A new set of wheels

N spotted this rusty, well-worn, flat-tired, in-need-of-love boys' bike at the Salvation Army earlier this week for $7.50 (please note the thriftiness that has rubbed off on my hubby). We have been searching for a good used bike for L for months as her tricycle looks more like a tiny clown bike now that she's a lanky 4-year-old. With a little optimism and vision, this is what transpired over the past 48 hours:

We brought it home.

 

L gave it a bath. N and L spent $25 on a new set of training wheels, some rust removal tools, a few new pieces of hardware and an adorable basket for the front.

 

N took it apart, cleaned the pieces, spray-painted the frame, reassembled and tricked it out to make it look a little more girlie. And here it is.

 

She took it for a spin tonight. It works great and looks pretty. And we're pretty sure no one in the neighborhood (or the entire city, for that matter) will have one just like it.