When taking off pedals, the wrench should be turning towards the front of the bike (passing over the top position). As far as the stuck pedals, they are probably corroded, which means they may not have had enough or any grease on them. Take the crank arms off if you can. You can soak the area in Coca-Cola for awhile. Seriously. Coke will completely dissolve a screw after a day. Check it every hour to see if it will come loose.