Last weekend, we decided to take a short drive to Branson and take the kids to Silver Dollar City. On the way into town, we stopped at a Lowe's and picked up a new screen door - the final item in our renovation checklist. Yes, the house renovation is officially complete and the Bob Vila moments should occur less frequently on this blog from here on out.  read more »

This year, we won't be heading home for the holidays. We just can't afford it, and to be honest I hate traveling during the holidays as it is. Most of our family still lives in Colorado, and they've been bugging us about visiting for several months now. Fortunately, my parents have decided that they are going to come out and visit us during the week after Christmas. My father traded his Vegas timeshare for a comparable floorplan in Branson, and they would like us to come out and spend some time with them.  read more »

If you've been reading for a few weeks, you've probably picked up on my hints that we truly need a vacation...and I mean soon. Problem is...short of using some of this homeowners insurance loss money, I can't really afford it right now. And, even if I could afford it, I'd feel guilty. After all, the country is plunging headfirst into a depression, we're all struggling to survive, and I've already made it clear to friends and family that we can't afford to come home for the holidays this year.  read more »

With the price of gas sky-rocketing, the perfect affordable getaway just got that much more hard to find. The hotel that we were staying at for the last few days was charging the insurance company $99/night and yet there were roaches. It wasn't that fancy, either.  read more »

Today, we decided to take a roadtrip to Pea Ridge National Military Park. We've been cooped up in the house for most of the week, thanks to the cold and a few school-declared snowdays. The kids had been getting on my nerves and I've been waiting for a good day to get us all out of the house for some outdoor activity. We'd passed this national park several times over the last few years, but never had the time to stop and check it out.  read more »

We're back from our week-long stay in Disney World, and (as expected) I now feel as though I need a vacation. Our trip started with a drive to Memphis, which is about six hours away. We had picked up Choosygirl an hour early from school to hit the road and get there before nightfall. The drive went pretty smooth, aside from having to stop every hour or so for the kids to use the bathroom. We brought a kiddie potty in the car with us in case we were caught between service stations, which always helps (if you don't mind the smell).  read more »