"No, we cannot go outside. It's freezing. and icy. and a whole lot of work on my part to dress you in enough layers to prevent frostbite. Maybe next month, mkay?"
I'm nothing if not honest, eh? ;)
And there's there Springtime. where I'm suddenly inspired me to hand out the official Eviction Notice....
"I know you've been playing outside since dawn, but it's pretty today. You *will* enjoy it. Capiche?"
Okay, so not really...but when Lani is sleeping, Big Girls are outside. playing on our big playground. swinging on the tire swing. riding bikes in the driveway. climbing our front tree. and swimming in their pool.
Though it's not huge, it is big enough for them to paddle around. In fact, I don't think these pictures do its size justice.
My aunt was getting rid of it a few years back and just gave it to us. *cha-ching* Love hand-me-downs.
At this point in life, we don't invest a lot of money in various extra curricular activities for the girls. Financially, it's just not the wisest thing. But last year, I looked into swimming lessons for the two oldest girls. Being that not drowning is fairly high on my list of priorities.
After picking my jaw up off the floor...due to shock of the amount of money it would cost to enroll our children in classes to "get comfortable in the water"...we decided to wait a year and teach them "water comfortableness" ourselves. *wry grin*
So we spent the summer encouraging them to submerse their face in the water. They were both pretty timid about water in their face. Raegan doesn't seem to share their fear. ;)
Well, this year we looked into swimming lessons again. found a much better deal. and started to talk about making it happen. But due to life circumstances right now, we just can't commit to EVERY night for months.So we began to rethink our stance. and are now in the process of researching above ground pools.
Who knew there were that many sizes? or styles? or range of prices???
or that you needed to choose between metal-framed and soft-framed? and that some filters were more effective than others? and that if it wasn't close to perfectly level disaster could ensue?
I've been researching a bit on the computer, but still feel fairly clueless.
And so I ask you, dear reader. If you have an above ground pool OR have listened to family or friends rave about theirs (whether good or bad), please let me know! ANY advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.
3 comments:
we have one of the soft sided easy set pools. i got it for $25 on clearance last year!! ours is 16ft by 3 1/2ft - thomas cans tand up in it and it only comes to his chest! we LOVE it - LOVE it!!! it is the best thing we ever did but it was a complete and total pain in ther ear to get it set up right!! It HAS to be on a COMPLETELY LEVEL SPOT or it won't work! We thought we had a pretty level spot and when we filled the pool we woke up the next morning and it had emptied out the side!!! My father-in-law came and we made a level spot out of mulch and landscape timbers - it is still not completely level so the pool CANNOT be filled to its fullest but we can't afford the water bill to empty it again!!
I do not know anything about the ones that have the metal poles int he sides instead of the soft sides but I would think they might be better when it comes to the whole level issue!!
Have fun!
We've thoroughly considered this topic. I vote for a salt water pool if you get one installed! But I've begun realizing how easy it would be for me to become habitually unsocial rather than persistent in encouraging people to come over to enjoy it with us. I think it would take persistence and may never be able to equate the fellowship & ministry-opportunities a neighborhood pool could provide. But WHO KNEW NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS COULD BE SO EXPENSIVE!!!!! So, we're stuck & don't know WHAT to do!
honestly...when i was a kid, my dad invested in a pool. i say investment bc i have to assume it cost them a pretty penny.(we were not rich and he had five kids to feed and clothe...:o)) it was a metal above ground 32x16ft;4 ft high- knowing my dad, he took the time, researched, and bought the best and installed it perfectly. at the time, i am sure it hit their pocket book heavy. but i can guarantee you that the money at the front side paid off much at the other side. the pool lasted forever....at least 15 years - all five of us have more memories from that pool than anything else. we never took vacations. that was our "vacation" every summer. (as well as going to the beach all the time - i lived in RI but that is another story) and, yes, it was a magnet for the neighborhood, to a fault, at times...:o) but what fun we had. so all that gibberish to say...if you CAN spend a little more now for later....for something big and quality that will last more than a year or two. the girls will, one day, be big. they will want bigger and better....if it were up to me, now, we would have had a pool in our yard. hubby did not grow up with a pool so he did not agree with me...so we joined the local pool which has had its many benefits also. once again, one of those upfront costs that have paid huge dividends....my two cents...
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