We’re too big a family for a single sofa – but we’ve been living with one nice sofa (we got it when we were first married, it is close to our hearts) and one pretty crappy little love seat (it was a hand-me-down of a hand-me-down) in our living room for years and years now.  I’ve made the best, and suffered through having a slipcover… “slip” off that love seat over and over and over…

It’s been a secret thorn in my side, but I’ve been making it through… In the end replacing just because with the boys, and 4 boys at that, made spending the money to get a new couch sort of pointless.  Mainly because 1) couches are expensive and 2) boys ruin expensive things…

So, yes, we’ve been suffering through, long video gaming sessions spent sitting in the middle of the floor.  Saturday morning cartoons interrupted by brother spats about who was sitting where first.  I’ve been tugging and tucking at that slip cover wistfully dreaming of the day when I could justify replacing that love seat, getting more chairs, something, anything!

Well a few weeks ago, I opened up the curtains at the start of a Friday morning, and what to I see but a garage sale directly across the culdesac from us.  And what do I see but a BIG and nice looking sectional couch!  The neighbors took forty dollars for it and even came over and helped g squeeze it in through the front door.  It really is in very good condition (only a few years old) aside from the smokey smell it retained from our neighbors nasty little habit.

I spent a FULL day cleaning it thoroughly with my carpet cleaner, and the cushions have been sunbathed and febreeze-d a few times, and we ALMOST have rid ourselves of the smokey smell.  It was a really cheap find, but it did cost a little extra TLC. Now that it is sitting proudly in the livingroom, I’m patting myself on the back a little.  It looks great in the room, totally not a slip cover and TOTALLY worth the work.  Plus it is something I never could have convinced myself to buy new, well at least not while the little natives are still uncivilized!

Still, this is number one reason I’m proud of my hard (sectional) work:

4 Clingerman boys + 1 best buddy = Plenty of Room to Spare.  YAY!