When I was 3 years old, Santa brought me a beautiful pink tricycle. It had the prettiest pink & white flowered seat, and a white basket decorated with brightly colored plastic flowers. Oh, I loved that trike! I don’t have many things left from my childhood, but somehow the tricycle managed to stick around all these years. When we started the adoption, Zack said we should get it out
and clean it up. The problem is, we didn’t particularly want our son riding a pink trike. Don’t get me wrong – I know real men wear pink, and Zack sports a pink polo shirt from time to time (which I really like, but I digress). But a pink cycle is a different story!
So Zack came up with the idea of taking it to a body shop to get it fixed up. It was a long shot because the rust had really done some damage. But after weeks of taking different parts to different shops, and doing a little work ourselves, I have to say that the result is nothing short of awesome!One shop powder-coated the body electric blue and the handle bars, silver. Another shop did an awesome job on the wheels. I re-covered the seat with foam and black vinyl. Zack found black
handle grips and pedals and got them in place, and reassembled the whole thing.It wound up costing a lot more than a new tricycle would cost (actually, Zack says more than 3 trikes) – but I love that I have something to pass down to our son! I can’t wait to take a picture of Little Guy riding it – then I can do a side-by-side of me when it was pink, and him now that it’s blue.
I’m also including a picture of the cool birthday cake that Zack’s mom got for us last week. It was Zack's birthday, but we celebrated both of our birthdays since we’ll be in Ukraine for mine. She went to get the cake at Wal-Mart, and through a strange conversation found out that the lady working there is from Ukraine – so she wrote on it in Ukrainian. We’re guessing that is says Happy Birthday, but Nataliya can probably tell us for sure. Anyway, thanks to Ben & Barbara for the neat cake and for our gift!41 Days!
14 comments:
What a great idea!!! The trike looks awesome!
What a wonderful story!! You guys continue to amaze me! Little Mr. Dove is going to be one lucky little boy to have you both as parents!
Love to you both!
Dee Ann
The trike looks great and what an incredible treasure to give your son! I love the fact that you both invested time and TLC into it to make it new for him. Your little guy will be joining some special parents!
Love the trike! It's worth just about any cost to pass something like that down to your child. I have an old doll that I gave to my daughter. The thing is so old, and the hair looks like she stuck her finger in a light socket, but it's one of my daughter's most prized possessions. I'm sure your little guy will feel the same way about the trike! :)
And that cake is amazing!!! Kudos to your MIL and the cake decorator for the great idea!
Love the trike!!
Yes, it says "Happy Birthday" in Ukrainian!!!
What a great idea about the tricycle! I'm sure your son will treasure it and pass down to your grandchildren!
What a great idea! I love the tricycle & how happy your son will be when he gets to ride it. Can't wait to see side by side pictures of mommy & son!
That cake is sooo cool! How fun!
We keep bumping into people from Ukraine or from Russia and when we do, we practice our feeble Russian on them. I am sure they find us amusing!
I think I will learn how to write that on a cake myself for my own Birthday since I am hoping to be home by then (Jan 31).
I don't have much vocabulary but I have been using my newfound recognition of the Cyrillic alphabet by writing the girls' Christmas gift lists in English words but spelled with Russian letters. It's great; I don't have to hide the list and I won't forget what it was they had wanted and be reduced to wandering the stores!
I can't remember; are you guys using an agency or going independent?
Melissa, We are going indy, i.e. not using an agency. We enlisted the assistance of a fabulous coordinator here in America.
Are you with Cathy H.? We are.
I asked because I am not sure if we should be expecting a phone call or an email. Steve is expecting email but I hear several people say they got "the call" to announce their appointment date.
I noticed you got a "call" and wondered if agencies call and facilitators email.
Anyway, I know I'll find out one way or the other!! Can't wait!!!
No, we are using a local lady named Tonya. She came very highly recommended and has been great. We have also heard great things about Cathy. We have friends at church who used her.
That looks so great!!! I'm sure he'll enjoy it!
I remember that Christmas morning like it was yesterday. You, Jenn, on your little tricycle out in the driveway. It was sooo cold, but you just couldn't wait to get out there and ride. :-)) I can't wait to see little guy out in your driveway, riding that same little trike. Aren't we all gonna be blessed, more than we can even imagine, by having this precious little boy in all of our lives!! God is so good ! I'm so thankful that you and Zack get to experience the same joy of becoming parents that I got to experience all those years ago. It's a love like you can't even imagine!! It won't be long now!!
I love yall very much,
Mom
I remember seeing you on that trike. Can't wait to see Little Guy on it, too!
Love you all,
Aunt Bonnie
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