The process has been long. I considered it to be an investment, something that I wanted to grow with them thru the years and not just apply to today. I also wanted it to be able to accommodate friends that might visit. When you belong to a Twins Club, the number of attendees at a playdate can increase quite quickly! Then there was the planning of where to put it and make sure the layout corresponded with the space. It took us weeks just to decide which swingset to buy. I'm guessing there were moments that we were making it harder than it needed to be. Let's be honest, I was making it harder than it needed to be. But in the end, I think it was worth it.
Let's walk thru the journey together!
April 15...
We finally decided which swingset to buy and headed to Menards to make the purchase. I think the excitement of the decision clouded our planning judgement! We showed up 20 minutes before closing time. As we walked out, it started pouring down rain. We have a 16' trailer, which we left at home for some reason. And we didn't even empty the contents of the Expedition! Thankfully it was a 1.5 mile drive home!
The kids thought it was a fun adventure having slides and rock walls crowding their seating space.
Adam held up the rock wall the entire way home, except for that small break he had to take because he said his arms hurt. A good teaching moment about what it feels like when lactic acid builds up in your muscles! Notice Sara peeking into the picture!
Weekend #1...
Another trip to Menards to pick up all the lumber. This time, trailer in tow! The kids were very helpful in stacking the boards up, the lumberyard security guy brought over 2 handfuls of candy (thanks?), and I was thankful I brought the travel potty because Sara had to pee three times within 90 minutes. Are you getting a sense as to how the kids can slow down the process of a building project?
Here's Adam helping Shannon get the boards ready to cut, ear protection and all.
Our friend Ryan and his girls spent the day helping us build the roofs and structural legs of the towers. Adam got plenty of lessons on how to run a drill and a hammer drill.
Shannon used the sod cutter to clear the area. Our neighbors lent us their teenage son and daughter for the afternoon to load the sod into a trailer to haul it away. Thanks Tia and Kyle!
The kids had a great time playing with Ryan's girls. We were so thankful they kept the kids occupied. Sara and Makayla spent hours just sitting in the grass and chatting.
Weekend #2...
We finished building the components of the towers and loaded them on the trailer to drive in the yard to assemble them. Kyle helped us quite a bit this weekend, too, and had fun learning about power tools!
First tower is assembled! As you can see, it was quite chilly this weekend. It felt like we went thru almost all the seasons by the time we were done building! Fall weather, cold stocking hat weather, rainy spring with mud everywhere, and mid summer 90 degrees!
The first tower was moved into place by Shannon, myself, and my mom. Sometimes you have to get creative by how you move heavy, awkward objects.
Weekend #3...
It's a little hard to tell from the picture but this was the weekend of mud. Adam is covered from head to toe. He was constantly running his bubble lawn mower in the mud, getting the wheels so caked that they wouldn't turn!
This is part of why it took a number of weekends to finish. On days that it was just Shannon and I working, the typical schedule was eat breakfast, work for an hour, fix the kids a snack, work for an hour, fix the kids lunch, try to get them to nap but they wouldn't because it was too exciting, work for 2 hours, fix the kids a snack, work for an hour, fix the kids dinner, work for an hour, throw the kids in the bathtub...and start the process all over again the next day!
A second tower built and moved into place by myself, my neighbor, her daughter, and Shannon!
Weekend #4...Shannon had some uninterrupted time to work on it, well except for the interruption by the rain! The kids and I headed to Wisconsin for a long weekend and when we came back - slides! Here is Sara's first slide on the swingset.
And she sticks the landing!
Ta-da!
Adam's turn. Of course blankie had to watch from the ladder.
Schooop! He flew!
Weekend #5...A delivery of Kiddie Cushion mulch - thanks for picking that up for us, Corey! Adam was so excited that Corey let him push the button to raise the dump bed.
After breakfast the kids had great fun playing on the mulch pile,
Dancing on the mulch pile,
Concentrating hard to help me spread the mulch,
Sliding down the mulch, you get the idea! While Shannon added accessories and put on the finishing touches, I spread the mulch. All 6 yards of it. By myself. In the heat. *whew*
The stairs were built, and the swings attached. Sara was practicing pumping her legs to swing on her own.
The built in picnic table was assembled under the tower just in time for the kids to enjoy lunch under there. For the record, it's a little crowded for all 3 of us to sit under there! The advantages of being 5'2".
Final pieces - building the rock wall and attaching the bronco swing that they can both ride at the same time.
Even looking back now, I'd have to say it was well worth all the hard work we put into it. I love where we put it even though a few more gray hairs were added to my head to make the decision. It gets good shade for most of the day. Now the kids have a sandbox, trampoline, playhouse, and swingset to occupy them - all visible from the kitchen window and back deck.
Big, big thank you to Grandma Marilynn and Grandma Sue and Grandpa George for contributing to the project - Adam and Sara will enjoy it for many years to come!
2 comments:
That is SO AWESOME! You (and the kids, of course), are so going to enjoy that!!
Awesome!!
Post a Comment