Big Boy Bunk Beds

I have been telling E. for some time that when he turned six he would get bunk beds. However, I have been watching for a good deal on bunk beds ever since we decided we would eventually need some for our family because I didn’t want to pass up a good deal on used bunk beds and then later resort to buying them new. What happened two weeks ago was better than I could have dreamed of: bunk beds for sale in the classifieds that were technically new. Apparently, they were purchased for a foster care situation that fell through. So, though they were second-hand, they were new. And they came with mattresses.

I wouldn’t call this purchase the best deal ever {my $10 exercise bike still takes the cake on that one}, but it was still what I had expected to pay for second-hand furniture that met all my criteria. Basically, I wanted bunk beds that were made of wood {not metal}. They needed to have good, sturdy side rails on the top bunk, and be able to be separated into two twin beds in the event that two twins would better serve our family’s needs. The two mattresses were a bonus. I had expected to have to buy those ourselves.

Another bonus was that they were made of unfinished wood, so my mother-in-law and I were able to stain them in any color we chose. I happen to have an affection for dark wood. Si chose the stain, but he asked my opinion. I said that I preferred dark, but not cherry {which is red} and not something that looked too black. He brought home the perfect chocolate color.

Every day during naptime, we snuck out to the garage and worked away for a couple of hours. Usually, due to nursing, my mother-in-law started working before I did, and finished up long after I had returned to my rocking chair for a visit with Q. What would have taken me a good three weeks only took three days {and then one more for drying}. What a wonderful gift of time she gave to me this past week!

In all the project was a great success, most notably because a certain little boy was absolutely ecstatic. He ran around on Friday night {as Si and I were finishing the assembly of The Bed} saying, “This is just really, really special!!” For now, he is sleeping on the bottom bunk until we can be sure that he is able to make it to the bathroom in the middle of the night. A climb down a ladder is a bit much to add at this age. My hope is that I can make a little reading fort for him with the top bunk until we have good reason to fill the vacancy. I think every little boy would like the adventure of bunk beds. I know mine sure does.