Our house is always busy in August. School starts and back-to-back birthdays. Erin celebrated her 13th birthday on Thursday. We now have 2 teenagers in the house!
Mario had wanted to surprise Erin with a baby grand piano when we moved into our house. But he never had time to go look for one. So we put it off until her birthday. Eric and I went to look for one the week before with a friend but we couldn't find a good one for a good price. But one popped up on Craigslist over the weekend. I emailed and asked some questions about it but before I could arrange a time to see it, the lady selling it, emailed me and said if I took possession this week she would drop the price from $3800 to $2900. I called a piano technician and he met Erin and I at the home on Monday afternoon. We decided we better let Erin in on the surprise just in case she didn't like that particular piano. Erin had no idea where we were going and why. So that was her surprise when we pulled up into a stranger's driveway and walked inside to see the piano. The technician told me that I was getting the piano for a steal. Vivian, the seller, needed to get rid of the piano quick because she was downsizing to a condo and moving out that weekend. She had bought it in 2001 with the intention of learning how to play again. But she had learned in Puerto Rico and the method taught in the US was so different than what she was used to, that she gave up trying. The cool part is that Vivian is Cuban. She was really excited that my little Cuban girl was getting her piano that she was selling well below the value.
The piano was delivered on Erin's birthday. Then we left for a day at the water park and camping at the Mahoney State Park. Erin invited Sydney and Makenzie Hettinger to go with our family. It has been so hot all summer, but on Erin's birthday it finally cooled off and actually was a little chilly for a water park. But we still had fun, especially in the wave pool.
Sydney made Erin the best chocolate pudding pie I have ever had. So we sat around our picnic table and sang Happy Birthday with blown out candles (from the wind) on her pie.
I think Erin had a great 13th birthday. We are all excited about the new piano especially since we have all 4 kids playing now. I am even thinking of taking lessons again. We are keeping our old piano (unless one of my siblings wants it) since it was handed down from my parents. Eric is very sentimental and thinks it needs to stay in the family. So if no one else wants it, I am sending it with him when he buys his first house.