A Pet-Peeve

There are so many pet-peeves out there. Something always gets on someone else's nerves, right? But let me just describe one of mine. It is my blog, after all.

So you're selling something used. It could be in your garage sale. Or Ebay. Or on craigslist. Are you a retail store? No. That means you don't need to charge what a person could purchase it for in the stores. It also doesn't mean if you price it at half of what it retails for that it would be considered a good deal. Don't get me wrong, in some cases, that's true. I'm sure we've all come in contact with a good deal - something that you've been searching for and finally found at a reasonable price. Yay! Buy it. But the items that can be found on every corner?

While on the topic, does it really matter what you paid for it when it was new? I mean it's good to have an idea of how much the item is worth, but I really don't care if you paid $20 for something you're now selling in your garage sale for $3. The point is, you don't want or need it anymore.

And someone else does.

So get out there and sell your "junk". It is, after all, someone else's treasure. Just don't charge a thousand dollars for it.

Yes, I've been quiet for a couple of days. Not that I don't have anything exciting to share, but reality has set in. No more vacation. Back to the grind. Back to bills, changing diapers, laundry, and decision making.

So what's up with a local carnival charging so much? For the price of the unlimited ride pass for my two girls, we could go to a local amusement park for the entire day. Including the water slides. Grrrr. So we made a decision that they each were allowed to spend $10 ... which amounted to three rides each. They loved it, but of course because their friends had the unlimited ride pass, we saw a lot of tears. They had fun regardless, and are still talking about the ride called "The Tornado". Chloe says "ta-naa-doh", you know, it rymes with tomato.


Last night, while out for a walk with a neighbor, a cat followed us home. Kinda like a puppy. It's a kitten, who continually ran circles around our feet while trying to walk. That is the number one reason I'm not a cat fan! She was cute, and I named her Tripp. My neighbor took her home to feed her, so we'll see if we have a new walking companion tonight!

"So I met the president ... Again."

--Forrest Gump

Last year Maddie was in a few parades twirling baton. That phase past, and I was a little relieved - now we could watch parades instead of being IN them. But, no. Brownies has opened up so many more parade doors. Tonight, we waited around to "line up" ... wondering if it was going to pour at any second. I stood with the girls with a giant umbrella, just in case.

The parade route turned out to be pretty dry, and everyone had a good time. After it was all over, Chloe announced that her favorite part was all the candy. It really doesn't take much to make a 3 year old happy. Hailey liked the noise; I'm sure it helped that she was getting to eat animal crackers, too!


The summer activities are wearing me out! Maddie's first week of swimming has gone well. She's learned to float on her back - her favorite accomplishment. Chloe is enjoying day camp, despite a few tears today.

Road trips are the best!

Seriously, you learn so much about who ever you're traveling with. Like how many times they have to go to the bathroom in an hour. Especially if it's a 3 year old. And, how many large cups of diet coke husband can consume at one rest area. Good times, I say, good times.

We decided that whatever the GPS "says", just add three hours: one hour per kid. So a 3 hour trip will take 6. Naturally. A 5 hour trip? Yes! Eight hours!!

So after like a million hours driving yesterday, we all lost it. It was bound to happen. Somewhere about 30 minutes from home, Hailey started crying. Again. The 3 hour cry through DC traffic wasn't enough ... ya know? Anyway, she started screaming, I screamed back, and so did everyone else in the car. For about 20 minutes we all screamed at the top of our lungs. It was fabulous.

We had a super-fun trip! In NC we saw Jenny, Dan and Sammy; went to a museum that included indoor and outdoor exhibits. Kinda like a zoo! Mike was obsessed with the insects, Chloe loved the butterfly building, Maddie loved the playground and the outdoor "drums", and Hailey really had fun in the baby play area. I was just excited to be out and somewhere new!

Prior to the NC visit, we were in VA. Brother-in-law Jess surprised Mother-in-law, not once, but twice with the arrival of his two kids. They snuck away one evening to pick up 19 year old grandson, Dave. Then all 10 of us were at the house!

Highlights include a trip to the water park, feeding the ducks at a park, playing on a playground (and getting bug bites by some weird VA bugs), a mean game of monkey-in-the-middle, round the clock endless games of kick ball in the backyard, Simon Says with the kids, me getting carded while buying more Corona, playing cards, and lots of sitting around.

So when's the next vacation? I could really get used to this!

More Summer Fun

This morning, I sprang out of bed and ran to the shower to get ready for the day. It's really quite a way to start the day. No demands from anyone until after my hair is washed. What a concept!

Anyway, the reason I got ready for the day before 7 AM is today was Chloe's first day of day-camp! She was excited to go, and had a great time. It was a little disorganized for my liking, but after I got over my fear of her having a peanut allergy attack, we all did just fine. It could have something to do with me running on 2 cups of coffee w/ lots of sugar and creamer and no food but clean hair and out the door before 9 AM ... but just a thought.

Also, today marks the second day in a row the girls played in the inflatable pool. It's the silliest thing - all 6 inches of water, barely enough room for one 7 year old, but it keeps them entertained. Somehow Chloe managed to go all the way under. Did I mention there was a slide?

The summer fun continues!

Independence Day

Independence Day. Fireworks. Hot dogs. Family fun. Picnic. Coke. Running. Boating. Fishing.

What fun!

Last night we celebrated the 3rd at an annual family party on the lake. The girls love fishing with grandpa - in fact it's all they talked about all week, and all they wanted to do last night. They didn't catch any fish, but were still amused by the concept. We also took our annual boat ride on the lake, picnic'd outside, and played with glow sticks in the dark. We left the cottage at 11:30 pm, and the girls fell asleep soon after. And then they were up at 6:37 AM.

Is it only my kids - or a universal trait that the later you go to bed the earlier you wake up? Insane! More fireworks and adventures tonight! Yessss!

No school = more fun?

How do you really sum up summer vacation? Some days are so much fun you don't want them to end. And then there are other days. I must report how different this summer is already with 3 kids. Maddie is so grown up now, she insists on using glass-ware at meal times. No more plastic character plates. Really, I think we're onto something, because it'll take up a lot less room in the cupboard!

And Hailey, being the 1 year and 1 week old that she is, is getting into everything. Did I block out this stage with the other two? It's fun, but when I'm trying to get something done - say, mealtime, or sweeping the floor, for example -- it's a pain. Speaking of sweeping the floor ... that's another chore that picks up during the summer, apparently. Yesterday I swept the kitchen eight times and vacuumed once. How is that possible you might ask? Me too.

This week really starts the summer adventure, though. The 3rd of July is the big picnic at my aunt's cottage, and next week will be day camp, then road trip in mid-July. Swimming lessons when we return, and we're already into August. Let's not wish away the summer. I'll just think about this current week, ok?

Today's mini-adventure was to the town park with a friend. It's fun, just a lot more work with all the kids. And let's just remember I'm a much happier girl with caffeine!