Bargain Bikes!

I am not ashamed! Yesterday I took some things to donate to Savers after a week of cleaning out closets and toys! I thought while I was there I would look inside to see if there were any great deals. I was actually looking for a nightstand for Emma's room when I saw some bikes. I have been looking for bikes for the kids since before Christmas, but I guess I am really out of touch. I had no idea kids bikes cost $60-$80! Am I the only one that thinks that is absolutely crazy? Then you have to spend another $20 per kid to buy helmets so they don't get a concussion learning to ride their new bikes! So, when I saw these bikes at Savers I went over to take a look. To my amazement and surprise they had a purple Disney Princess bike in Emma's size! I took it down and looked it over. It was used, but barely! It was in excellent condition! Then I looked at the price tag and was sold...$9.99!! I couldn't believe it! All it needed were some training wheels and we were set! I think I was more excited than Emma was! So we bought it. Then I decided to head over to Once Upon a Child. I was looking for some dress pants for Derrick. I didn't find pants, but the kids wanted to look at the toys. As we were browsing through toys I noticed a shiny red bike for Derrick. I thought it was too good to be true that I could find great deals on bikes for both kids in the same day. It was just his size and at $30 it was 1/2 price of what it would cost at Target! I snatched it up! I was extremely thrilled to have found such great deals...even if if was at a used stores! I have no shame in buying used things...they are clearly cheaper and sometimes hardly even used! Jon stopped at Wal-Mart on his way home and picked up some helmets (Princess and Lightning McQueen) and some training wheels. The kids were excited to try their new bikes out. It was an interesting experience! I forgot how hard it was to actually learn to ride a bike! Derrick got the steering down pretty fast, but can't push the pedals. He had no crashes, but cried when Jon pushed him down a small hill and let go. But, he did it and didn't fall. Emma crashed 3 or 4 times! Most of them were in the grass and not that bad. She has a problem steering because she wants to look at her feet instead of where she is going. Her bike is almost too big for her, but I think she will get the hang of it quickly. And as soon as she grows a tiny bit, it will be perfect. Her last fall was on the way home. She crashed off the sidewalk and fell into the street and landed on her hands. She wasn't even cut, but to her it was the end of the world! Jon and I explained to her that everyone crashes when they are learning to ride a bike...it's part of life. She then had to call every Grandma and Grandpa to see if they crashed when they were learning to ride a bike. The pictures explain the night. It started out with smiles and ended with tears! Life is hard on a 2 and 4 year old sometimes!

Getting the bikes ready

When I took this picture I said to her, "Give me your saddest face!" She definitely did! Maybe I'm a mean mom for taking this picture, but she was fine and I couldn't resist!