MIA...well, Kinda....

I had another "wild hair" Friday and decided to redo the deck. I have some sickness that makes me start a thousand projects and then never quite finish them. Well, I did manage to get one completed from START TO FINISH in four days! The four hottest days, mind you. Let's face it, the deck was in dire need of attention when we bought the house last year, but I was HUGE and it was HOT, so I had to wait. It has been bugging the heck of me since. Here's the before....

..yeah...it really needs to be replaced....IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED with TREX (or real wood), but I am CHEAP (can you tell what I want?). So, I had this wonderful idea to use a solid color stain (I call it paint) on it because I'm really cool like that. haha. I started in 84 degree weather on Friday afternoon. Yup, I CAN'T wait...that's me! My wonderful husband came home early just to help. By the time the kids were going to bed we had went through the entire gallon and had to stop. Grady and Fiona were up bright and early Saturday morning to buy more. I was origianlly thinking that I'd get away with 2 gallons max, but it took three. I just finished the second coat on the high traffic areas today. Way more work than I originally thought, but I am happy with the outcome. Ta-DA!!!!
See the Blueberries? They all three came back!!!

In my painting marathon, I have to say that I did manage to do some major "bad mommy things". Fiona had a crash with Macy on the bike last week while I was planting flowers out front. I warned them, but...

...and then I forgot the sunscreen. I used the broken table umbrella for Myles this weekend, but completely forgot to protect the other kids. I have some red on myself, but it was the poor fair skinned girl that I feel so bad about. She came upstairs three times Saturday night saying that her arm hurt. The two older ones managed fine....they have the skin made for sun just like me. AND, being the lazy momma that I was I put Fiona into big girl panties while we were outside. I was hoping that it would help her to understand. We went through many pairs, but she did go "Poo" on the toilet! I wasn't expecting anything when she said that she was done, but when she scooted forward we saw it. We had a huge cheering party for her. No more success stories since then though.... :(

We managed to take a break on Saturday morning to hit the zoo again. Stuart wanted to take Daddy back and then he wanted to invite his friend. We had a fun time and got to see Bruno the bear. He isn't out in the zoo area, but came out to a cage that was on the end of his home. A few more weeks and we can watch him play. I could not manage to get the four of them to look at me all together...

That's why we don't have any current family pictures.....

Well, I need to go check messages and get the house picked up AGAIN. Have a wonderful week.