Playset!

About a month ago my Mom called me into her office and asked me if the kids would like one of these...one of these was a playset she had up on the computer. My first reaction was, "MOM!!!" Then she used quite convincing and very determined language so I wasn't going to argue anymore!

A few days later my Dad and Michael went off to Costco to pick it up. Since April was so soggy the boxes sat in the garage for a few weeks.

Michael started by putting together the picnic table first. 

It was quite funny because even though the boxes were there and the slide was sitting on top of them the kids didn't seem to notice. Then I had Michael take out the DVD for the instructions and on the other side of the box there was a picture. That's when Owen took notice and asked, "Is this a playhouse?" After playing around with him for a while he finally realized that it was true and it was a playhouse/playset. The above picture is how his face looked! 

Once Michael got the picnic table together we broke it in by having a snack. 

Next Michael built the ladder and the climbing wall. 

Then the wall panels went up. 

This part actually went pretty fast. 

The next day Michael put the railings up for where the slide goes and the balcony. This was also when we discussed how we would need to expand the gravel area for the playset. We always knew that the slide would come out farther than the current gravel area, but we didn't realize how much. 

While Michael was busy building on Friday night Zeke got to play on the little playset for the first time.

On Sunday Michael worked for hours and finished it! 

Here the boys are doing their argh pirate faces!

Owen is swabbing the deck with one of Daddy's gloves! 

While Michael was busy putting the swing portion together I went ahead and got the slide up for the kids. Then I documented each of their inaugural slides!  

Then it was time for ice cream in the backyard! 

Zeke even got to have some of my ice cream...he's not to keen on cold food though! 

On Saturday night Zeke fell on his face in the kitchen...he slipped on a Tupperware container he was trying to used to stand up. Poor baby slip his lip in two places and got a bloody nose. You can see the spot on his lip that's all scabbed over. 

Then the swingset was up and it was time for swinging! 

Lots of swinging! Owen is a crazy boy with the swings. He can push himself all on his own now. It's so wonderful!!! 

While Owen and Ella were swinging Jack was checking out the clubhouse. 

I remember when climbing a rock wall was something that Jack was working on at Occupational Therapy! My he's come a long way!!! 

Spying on the others! 

Here it is all done! In the next couple months we are going to order some pea gravel and redo the playarea perimeter. 

Thank you Mom!!! The kids and I have been spending so much more time outside and we love it!