What I learned...vacation addition.

Things I learned on vacation  2013 version (Presque Isle, Erie PA) 

1. My children do not sit well for 1/2 drive in wet swim suits. They are cold, hot, itchy.....

2. A simple $2.95 toy can amuse both children in a hotel room. Amen for the $2.95 toy, it also saved my sanity. 

3. Hot tub and girl parts do not go together well chemically--ugh. 

4. If you have a destination in mind, reserve a hotel and save yourself the stress and anxiety. 

5. It's amazing the amount of reports and paperwork you can get done in a hotel room. 

6. My tummy can not handle

going out to eat every day.  Neither can my wallet. 

7. When the girl child cuts herself in the motel, you are unsure what to do with the bloody towels. (FYI we threw them away in the bottom of the garbage can and put trash over them). 

8. You either need to learn to trust the GPS or scrap it. 

9. Rich catastrophizes every simple thing. Especially driving directions. 

10. The girl child can go several days in a row without pooping, only to come home and get terribly sick from not going.  (Next time I'm making her sit until she goes) 

11. Vacation is fun but really, there's no place like home! 

12. I need a vacation to deal with vacation aftermath. 

Seriously...best donkey pic ever! 

Ohio, wagon trails park. Super fun ride through animal park. You can feed animals there. Watch out for food-stealing camel! And the zebras are mean! 

Presquel Isle, Erie PA

Hey family...stand in front of this green, yucky water and rusty ol' fake lighthouse...ok good smile pretty! 

Lady Kate 90 minute boat ride. 

Let the fear of motion sickness set in! 

Lazy kids in the hotel! 

Tom Ridge Nature Center--so educational and fun and FREE!! 

Kids learned a ton of stuff! 

The overlook tower. Don't look down or out Rich...nevermind just stay inside hugging the concrete wall!! 

Silly Amelia!

Silly Aiden!

And the best for last..... 

Seriously I could have brought this donkey home!! He would have fit right in! 

...until next year!! 

Mommy in the Dale is still alive and well.................

Date of last post....June 9, 2013...............wha????

 

 

It can't be....where has time went......

 

 

June 9....I was all...."The kids are out of school, they are mine now teachers you can't have them.....I love them....the summer is going to be soooooooo   fun".................

 

 

fast forward almost 2 months............see today's date....August 3.....run to turn calendar month to August (realizing you skipped July's turn all together and that calendar pic was so cute...oops)

 

WHEN THE HELL DOES SCHOOL START??........these kids are driving me cra-cra (That's 'crazy' in 7 yr old daughter talk....get with the times!)

 

So 2 months of free time and what was accomplished?

*Swimming...until summer decided to quit 2 weeks ago and she decided she can't be bothered to warm the 'Dale to even 80 degrees

 

 

(Global warming..my ass)

 

*My kids have either been at my brother and sissy-in-laws or their kiddos at our house.....great for good ol' cousin bonding...bad for cousin bonding..gone sibling like--fight like siblings...type! (Good for wallet too!)

 

* Camping!!

 

This always seems like a good, cheap get away..until you realize you have to pack up all necessaries, cook in the woods, and sleep on an air mattress that is sure to deflate by morning....oh, and walk to restroom middle of the night when you have to pee...praying you don't see a skunk or get murdered.

 

*Sleeping-in....oh, wait this doesn't happen....kids just stay up much to late...cramping into my 'wine time' making it 'whine time' and then still getting up the ass-crack of dawn but being sleep deprived and cranky all day.  I'm going to need to up my 'prescripts' next summer...I should start now to prep.

 

*Cleaning the house....that's the joy I also receive...go to bed at midnight with clean house/no dishes...wake up to it being trashed and a sink full...nice!

 

So for the next month I will be stocking up on alcohol and practicing my 'happy dance' cuz....August 26...party my house....8:35am until 3:30pm!!!!

 

Now....don't worry if you don't hear from me until August 25th...cuz I'll be busy in the search for new bookbags for 2 children.............so many choices.............



6/9/13 weekly reflections.

6/9/13

1. Why in parking lots do people lose all sense of traffic patterns and signs? 

2. Chickens are too fat to sit on robin eggs. They will crush them. 

3. Sleeping chicks look like they are dead. 

4. I always fall in love with the tv weirdos. Honey Boo-Boo, Si. 

5. I may have more paint stained clothes than not. 

6. I can't sleep in anymore. And I can't stay up past 11.  I am officially old. 

7. I have an entire folder in my phone of tattoos I want. Yet, I always seem to never want to spend the money on them. 

8. This time next week I better have a pool. Also guaranteed next weekend will be 40 degrees. 

9. There is ALWAYS laundry to do. 

'til next week. Enjoy!!! 

More For sale furniture.

Bookshelf

37" tall, 37" wide, 8" depth. 

3 shelf. Solid wood. 

Black, then dark stain over it with poly.  

Slightly distressed for aged, shabby look. 

Located in Scottdale, but willing to meet. 

$45.00

Dresser

Solid wood up-cycle. Cream/beige chalk paint and clear waxed. Top of dresser was stripped and stained. New silver knobs. 

45" tall,  35" wide, 18" depth

Located in Scottdale, but willing to meet. 

$125.00

Call 724-989-0689 or email carlarhodes@zoominternet.net 

Carla does crazy!!

It started off as a plan old end table. Nothing fancy. Enter a good friend that moved back to PA (who is an artist also see Nicci's Etsy shop at http://WWW.etsy.com/shop/NBardFX

She makes great trinket earrings and necklaces to match your style. Perfect for sports fans or kids parties/gifts). We sport her stuff and love it. It made a perfect Christmas gift for kiddos at school.  

She bravely gave me free artist range to do what I wanted. I knew just the thing I was dying to try. Enter...crazy fun! 

It was painted different on each part then clear coated. No chalk paint on this baby. Good ol' regular paint.  I hope she likes it and gets it soon, as girl child is dying to make it her's!!!  

I can replicate a similar version of crazy on any furniture if this is the style you like!! 

Contact me at 724-989-0689 or carlarhodes@zoominternet.net for more details. Hint, hint...,Ikea bland is perfect for this up cycle!! 

I'm a painting fool! Currently for sale.

So in desperate need if reclaiming space.  Shed is full, basement is full, porch looks like I'm in process of moving. So today I got busy! It was a perfect day to paint. Stay tuned for a posting of an antique hutch in black, 5 shelf bookshelf, dresser, and more!! I'm on a roll!! 

Here's what I have completely for sale. 

Beachy themed side table. Complete with think twine rap. $25

Side/end table with drawer. 

$30.00

3 piece set. 

Grey chalk paint with wax. Slightly distressed. New upholstery with a variety of colors on 2 solid chairs. 

Stand is 26 in tall. 18 in wide and 14 1/2 in depth. One drawer. Good durable shape. Matches paint on chairs. Great for a game room, living room, child's room or entrance way.  

$100.00 for all 3. 

Desk/ behind couch sofa table! $125.00

Hope bench with storage. $50.00

Contact me at 724-989-0689 or carlarhodes@zoominternet.net if interested. 

Off to paint Sunday again and will be listing more. Stay tuned!!