Since we purchased this home in February, we've made some big purchases that I guess you could say have made it feel like home...kinda. Actually, these purchases didn't tranform the house, they're just the kind of things that we've always said, "someday when we have our own home..." kind of things. :) We bought a big trampoline for the kids, a treadmill for Dad, and a piano for Mom.
The trampoline was definetly worth it's weight. We jump almost everyday. I'm trying to decide what we'll do with it in the winter. It will be sad to not see it out in the yard, but no reason to keep it out in the weather. I wonder if Jeremy will let me keep it in the garage...which would mean kicking out the car...? haha, probably not.
The treadmill was purchased as a "need," according to Jeremy. Which it really has been great for encouraging to get some workouts in. I was able to start running again (no excuses left for this SAHM), and Jeremy has used it in some of his fast interval workouts to push himself, and when he has to run at times that don't let him get out on the road. Jeremy is into some really hardcore training for the marathon. He's still figuring out if he'll run the Charlotte marathon in November or the Cal International Marathon in December. He wants to run in California, but everything still has to come together for that one. He runs close to 100 miles a week right now. The man is a machine. I have no idea how he keeps up with it all- work, lots of kids, volunteering at church (calling), and running that many miles. Most people don't realize the time committment it takes to get that many miles in. Which for Jeremy, bless his heart, he'll get up at like 4:30am and do a lot of running while everyone is asleep. We made the mistake of putting the treadmill upstairs in the rec room. I think it was a mistake, but then, there was really no where else to put it. Anyhow, the house is quite shook up when Dad is pounding the rubber upstairs at top speed.
The piano...well, it has it's story that doesn't have an ending yet. I've been searching for a cheap (free) piano ever since we moved in. I would always respond to all the giveaway pianos but none of them worked out for various reasons. All this work left me feeling a little impulsive, or maybe a little
too impulsive, and on a first name basis with a local piano moving service. So, this creagslist ad goes up for a baby grand piano for $100obo. I jump on it, of course. So, my piano guy, Ken, also does restorations and will give a free estimate. I arrange to come look at the piano right away, and Ken can come too (did I mention we're tight like that? ;) so he said he'll take a look first and if it's "fixable" then he would suggest buying it because grand pianos tend to fix better, resell better, yahyah. I think, I'm just waiting there with $100, I'm definetly doing it. Also, Ken offers to move the piano for nothing (and he'll keep it) if I decide not to keep it. So I don't really have to make a decision right now anyway, right? Well, in a dimly lit cramped house of the cutest little family and all their cousins or neighbors or something, Ken makes the decision it's "fixable" and starts loading it up. I say 'see ya later' to the piano and he transports the piano to his garage. I get a call later that week to come look at the piano- oh, and this is all when I'm super pregnant, the week before I ended up having baby #4. :) We have mom-in-law watch the kids and go to Ken's garage where he gives us the run down of what the piano needs and the work to be done and an estimate of the cost. It's a lot of money, I won't say it gently. I know we could have easily said no and he would have just kept the piano, but it was like I needed that
baby grand to be born as much as I needed
baby small to be born, right
then! We had already decided we wanted it, in other words, and jumped in it for the long haul. So, this was almost 3 months ago. The piano is almost done being refinished. There has been snags and long waiting, but we're excited to see the piano and hope it will be beautiful. Now, if it will fit in our house...we will yet see... lol, sigh, that's another bad thing about my impulsive purchases. I really probably should have stuck with a small upright piano. Well, I'm sure it will be beautiful, and fun for sure. I'm already scheming my Christmas tea party this year.
And that's how we're making this house a home...someday, we'll go through and take a picture or two to show you these and other projects in action. Living the home owners dream. (there's a little bit of nervous chuckling in that last part.)
