Bought On the Sly
I bought a trampoline. The kids have been begging for one for years. I know how dangerous they can be, really I do. If ever I was tempted, I’d ask Jeff and he would say, “No way! Someone will break their leg, or their neck, and it’s such an eyesore.”
But finally, I caved. I justified it this way.
1. Jeff says no to everything, but always comes around, and plus he massively owes me one after making me drive 20 hours there and back to CO so he could make me hike moutains and enjoy the outdoors.
2. I want the kids to have something fun to do here with friends, OUTSIDE.
It took me only a mere 6 hours to put together. I did it all by myself. Well, Patrick was here, but refused to help. The instruction manual kept saying, “For this part, you need two people.” They didn’t know a mother was putting it together, because really, we’re like 4 people in one, don’t you think?
I just pretended I was in Amazing Race and I did fine. Except for a couple issues like when I lost the little thingy in the grass that you need to screw the screws on and it took me and extra 5 minutes to hunt for it. Also, when I put the springs on, I miscounted more than once and had to redo all my work twice. And during the middle of it, I had to put Patrick for a nap, so I lost some time there.
But no biggie.
I still think I won.
When they got home from school:
Back packs were thrown and socks were shed.
A timer was set as more and more children showed up. (I posted a list of rules, that only 3 children at a time could jump and they had to be close in size…you’ll see how long those rules were enforced.)
Someone needed to be distracted when they didn’t understand the rules.
As 6:00 drew closer, I was hoping to have so many children here that Jeff would be convinced that I did indeed, make the right decision by betraying him. What can you say when you see a dozen or more happy faces in your back yard?
He of course, came around and realized I was a genius.
We sat in chairs and watched the goings-on all evening long.
Till we decided it was our turn.
Blurry picture through netting…my favorite of favorites.
HA HA. Love it!
Go mom Go!!!
You rock.
In case your kids didn't tell you, you're the coolest. Will you be my mom?
Our trampoline is one of our best investments!!
Hours upon hours of "squealy" fun!
Can be quite a workout too….
You will all love it!
Enjoy the day
You made a good choice. We're on our second trampoline (the first blew away in a tornado—when we had the threat of hurricane winds this past week, my husband chained the second one to the swing set).
They're dangerous (a little—we've never had a single accident and we don't even have a net), but cars are way more dangerous. We'd lose out on a lot of good stuff if we spent all our time worrying about the what ifs.
Way to go, Sarah! I love the pictures. There aren't many outdoor toys that will entertain such a wide age range. You did good!
I can't believe you put that together yourself! Seriously.
Good for you! We put ours up this Summer. Three weeks later Sofi broke her leg. The issue? Not following the rules. Bounced by her brother as she was preparing to dismount. Crazy little accident…full leg cast. She's doing great now, but still hasn't gone back on it. I'm still a little paranoid and watch everyone while they are on….but accidents do happen!
That said, I think they are great fun, and have been known to jump on it myself while the kids are gone. 🙂
Fun. I caved some years ago when we moved to our new house and the kids didn't know anyone yet. A trampoline is a kid magnet! They have loved it. I loved them having a place to play like you said "outside"! They will enjoy it for years to come! And the fact that you put it together yourself….well, you are my hero!
You put that together by yourself? You are a ROCK STAR!
Love that pic of Jeff with the melty eyes…worrying on the sidelines. I'm you got him on there as the evening progressed. 🙂
we had hours of fun with our trampoline….it was definitely one of my childhood highlights! 🙂 and…..my mom was so paranoid that she made the neighbors sign a waiver if their kids wanted to jump – ha!
Wow, I can't believe you broke down! :o) Trampolines are so much fun, however with the more stories coming out broken necks with flips gone wrong and such, I'm not going to lie I'm a little scared now. Looked like a blast though, I'm sure your kiddies are thrilled!!
That is Awesome! Good for you doing it all by yourself. I believe you are 4 people in one! Hope you all have fun!
No question about what you did while they were at school that day! You are the coolest.
If it is warm enough there, set up a water sprinkler under the trampoline today. (the type that sprays in an arch shape works best) My kids will spend hours slipping and sliding while bouncing around inside the net in their bathing suits. 🙂 So much fun!
I did this with kittens. My husband's face looked the same but sometimes forgiveness is better than permission — but don't tell the kids.
woo hoo! way to go!! looks like great fun to me!
I would definitely have to stock up on bladder protection pads before I put a trampoline in my yard!! I'm just sayin after 2 kids……..things are different!! Enjoy the new toy!
LOVE it! We have been thinking of getting one too. Friends have one and the girls love it. And in the winter, I think it will work too!
I love our trampoline. I think they are way more essential to a backyard than a playscape. We've had ours for three years and with six kids still never had any injuries. Except for hitting, which would be happening anyway, right?
Can I ask the maker of the tramp or where you got it? We need one!!!
I'm so jealous! I will never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever talk my hubby into one 🙁 It doesn't help that every time he has to see an emergency patient it's bc of a trampoline 🙁 Oh well, I'll just live vicariously through you 🙂
Ahhh, the childhood memories of my leg slipping between the springs, cracking my head on the frame from a flip gone awry, and hours upon hours spent perfecting my flying skills with a large garbage bag attached to my back during a wind storm. Good times, good times! My little ones adore our trampoline… especially my little Mia. Dangerous? HA! We jump in the face of danger.
Ironically we caved Monday evening and are eagerly waiting for the Fed Ex package. I am still a little concerned about injury, but figure it will be good for my prayer life- ha!
Looks so fun, and I can't wait to try it out myself:-)
Great job on putting that baby together! 😀
I would get one for the kids, but our homeowners ins would go up most likely.
It was one of the first questions they asked when we switched to a new company.
You guys look like you are having so much fun!
Money well spent, I am sure! 😉
In regards to a trampoline being an eyesore… We know people who dug a hole and put their trampoline in it. Sort of like an in-ground pool. It's flush w/ the ground. It doesn't "stick out" so much and no one can fall off and down b/c it's level w/ the grass. Just an idea. 🙂
Melissa- I bought it at Sam's Club. The name on the manual says SportsPower. Hope that helps.
You are a fun mom!
We bought a tramp for our youngest daughter for her birthday in the late '80's. She sold it to my brother and sister-in-law for their youngest daughter and now it is at the summer cottage we all share and our daughter's children and her sister's child, our grandchildren, can't wait for our turn at the lake to use it. Our best investment EVER! Enjoy!
Trampolines are a blast. I fondly remember jumping on friend's and neighbor's trampolines as a kid. My dad is a retired safety engineer and thought they were horrendously dangerous. Unfortunately, we proved him right a few times, but we lived.
That's the important thing.
Kudos on the mom-powered assembly.
Aww, you've got a winner there! Not the tramp, Jeff!
Those are still forbidden in our back yard….but despite that fact we still had a broken arm and chipped front teeth!
Enjoy it and have a great time! Just check with your homeowners insurance though because most have a clause in there saying that they do not cover it and that it could make your Homeowners null and void if you purchase one and do not inform them.
I love it!
Everyone told us how dangerous trampolines were when we talked about getting one. One well meaning friend even sent me statistics on how many kids break bones each year… Yet no one worries about how many kids break bones on their bikes… or worse. We take care, we teach our kids safe playing, and we let them take a risk now and then.
Our kids adore our tramp….no one has broken anything yet… though one of my girls did knock three teeth out at the very dangerous library! LOL
What a delightfully perfect post. Fun and funny and I am completely impressed that you put it together yourself. Thank you for your precious blog.
That's great! I'm sure it will bring many, many hours of fun. OUTSIDE. 😉 You're a smart woman.
-FringeGIrl
awesome! so much fun! i love the strip down in the yard! i LOVE the swarm of kids you drew! ha ha
Those kids will have so much fun with that thing. Our kids had one when they were very young pre-teens/teens and loved it. They even used it for sleep overs and would all hunddle on top of it with their blankets and some would gather under it at other times to share their secret worlds. Good job MOM! Diana
Awesome fun!!! You are too cute.
ha! i love it! our 6th child was such a handful, we called it his playpen, so our 7th child never knew any different, he always called it the playpen (and it really saved us using it as one, trying to homeschool the oldest 5 and entertain those two. if they ever got bored in there we would just add a bunch of blown up balloons). my baby will be 5 tomorrow and now that the oldest 4 are all teenagers, they use it for slamball and he thinks he should be able to jump that high and dunk a basketball too…..
Okay…I see more than three people on there at one time. I want to buy a new one, we used to own one.
My only rule was "NO FLIPS", they would try it when they thought I wasn't looking, but not much gets past these eyes. I have them in the back of my head, really I do.
I want to be just like you when I grow up! Seriously loved this.
p.s. Where did you purchase the black-framed corkboard in the heading? Did you make it? I'm in desperate need for my girls' art projects/school work but can't stomach the Pottery Barn prices….maybe I can make one?
you will love it….seriously! It's the best toy on the planet….we will never ever be without one.
the best money we ever spent.
seriously.
we bought it the day we moved into our house as a bribe for making the kids move.
it has been used every single day for 6 years. and we don't even have a net. 🙂
good for you!!
You are my hero!! I have tackled plenty o bookcases or desks… chairs and the like… but a trampoline!! You rock! =) and yes… it is genius .. I want one!
I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU PUT THIS TOGETHER ALONE!!! It takes my husband days and many new words are invented during that time period that are synonyms for "Shoot!!!!" Looks like it went well. We are going on two years with only a few minor head bumps so far. I'd like a copy of your rules though! We need some rules. It is complete chaos on our trampoline.