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

  1. Amanda says

    This is my first comment on YHL, but I have been following for quite a while on the recommendation of my sister. This blog is simply the best! Anything that is DIY has my name written all over it so your blog is a perfect read (while watching HGTV of course). Keep the good word flowing!

    Oh, and Clara is a doll! Love those jeggings :).

    Reply

  2. Emily says

    Please tell me that Clara is wearing jeggings (yeggings) whilst in her jogging (yogging) stroller. I love it!

    Reply

  4. JennyB says

    How funny! I just bought this same jogger (new) at Play It Again Sports this morning. Although, mine cost $150 : / Whats great is the infant seat fits on top…our little girl is only 3 months. My husband and I were debating over this and one other jogger for 20 minutes. I wish I read the post earlier, it would have been an easy decision! Happy jogging to you both! : )

    Reply

  5. Yvette at Kelleyfoodies says

    Ok…I’m sorry in advance that this is totally unrelated to the stroller..which by the way looks great! And Happy Be-lated Father’s Day John… :)

    Not to toot my own horn or anything but I’m really excited about this really awesome DIY-slash-super-dirt-cheap-but-I-can’t-believe-how-awesome-it-came-out-project that I just had to share it with you guys! If you have a second (or two…well heck you’ll need a more than a few)…please stop by our blog to see the Wedding Gallery Art Wall I created for little to NO money at all! I thought if anyone in blogland would appreciate it, it would be the super money savvy Petersiks! I’m so proud of myself!…TOOT! TOOT! ;)

    http://www.kelleyfoodies.blogspot.com

    Visit soon…visit often!! Have a great day!!!

    Reply

    • Yvette at Kelleyfoodies says

      Thanks Sherry! And thanks so much for checking us out so quickly after posting! You guys still blow my mind at how you respond to so many comments and even have time to check out other people’s blogs!! I honestly didn’t think you would..not that you didn’t want to..just because you might be chasing after the bambino or cutting down a tree or saving the world or something.. lol..

  6. Heather W says

    Love the drawing you had done of your 1st home. I was curious if you will get one done of your current home and did you mail her a picture or email her a picture etc. I know she may have just gotten if off your website but was curious what she needed to complete the project and how long it took her to complete.

    Thanks,

    Reply

    • Heather W. says

      Thanks for the feedback… Just curious will you get a drawing done of your current home? I didn’t know if people ususally get these done for previous homes or current just curious.

      Thanks!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think we’ll get a drawing of our current home sometime down the road (either after we do a lot of work on the front and love where it is, or if we ever move). I love the idea of having a little “keepsake” of each house. And even though I like to think we’ll never ever move, I learned not to say that after our first house. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  7. Cathy says

    Hey John & Sherry,

    Love your website and reading about your adventures and updates with beautiful Clara and her furry brother Burger. Not sure if you are aware of an advertisement on your site of a “chat” with a slightly bare chested blonde – it appears on the top right above your pictures….I just found it very odd that you would allow this type of advertising…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yikes! Thanks for the tip (we don’t see that ad so it must be regional). That’s spot is a google spot but we’ve banned anything “sensual” and “religious” and “political” (we like to keep it light and it should serve up home improvement & decorating ads for the most part only). Off to see if we can block that ad directly (do you or does anyone else know the company or product being endorsed?).

      xo,
      s

  9. Cathy says

    When I went back…it changed to the One Kings Lane Ad…the ad was below the Search and above the “contact us”. It seems that the ads change…but it was defintely to chat ad. It’s like the late nite ads

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yikes! Thanks for the info. That was definitely our rotating google spot so we’ll just have to double check our blocked settings. If anyone else sees it, we’d love to know the name of the company or service (other than our already-in-place blocks, we can’t block things individually without the name). Thanks so much for the help!

      xo,
      s

    • Cathy says

      Hi Sherry,

      I don’t believe there was company name…it had a “decline” button and a “chat” button with the picture If I come across it again I will look for more info to give you.

  10. justy says

    Clara is the cutest! John was a darling little boy (now he’s a big handsome guy), but I think Clara looks so much like you Sherry.

    Reply

  11. Amy says

    I’m a jogging stroller snob…and found a crazy great deal on ebay last month…I paid $160 (including shipping) for a brand new floor model Valco brand jogging stroller–originally $4-500. I was having trouble finding a great deal on craigslist too, so just wanted to share another great place to find good jogging stroller deals! After nannying for crazy rich families who had super nice jogging strollers, I wanted to find a luxury model for myself too!

    Happy running! I often wondered if you guys had one…so glad you do! They’re so nice to have!

    Reply

  12. Danielle says

    The tongue is too, too much…is it bizarre that I just watched someone else’s home video TWICE to see the hilarious tongue wiggle?!??!

    Reply

  13. Danielle says

    Love that Clara gave you some first steps for Father’s day. Our 10 week old little girl gave daddy her first roll over on Father’s day. It’s like these kiddos know they’re supposed to so something special! :)

    Reply

  14. Caitlin says

    Awesome Father’s Day present. Sherry, is the jogging stroller a bit of a gift for you too? I love it when Daddy takes the boys for bike rides and I get a bit of quiet time.

    Reply

  16. Teresa says

    You guys must use Consumer Reports! Otherwise, did you know you picked one of their top two picks for jogging (yogging) strollers!?!

    If other folks are also looking for a similarly excellent deal on the same stroller, Amazon has them for close to the price that you guys paid. (The Gray/Yellow is $113.00 at the moment.)

    Promise I’m not advertising, just a fellow InStep owner who did a little dance that I was cool enough to choose the same stroller as you two!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      What???? John is going to be so excited! What a lucky break. We don’t read consumer reports at all but expected that it would never rank very well since it’s not a $400 stroller. Wow. Off to tell him the good news. And so excited to hear that Amazon is now running such good deals too!

      xo,
      s

  17. Audrey says

    I like how in the picture of your old house the artist included the red propane tank you so thoughtfully camouflaged! Maybe she’s a long time reader and remembered that post? haha It’s really cool though and a very thoughtful gift!

    Reply

  18. Neil says

    I am a professional picture framer and have been for 10 years. Please do not ‘slap’ that beautiful picture of your former home into any old frame! If you want it to last….UV glass….UV glass…UV glass!
    I’m so serious. People think that just because it’s not in the light or near a window it’s no big deal. IT IS. Things fade so quickly, you won’t even notice until it’s too late.
    UV, UV, UV!!!

    Reply

  19. Rebecca Foxworth says

    We LOVE the jogging stroller we got when our (now ten year old) daughter was born. The big wheels make woodsy and beachy walks much easier. We used it until our youngest was five years old. No…she didn’t ride in it full time, but we often put backpacks and waters in it for half-day hikes, and we’d wear the backpack when the five year old petered out after about two hours (my kids are walkers, but more than two hours is a lot to ask of any young child). LOVE the jogging stroller.

    Reply

  20. Silvia says

    Hello, Sherry and John. I`m Silvia – your fan from far Bulgaria /Europe/.
    I enjoy open your blog every morning before work. Guys, you are my favorite DIY-ers – so inspiring, inventive and cool!
    Your Clara is just wonderful. Look at the funny moving of her little tongue on the movie you posted! I adore this cute girl! And His Majesty King Burger, of course! Love him.
    Thanks for making my day cheerful!
    p.s. Sorry if I make mistakes in English but it`s not my mother language :)

    Reply

  23. .ivy says

    We bought that same stroller earlier this year! (Got it via Amazon.) Looooove it. My two older kids (4 and 2) now fight over who gets to go for runs/jogs with me. And it holds our infant’s carseat for walks. Awesome.

    Reply

  24. Amanda says

    The stroller gift will give you and Clara some good memories too. Which is always good.

    I just wanted to say how darn good you two are (+ the two kids, though they can’t code). Okay let me explain, in the comments on a recent post you had a comment suggesting to put the comments on the bottom of the post as well as the top, AND BAM. Done. I know it wasn’t that simple and that you had to email Nicole from MIL but I love how you went out of your way to make one person happy (though I’m sure it happy-fied a few more — yes I just made that a word.)

    Basically I’m just saying you two are swell (words from Mickey Mouse) :D

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Amanda. John deserves all the credit for that. The man is on a mission when it comes to those things (he learned how to code our whole site by himself, well with the help of google). You’re sweet to notice.

      xo,
      s

  25. Melody says

    That picture of Clara in the stroller with burger leaning towards her is so amazing! And so was the video of her walking. She seems to have such a cheerful personality.

    I also like the drawing of your house. I’m an portrait artist, but don’t do so well when it comes to houses and stuff with straight edges. Drawing houses is a gift!

    Reply

  26. Krista says

    Please keep us posted as to whether you liked the final product- I’ve got an email draft with photos attached ready to send upon your say so!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Will do! It should arrive on Saturday to I’ll hopefully just update this post to say “it’s great!” (assuming it is) and post about framing it in a week or two (since I’m a lazy bum like that)! Just be sure to send that email over before July 1st so you get the $50 deal.

      xo,
      s

  27. Cara says

    Love that stroller! We have the blue version and our 1.5 year old just loves it. We use it for everything – it JUST fits in the trunk of my Camry. I chose it for the price too!

    Reply

  28. Stephanie says

    That last picture of Clara smiling at Burger just melted my heart!!!

    I can only hope that when my husband and I have kids, they will love Elvis (our English pointer) just as much as Clara seems to love Burger. :-)

    (No worries about Elvis not loving anyone though. He’s such a people dog, it’s ridiculous.)

    Reply

  29. Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says

    what an awesome father’s day! Time with family is soooo much better than gifts! My family always goes on hikes, bike rides, runs, walks, trips, etc! And my mom was a huge “yogger” fan when she had my younger brother. She was always a marathon runner, so it was a great way for her to get out and get exercise while also having the little one along for the ride. I totally plan on having one when we have kids for sure!!!

    Reply

  30. Laura says

    What a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing such sweet anecdotes about your special day. Clara is one of the most joyous and precious children I have ever seen. It is so much a credit to the amount of love and devotion she enjoys with her family!

    Reply

  31. Patti says

    Aww, so sweet. John, you look so in love with your baby in that first photo (the pic on the right side lol) … another addition for your gallery wall maybe?

    Reply

  33. Christine says

    This post made me smile. You don’t know me at all, but you remind me of my husband. He is tall and thin like you and loves a good DIY project and I’m short ahem, petit like Sherry. He can do anything, but most of all, he loves being a dad and is the best dad to our 2 boys. I LOVE the sketch. I was recently interested in something like this since we sold our house and closing on a new one July 7th. My husband is actually an artist so I thought about asking him to do something, but he paints with oil and unfortunately packed his studio up after our first son was born because he just didn’t have the time to do it anymore. I googled “turn photo into pencil sketch” and found this program. We only use Macs so it was a little bit harder to find a Mac version. There were lots of PC versions around. I can’t say this is the “best” program, b/c I don’t love the way they turned out, but I think it’s the paper I printed them on. I’m sure there are better free programs, I just didn’t take the time b/c was so excited about starting it. I made one of our first little ranch with the est. date and street at the bottom, the house we have lived in for 6.5 years and I’m going to make one for the newly married couple moving into our current house (that we brought both children home too :-( We live in Nashville, but are moving to Brentwood for school purposes and have bought the greatest ranch. I’m so excited to get started on it. Anyway, lost my train of thought. The program is called AKVIS Sketch and it’s just a program that someone made up and it’s free. I plan to blog about our new house and projects~I’m just super private and don’t want the general population to know we are even moving until we get there. I haven’t even told my friends on FB (except close friends that I see all the time.) Anyway, sorry for such a long comment. I just want to thank you and Sherry for blessing my life, getting me motivated and the time you take to share your life with your readers. It is so refreshing to read about people who put family first, have old fashioned values, don’t put value on status and $$$, and don’t try to keep up with the Joneses sp?. I’m so glad I found your blog and I look forward to reading it everyday and checking our what new project you’ve completed!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks so much for the kind words Christine! We’re so glad you found us, and I’m going to check out that program now. Sounds really cool.

      -John

  35. Katherina @ Zephyr Runs says

    Your posts make me want to stock up on the baby things (like this stroller and bumGenius diapers!) and I’m not even pregnant!! How can people I don’t even know be so inspiring? Happy Father’s Day :)

    Reply

  36. caroline says

    Cute.. we just bought the same stroller, only in the double, and we Love IT!! So excited for you guys that Clara is walking, this is when things start to get crazy and you will never get to sit again .. haha

    Reply

  38. rachael says

    John, have you seen the “It’s the dads life” video on youtube? Its hilarious, I really think you should check it out. Just to make sure you see the one I’m talking about it, its a “rap”, with 4 guys. I cried so hard from laughing.

    Reply

  40. Ainsley says

    I love the portrait you had done for John, Sherry! Such a nice idea! I actually loved it so much I showed my boyfriend and we decided to have one done for his parents — the first house they bought, fixed-up, and then raised both their boys. I emailed Jennifer about getting it done and she said she couldn’t believe how much feedback she’d received as a direct result of doing a rendering for you guys :)! Just thought I’d share how appreciative she seems for the extra publicity!

    Reply

  41. Mae Anunciado says

    Hi! I have a question about the jogger you just purchased – I’m in the market for one as well, and I really like the InStep jogger since I’ve read awesome reviews on them, but I guess my one question is the fender by the front wheel. Looking at the picture, Clara’s legs seem to reach and rest on them already,would you happen to know if it’s adjustable or something, or can be taken off, which gives more leg room for older babies? My son is 2yo and is 36″ tall and not sure if he will be comfortable with the leg issue? Any help will be appreciated!! Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Not sure if it’s removable, but it doesn’t seem to bother her. Maybe once her legs are longer they can just hang over it? Maybe try posting a question on Facebook to see if anyone with a 2 year old can weigh in? Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  42. Katie Newcomb says

    Hi Sherry and John! I know this is an old post but I’m not in need of a baby jogging stroller so I was hoping for an update :) Do you still use this one? How did it hold up the last couple years? Do you know if it has a car seat attachment place?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hi Katie,

      We do use the stroller, but more for walks than I do for runs. We love it, although it’s not the smallest/lightest thing in the world when it comes transport and storage. But I think you’d run into that issue with any jogging stroller. It’s held up pretty well, although we did have one flat tire that I had to replace the tubing in (like you would for a bicycle). I don’t know if it has a car seat attachment. Sorry!

      -John

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