Young House Love

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A Custom House Portrait And A New Stroller

Ah yes, the much awaited Father’s Day post. First off, thanks to all of those who wished me a Happy Father’s Day on Sunday. Here’s a belated one back to all my fellow man-parents out there.

I had a wonderful weekend with my girls and my main man Burger. I learned from my own dad to think of celebrating these holidays not with things, but by doing things… together (like the trail run I took him on Sunday morning). That’s what fatherhood is all about, right? And this year Clara was old enough to participate in the weekend’s activities a bit more, which made it even more enjoyable. Not that she wasn’t fun to be around last year for my first Father’s Day (in the old sunroom- we miss you old house!):

FDay 2010

So this year we packed as many activities as possible into the two-day-span (working around a few house projects, of course). The three of us (sometimes four) went out to breakfast, read lots of books, played outside, went on some walks, made some homemade pizzas, and hit up the Farmer’s Market – as you already probably read about here and here.

FDay Farmers Market

But perhaps my favorite activity of the weekend was christening my big gift from Sherry and Clara on Saturday morning. Yup, a yogging stroller (much more fun to say than jogging stroller).

FDay 2011 Smiley Stroller

Okay, so that pic isn’t representative of its first use (I don’t usually run in a button down, khakis… or with a tiny-legged chihuahua). We just forgot to snap a pic after I returned from our inaugural 3 mile jaunt around the neighborhood with Clara leading the way (so we grabbed this photo after using it on a family walk on Sunday night that capped off the weekend).

I love this thing. And Clara seems to enjoy it plenty too, which is the icing on the Father’s Day cake. Wait, maybe the icing is actually the awesome deal that we scored on it. Sherry and I had been casually stalking Craigslist for a used jogging yogging stroller for a while. But none of the used ones turned out to be that much of a deal (one I found would’ve saved me $20, but was a 75 minute round trip drive away). Then I spotted a slightly upgraded model on Diapers.com that was marked down by $65 (from $189.99 to $124.99) with free shipping.

FDay Diapersdotcom Page

Though, as you can see, there was a problem: it was out of stock. With no assurance that it would come back in stock (or stay at that price if it did), I thought my deal was dead in the water. But Sherry suggested that I call their 800 number just to see if I could pre-order one or ask to lock in that price or something.

They didn’t let me pre-order. They did me one better. They honored the discounted price on the out-of-stock “Yellow/Grey” model for the very-much-in-stock “Grey/Yellow” version (which I slightly preferred anyways – sweet). So instead of paying $189.99 for the gray/yellow one in the picture above, I got it for $124.99. Score. Somehow the woman applied my discount over the phone – so within a few clicks, Sherry was checking out with this whopping $65 discount applied to her cart (along with free shipping). Thirty five percent off – just for taking the time to call and ask what they could do. So worth it.

FDay Diapersdotcom CheckOut

It’s a bit over the $100 budget that Sherry and I originally set, but we’re both glad that we splurged on the upgraded version with a built-in speaker for Clara. I know it sounds kind of high tech and crazy, but playing her favorite kid songs during my morning runs and our evening walks have kept her so much more entertained (that and fishing for goldfish crackers in her cupholders). She’s a musical (and fish-loving gal). And since many jogging strollers are in the $300-400 range these days (be still my beating heart) paying closer to $100 felt pretty good.

FDay 2011 Burger Stroller

Oh yeah and one other pretty major Father’s Day development occurred. Clara took her first steps! Completely unassisted. Two of them actually. From Karl the Sectional to Artie the Ottoman (ok, he doesn’t really have a name, but it sounded good). It was amazing. Even though I completely missed them the first time around (I was in the kitchen) I came running in while Sherry went crazy and Clara thankfully gave me a repeat performance. Here’s where I’d insert a photo but of course we didn’t have the camera close enough.

And to my surprise, the stroller and those first steps weren’t my only gift. Sherry used Father’s Day to surprise me with a custom 8.5 x 11″ rendering of our first house that she commissioned from a charming artist named Jennifer Ahnquist from Kentucky. How sweet and sentimental is that? It’s currently somewhere in the mail on its way to us, but we’ve seen this preview photo of it – and are both completely enamored with it (we’ll have to share a photo or scan of the real-deal when it comes since this is just a preview photo of the sketch).

FDay House Picture2

We can’t wait to slap it into a white frame with a big fat mat in our hallway frame gallery. Jennifer sketches them using a pen and ink technique and then segues over to Prisma marker to complete each rendering. And to anyone interested, she’s running a “Christmas in June special” so the first 75 people to order a house portrait by the end of June can get an 8.5 x 11″ rendering for the same $50 deal that Sherry snagged (they’re regularly $90). Just email her at [email protected].

As much as I love my gifts – especially how one reminds me of good times in the past and another promises more time spent together in the future – I really just appreciate Father’s Day for reminding me how lucky I am to have wonderful people around me, whether it’s the little lady I play father to, the gal who made that little lady possible, or the old guy who still runs faster than me. At least now I can use my jogging stroller as an excuse for my relaxed pace.

Comments

  2. kristin says

    awsome stroller and great price!!! I’ve looked around for a double stroller and the prices are outrageous! Settled on an instep double bike trailer from Target the other day for $89 so my hubby can pull them with his bike on the path while I run. Happy running and happy belated Father’s Day!

    Reply

  5. Liz says

    Whoa, do you guys not have to pay tax in Virginia?! Up here in Ontario, Canada we have 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax).

    Love the stroller by the way and congrats on Clara taking her first steps!! :)

    Reply

    • Stephanie says

      What?!?!! We are supposed to save receipts and pay them at tax time???? Although I have been noticing taxes added to more online purchases, I didn’t know that if taxes weren’t added at the time of sale. Huh.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yeah it’s kind of confusing but our accountant explained that if you live in a state with sales tax (unlike DE for example) then you’re supposed to keep track of online purchases and tally them up as a line item and pay taxes on the total at the end of the tax year. I wish they would just take it as you order things online, but I guess not all companies are set up to do that. Some online companies do take sales tax though, so you only owe it on items that didn’t charge you when you ordered it.

      xo,
      s

    • Amanda says

      Companies that have no brick and mortar store in your state won’t charge sales tax at purchase. In most states you are supposed top pay this tax when you do your taxes. It is called a use tax.

  7. Liz R says

    I swear I got a tad misty at “the old guy who still runs faster than me.” Enjoy your yogging stroller!

    Reply

    • Sara says

      ME TOO! John – you’re awesome. You deserve all the wonderful people in your life.

  8. rachael says

    Aww!!! I love that you take Clara with for your jogs! Anything to spend more time with your child is alright with me. I can’t wait to see the photo of your house too!

    Reply

  10. Amy says

    Clara is just the CUTEST things!! I love her tounge fluttering as she is walking! They grow up so fast, my little one, Cooper, just turned 5 months.

    Reply

  11. Jill says

    I could KISS YOU!!!! Thank you for posting about the drawing!!! My parents are possibly downsizing from the house we’ve lived in for 19 years. Their anniversary is in July and this will be the BEST gift ever!! And $50 is right on budget. Thank you so much! Happy belated father’s day!!! Sounds like a wonderful weekend with your lovely family!

    Reply

  13. Erin says

    Sounds like a great Father’s Day! Love that you all did stuff together.

    Hey, since you guys are the ultimate bargain shoppers, do you use ebates.com? It offers you cash back (the percentage varies depending on the store) on your online purchases, but you have to access the stores you are buying from through the ebates website to get you month. Then quarterly they either send you a check or put money in your paypal account. Sounds too good to be true (and this sounds like an ad) but I love it. I bought all of the bathroom fixtures for our remodel online and got maybe $80 cash back or something.

    Anyway, just wanted to give you a head’s up if you haven’t already checked it out!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We love ebates! Sometimes I forget to use it (like on the stroller- duh!) but when I do remember it’s awesome. Thanks for the reminder!

      xo,
      s

    • Isabel says

      I’m so glad you gave the heads up about Ebates because I didn’t know about it. Checking it out now!!

      And Happy (belated) Father’s Day to John! Sounds like a wonderful weekend :) The painting of your old house is beautiful and it would make such a sweet, sentimental set if you get one of your current house someday as well.

  14. DanielleR says

    You guys have a beautiful family. I think Clara is the most happy go lucky kid I’ve ever seen, seriously does she ever cry? lol. So cute!

    Reply

  15. Alison U. says

    Seriously – Clara is the most photogenic, smiley baby! It’s amazing how often she’s actually smiling directly at the camera – she must really love whoever is behind it :)

    Reply

  16. Heather says

    Love the pic of Clara looking at Burger. So cute =)

    And happy belated father’s day! Your little family is so awesome, so I’m sure it was the best day.

    Reply

  19. Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says

    What a steal! It’s amazing that you got the discount on the higher priced item. The speakers do sound pretty high-tech but I think that’s something I would’ve enjoyed! I swear, kids these days have way cooler stuff than we ever did!

    Glad you had a good Father’s Day!

    Reply

  20. Katharine says

    OK, forgive the ignorance… but what exactly differentiates a jogging stroller from the regular type? Looks like fun (for you and Clara!)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s lighter and has bigger wheels and even shocks (to help the person pushing it) whereas regular strollers are smaller and more compact (easier to fit in the trunk) but harder to push since they don’t have big wheels and shocks and stuff.

      -John

  23. Katrina says

    John, I loved that you say that you will use the stroller as the excuse for your “relaxed pace”. My husband used to say that too, except now our 2.5 year old daughter (who still loves to go running with her Daddy) yells “faster, Daddy, faster!” whenever they are out on a run. He comes back exhausted, but that he wouldn’t trade his “coach” for anything in the world.

    Reply

  24. schmei says

    John, the last paragraph got me a little misty. You should add some warnings for the more hormonal of your readers…

    Happy father’s day!

    Reply

  29. Betsy says

    Okay, I need a stroller review. My current $100 Jeep stroller “works” for running but you have to lock the front wheel or it wobbles like crazy and when the wheel is locked, it always veers to the right which is a little annoying. How do you like the InStep? Do you lock the front wheel for running? Does it roll straight when you do? Is it easy to turn corners? Would you recommend it to a fellow runner?

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You can’t run with the wheel unlocked on ours (it’s automatically locked and you press a lever to momentarily unlock it to turn), but it’s nice and smooth in that locked position (the whole stroller is very smooth – no wobbling or veering). I do have to lift the front wheel up a smidge (or momentarily unlock it) to turn, but I’ve perfected the lift-the-front-wheel technique so I prefer that route (except for on sharp turns where I use the lever to unlock it for a second). I definitely enjoy running with it so far and would recommend it.

      -John

    • Jessica says

      I’m going to have to look into this too. We have this same stroller but the double stroller version and when we are just walking (not jogging) it wobbles like crazy if one of the two seats are empty. Sometimes our two year old doesn’t always want to ride while our 10 month old is in there. I don’t know if it’s an uneven problem or just this whole “lock” thing.

  30. Aimee says

    Does the new stroller fold up pretty easily? I’m looking for a jogging stroller to use on an every day basis, but not necessarily for jogging…but for everything else too! I have a large SUV, so storage space isn’t a huge issue. Thanks!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It folds up pretty easily but it’s still big! Too big for our little Altima’s trunk unless we remove the wheels. So it’s better used as a runs-around-the-neighborhood thing (than a bring-it-to-the-mall stroller).

      -John

    • Chelsea@ThisFreshFossil says

      I’ve been researching strollers for quite awhile (for our little one due in November), and had settled on that same InStep jogging stroller awhile back before I saw this post! (and I also found the same 125$ deal on Amazon and diapers.com… sadly, it was a bit early to buy it, so I had to let that deal slide, sigh) Anyways, it seems like I’ve looked everywhere for the folded dimensions and can’t seem to find them anywhere! Sorry, because I know you guys are busy, but would you mind measuring the dimensions of it folded too much the next time you fold it up? I would REALLY appreciate it!

      Thanks so much!
      ~Chelsea

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s a really odd shape when folded (nothing like a square or rectangle that would be straightforward to measure – it’s sort of like a triangle- but the folded length is 36″ long and the deepest width is 24″ deep – but that’s like a point so most of it isn’t that wide). We can tell you that the only way that we have found to get it into a car’s trunk like a Camry or an Altima is to remove the back wheels (which pop right off and can be re-popped back on). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  31. Suzanne says

    I hope that you all have Clara listen to the Lori Berkner Band…she would especially like “The Goldfish” (it’s a bathtime favorite in our house)!

    Reply

  32. Brittany says

    I have the same stroller and I love it. It’s been great for festivals downtown (really rough streets) and even pushing across the yard.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’ve heard that it’s awesome although some of our friends who did it had later-talking kiddos so a few of them theorize that the con to it is that kids might sign instead of chatting. Clara is thankfully very chatty already (can say Dada, Mama, doggie, horsie, piggie, duckie, Grammy, Nona, etc) and can even indicate more, sleepy, and what’s this (aka: “moh”, “seepy”, and “dis”) so we’re grateful that we can understand her most of the time without sign language. We might teach her a few signs for fun though! She seems to love “chatting” any way that she can!

      xo,
      s

    • Lindsay says

      I’m fascinated about the whole baby signing thing, but I have always wondered if it made kids talk later. I’m glad this question was asked… and answered!

    • Nikki says

      My nephew (now 18 months) is amazing with signs. He started because he was having some trouble eating and a feeding specialist wanted him the be able to communicate if he wanted more or less and then know the difference between cracker or drink…but now that he’s getting older he is picking up new signs after being shown once or twice. It’s amazing that he can communicate so well! Except he is constantly telling my dad he wants to ride his toy tractor…the sign mimics driving the wheel of a car…SO adorable!

  35. LARY says

    Lovely post! The picture of Clara laughing while looking at Burger is adorable! and that video made me smile! :) She’s growing so fast!

    Reply

  40. Kate says

    Is the Joovy Kooper not good for jogging? I remember a post about baby gear about a year ago where you talked about buying “one stroller that did it all” because you didn’t want to have to store several strollers. Just curious what changed your mind. Does your new house have more room to store multiple strollers? :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We didn’t want to get a snap-n-go infant stroller and then a big shopping stroller and then a small umbrella stroller (so the Joovy Kooper does all three of those things (it was great with Clara from day one which many other non-snap-n-go types aren’t). Sadly it’s not built for jogging (I suppose John could jog pushing it but it doesn’t have shocks or big wheels and it’s not as light or built for that purpose) so when he realized that he’d love to jog with Clara we knew we’d need to get another stroller for that purpose (sadly there’s not one made for new infants and jogging anyway, so we couldn’t have gotten by with just one). Thankfully the wheels come off and it can be stored in the empty closet in the guest room or the playroom. But these days it just sits in the sunroom since J & C use it so often!

      xo,
      s

  43. Reenie says

    o cute cute pics of Clara & Burger ~ you too John ;)
    o when I was watching the video I was thinking…. I wonder if she will clap for herself ~ too cute!
    o adorable top Ms. Clara is wearing when she is walking.
    o kewel jogger
    o Happy Belated Father’s Day =)

    Reply

  44. Lilly says

    this question is for Sherry, do u also jog or run? You look amazing in all of your pictures. If not do u have any whip back and stay in shape tricks for us new mommies?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw you’re so sweet! I’m a walker (I don’t run unless I’m being chased). John is nice enough to walk around for about an hour every evening (well, most evenings) so we can take Clara and Burger out and get some air and I can get some exercise. Other than that I do 25 push ups and 25 seconds of “the plank” each day along with breastfeeding. I’m definitely not perfect (nothing is ever the same after a baby I don’t think) but it seemed to work for the most part when it came to getting back into my old clothes.

      xo,
      s

  45. Newlyweds on a Budget says

    ok please stop posting photos and video of adorable Clara. Every time I see how happy go-lucky she is, it gives me the baby itch, and I just don’t want to have babies for at least another 3 years, okay?

    So can you post some videos of her crying, or grumpy, or at least not looking so darn cute?!

    Thank you!
    :P

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Haha-I totally agree! I’ve gotten the baby itch lately as well and you all make it look entirely too easy. The happy baby is no doubt indicative of the happy family and home-life. :)

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks you guys! It’s not all champagne and roses (more like dirty diapers and a fair amount of goo on everything- haha) but Clara really has changed our life for the better. Being a parent is definitely hard work but so rewarding and life-changing (in a good way, most of the time). Haha.

      xo,
      s

  47. Meggan says

    Ok…a new name to add to your family of furniture! Instead of Archie, how about “my main man Otto?” or “Otto the Man!” Really, you just walked into that one!

    Reply

  49. Tania says

    Awww, sweet post. I too got a little misty at the last paragraph. Glad you guys had such a great day.

    Reply

  50. kimberly says

    hey! I just wanted to say that your rendering looks beautiful! I love the detail! So very fun. I wanted to let you and anyone else know, that I make renderings too… I don’t mean to advertise myself or anything (at all!)but it’s a service that I’ve just started to sell on Etsy so it’s fun to see that people actually DO buy these things!! ha.
    If you want to know more you can check it out here: http://kimberlyrenee.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/a-new-art-prospect/ and here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/73476842/custom-architectural-renderings-of-your
    But don’t feel like you have to. It’s just encouraging that there really is a market for them.
    Thanks for sharing! xo

    Reply

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