And when that "kangaroo" happens to be a five-year-old boy with energy to spare, only one thing will do:
a trampoline!
We wanted to get one for David for his birthday (still over a month away, but we were trying to plan ahead!), but looking at the price of new trampolines was shocking (to me...Jeff already knew how expensive they are) and discouraging.
However, Jeff, ever the wise and frugal shopper, found a used one for sale nearby and went ahead and bought it, rather than officially waiting for David's birthday, hauled it home in pieces in our Big White Van, then assembled it in the waning light of a cloudy evening last Saturday.
We'll get a new net to go around it and a new cover for the springs to make it safer,
but meanwhile the big boys are already enjoying it.
As soon as Jeff gave David the go-ahead to get on it, David became a blur: a big ball of bubbly, bouncing, boisterous, bright-eyed, beautiful, beloved boy. What a delight to give good gifts to our children!
We have one too, and the kids love it. Having had four kids (a-hem) it's safe to say that it's *not* the place for me ;)
ReplyDeleteOurs is away for the winter because the wind would have blown it to the mainland by now, but hopefully it'll be back out soon.
They will have hours and hours of fun on it. Love it!
What a great way for a kangaroo to burn off energy and have fun!
ReplyDeleteOoh lucky ducks!!! I've always wanted a trampoline!
ReplyDeleteHi Davene, My parents gave a trampoline to our children one year. It was the best gift ever. They use it regularly themselves and when there are other children around. We have had to stake it down tight though, as 3 times the wind picked it up and damaged it and other things including the siding on our house. (Just a word of experience!)
ReplyDeleteoo how fun! I had one of these on my wish list my whole childhood.. we hope to make it to happen for Sammy sometime!!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I had just gotten over giving myself little sermons about how I don't need to be like this person or that person, or do all the things Davene does, etc., and now you post this! How can I not think, "Oh yeah. That's what we need to get for our kids sometime."
ReplyDeleteI'm teasing you here. You all have some great ideas in all departments (and don't stop sharing them!), but especially in the department of making things fun for your kids.
For you locals, come over and jump on ours! Sally, bring your kids! And Emily, this invitation is for you, too. If Kathryn could jump on it today, you certainly can, too! :)
ReplyDeleteIt will be safer after we get the net though...so give us until then...and come on over!
Stephanie, you're right about the wind! Our Older Order neighbors had a trampoline, and our boys loved to go over there and jump on it...which is probably why we had not gotten one for our own family, because they were so generous about sharing theirs with us. One day, the wind picked up their trampoline and literally sent it hurling across their yard and across the road in front of our houses. Fortunately, it missed a car that happened to be going by, but the trampoline was demolished. Jeff has already staked ours down, but we'll keep an eye on it if the winds pick up. Thanks for the advice! :)
What a great gift for them! I have happy memories of hours spent on a trampoline at the house of the boys next door to my grandmother. And that picture of Shav - perfect capture of his dreams to bounce with the big boys. What fun!
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