The Johnson clan had planned to go out of town last weekend but we learned Thursday evening there was a mix-up in dates and our trip was switched to June. And so we did what any normal, sane family would do: ransacked our house and had a garage sale 24 hours later.OK, that would be abnormal and insane.
Now that we know we're not having any additional children, I have had a nagging feeling we needed to finally sell all the baby items we've been holding onto. Storage space is limited at our house and what little we have was filled with boxes upon boxes of clothing and every piece of furniture and toy imaginable.
Think I'm joking? I invited some friends over to buy some clothes the Friday afternoon before the sale.
In case you couldn't spot them, they're over there in the corner.
Our friend Karl and his wife Connie dropped by to pick out some clothes for their baby. Something you should know about Karl--he lives in a small two-bedroom condo. When he walked into the eye of the hurricane on Friday, he looked around and queried, "How is this even possible?"
It was then that I taught him some very elementary math. The equation?
Grandma X 2.
In the early years, both grandmas showered Hadley in particular with the most darling outfits. I have not been nostalgic about getting rid of any of their toys or furniture but as I saw people walking off with her adorable clothes? There were some mama moments and I ended up saving some of my favorites to give to her when she becomes a mom.
And maybe, just maybe, I was offended when people overlooked some of her cuter selections. Did they not have any sense of taste?
A few things this mommy blogger learned at the garage sale:
1) Do not pull it together in 24 hours. Duh.
2) Do not advertise questionable materials on Craiglist. Case in point: Jamie posted some of his err...grow equipment. His clientele? Let's just say when I saw these sketchy dudes coming toward us I knew they weren't in the market for a pack 'n play.
3)People do not tell the truth at garage sales. We sold our 9-person tent because, welp, it's for 9 people and it was tough to find a campsite big enough for it. We plan to buy a smaller tent and reattempt camping with the kiddos. I say reattempt because every family camping trip we have had has been a disaster (case in point here).
That is why I had to chuckle at the sign Jamie made for the tent:
Liar.
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20 Comments:
Wow! I love to go to garage sales, but hate having garage sales. It's SO much work! But in the end, you get rid of so much stuff AND make some extra cash, which is always nice.
Man, I want that tent. I think I'm addicted to garage sales and these pictures are giving me the itch!
Addicted to going to them or addicted to having them? One is must more serious than the other!
Did you sell the tent? Would be perfect for our Lake Powell camping!
Yep, tent: gone. Will be in the market for another one this week!
I burst out laughing at your parting shot of, "Liar."
I love the sign on the tent, though. It made me want to buy it.
I so get what you said about parting with baby clothes. I have been crying over it lately. I also understand the feelings that come over a mother when someone doesn't want some of her adorable baby clothes. The nerve. Hmmmph.
Glad to know I'm not the only one mourning the loss of baby clothes!
I think the older the kids are, the harder it is to get rid of the baby clothes. I had no problem when they were still babies, but now that they are older, I wish I had kept an outfit or two.
Hope you had fun. I couldn't get paid enough to make it worth having a garage sale. Not my thing.
We looked for 2 years for a tent, and never could find one (at garage sales). I'm sure you made someone's day.
I love Jamie's sense of humour! So awesome!!
Okay, every time I get on here to comment, my internet shuts down. I think my internet is in a fight with your blog!
I sooo would of been at your garage sale! My hubby just bought some grow stuff and no, not for weed! I will say, in about two weeks, we already have mini bell peppers! (When I say "we", I mean him because I can't even water a plant correctly.)
I remember I honestly sat down and cried as pregnant mommies came to my house and take pieces of the baby nursery I so carefully put together. I watched them take away the matchy matchy stuff and remembered sitting in Babies R Us with my big ol' belly and my mom picking it out.Whaa. See now I am going to cry again.
I'm not feeling like such a sad case anymore hearing that others have gone through what I did. :-)
That is too funny. You're way too ambitious. I just donated all myself or gave it to friends. Much easier that way!
That is a lot of stuff. Good for you for going through it all! It's hard to get rid of some stuff...I have a bag of baby clothes that I never look in but I also know I will never get rid of it.
"Growing materials!" Heh! That tent sign. Oh, I wish I knew your family in real life.
Don't you think the number of people who can supposedly sleep inside a tent (according to the manufacturer) is in reality double what actually fits inside? A nine-person tent, to me, means four people will be comfortable in there.
You guys had ALOT of stuff to sell. Wow.
Wow - SuperWoman! What a huge task in a short time. I love garage sales. When people start buying my stuff, I just want to SELL everything! Money, money, money...
I'm having one in a few weeks. I just laughed at the huggies boxes, for I have about 30 of them in my garage full to the brim of sorting out I've done over the last few years. Like you, baby stuff must go.
Ahhh yes, the Huggies boxes. Frightening to think how much honey we've spent on diapers!
Don't get me wrong: I like big tents. It's just the footprint was too big to fit any campsites. We're downsizing but not by a lot. I definitely need my space. :-)
lol! 'grow equipment' I wonder if those guys were into illegal activities or, er, male enhancement? We recently got rid of a bunch of my daughter's baby clothes. I had to hang onto some of the cute, newborn stuff so I gave them to her as doll clothes.
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