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

I have been out of the gym for quite some time so this week I started going back, only this time Ive been taking Preston with me and putting him in the daycare.
Today was day 3...
Preston is doing great, no crying
Heather is crying from the pain

Is this my child???

Just when I thought I knew my kid he goes and surprises me....

Preston has never strayed far from any of us, he hasn't spent time away from us with someone else, he plays well with others but just as long as one of us is near. In preparation for t-ball and preschool this year we have been trying to find ways to push him gently from the nest.

Yesterday I went to our local gym and put him in the daycare area, just as suspected he cried however it was for only 5 minutes. Today we went again and nothing, nada, no tears, no whining, no crying......Surely this isn't my kid, someone must of switched him with another child in the daycare. My kid doesn't stay with anyone let alone 2 complete strangers. He was even playing, laughing and having a good time. I'm in shock right now...total shock.

Mushy lovey stuff

When I was in high school we had to make a collage for one of my classes. I cut out pictures from magazines that I enjoyed to do, liked or just wanted. One of those pictures was a wedding ring and band that I thought was absolutely beautiful. Several years ago my husband put almost the exact ring and band on my hand when we got married. I still have the picture of the ring in a box of old mementos here in our house but I can now just look at my hand instead. Happy Valentines Day!

Dear Tornado like winds,

I would like to begin by thanking you for ripping off the top of my 2 person swing that my husband bought me a few years ago. Id also like to give a shout out to you for knocking over our grill. Next time you want to visit please feel free to knock off some siding on the house so that we can atleast have that replaced. I got to tell you that shaking our house and keeping all of us all night and the fact that Preston slept in our bed because the wind was so loud was so much fun. Thanks wind now go away.

Since we have been sick at the Bolin house, Preston and I have spent the past week trying to sit and relax and get better . I dont think that Preston understood the meaning of either of those two things. Instead he has been running around the house with dinosaurs, trucks, transformers, my kitchen whisk, and anything else that he can find. It got so bad that I gave in and let him watch Transformers over and over just so the boy would lay down and sit still. Its much easier to wipe the snot from his face when he isnt running. Not only does he know Transformers from beginning to end and can correct you if you quote it wrong but he said the following to me this morning as I was wiping my own snot and sneezing. "Mommy Im not going to shoot you up today because you dont feel good but as soon as you do then Im going to go all autobot on you". I couldn't be prouder!!

Cold in more places than one

The Bolin household this week has been full of cold germs, used tissues, medicine in every room, and a refrigerator full of OJ. Having the cold is no fun but laying around in our pj's most of the day, taking naps without feeling guilty, climbing into bed at night around 8pm, and just taking an easy has been pretty nice. Its been really cold outside and we still have snow on the ground so I'm sure we aren't missing anything by staying in. I will be glad when our colds go away as well as the snow and low temps.

On a different note I signed up Preston for preschool this week. I think he will love it however the love will take a while to surface. I have such a good feeling about this place and I know that Preston will be safe, secure, learn, and grow while he is there. After looking at 5 different preschool facilities I took my aunts advice and went with the one that I felt the most comfortable with and knew right away that it was the one. I know we aren't picking out colleges here but this is the first step in Preston gaining his independence. I dont know if you have noticed or not but Preston is attached at the hip, leg, arm, and every other body part to us.

Gotta get back to blowing my nose. Have a good one!