such a bad thing except that we live in a 3 story house cause our basement is finished and thats where the playroom, my sewing room, craft room and laundry room is located so at any time during the day I could be downstairs in the basement, on the main floor or upstairs where the bedrooms are located. It isnt just a "mom you here" yell its a Mom where are you and even if I hear your voice I wont be satisfied till I see you and since Im going to yell from the couch then you must bring yourself to me so that I can physically see you kind of yell. I hope this stage ends soon! This mothers day I would like to not hear my name yelled for atleast 2 hours (Im pretty sure that hubby misses his name being yelled while he is at work so to be fair I think his name should be the one yelled), sleep in, have coffee in bed and watch re-runs of the old 90210, yeah you read right 90210. Happy Mothers Day!

Burlap Garden Flag

Today I made this flag.....out of burlap. It will hang on a planter that my father in law made and sits on our back deck. Now I just need to actually put some flowers in the planter.