Playset Progressing

Thanks to help from our good friends, we were able to make a huge amount of progress on Saturday.  

Tons of pieces of wood.  Tons of bolts, nuts, screws, washers, etc.  The three littles and I stayed on the ground to sort, gather, and carry things to the builders who were higher up.  Kari enjoyed working with her daddy up on the fort, and I think he enjoyed the extra help.

So many pieces.  So many screws and bolts.

So many helpers.

Thankfully!  They could carry the bay windows for us :)

Seriously, I am pretty sure this is one of the coolest forts ever.  High five!

And a cheesy grin :)

I brought my camera out intending to take pictures, but it was kidnapped by my children.  So, I actually didn't take very many of the ones you see.  But I did still get quite a few pictures that are pretty cool.  Like this one.

This shows you the bottom of the fort, where the picnic table is.

Boards.  So.  Many.  Boards.

Again, not one of my pictures, but I really think it is a cool view.

It started nearing the end of the second day, and we still weren't done.  That means we had put in 10 hours on the second day.

And we were certainly closer.  But....  not done.

You'll also notice how unlevel our yard is.  That is on purpose, to aide in drainage.  But it wreaks havoc on a swing set.  Since we finished putting everything together, it took us a few weeks to decide how to permanently level it.  We played around with building a retaining wall, but that was expensive and would/could mess with drainage issues we already deal with.  So we just bought a few railroad ties and put them in appropriate places.  Sturdy, and cheaper :)

New Playset

Hubby had an idea.  And when he gets an idea, he goes big.  Like, really really really big!  Until now, the kids have had a small plastic playset gifted to us by some friends.  It was great for a while.  But they have outgrown it.  They have wanted a tree house for quite a while, but we don't have a tree.  So we did the next best thing.  We ordered a brand new play house that is basically the best.  It has monkey bars, swings, firemans pole, rock climbing wall, slide, a fort, and a high observation deck.  I'm telling you, when hubby has an idea, he goes big!

We thought about hubby building something like this, but when we did a quick estimate, the price difference (because we can't buy in so much bulk) was only about $150.  And that didn't include the rounding over and sanding of the rough lumber, or staining it.  So, for that price, it was totally worth it for us to just buy instead of create.  However, we weren't willing to pay the extra $$$ to have it assembled.  "We can do this" we said.  When we finally unburied the directions, they call for two "moderately skilled" people and 24-36 hours to build it.  "We can still do this" we said (perhaps a little bit more hesitantly).  

When it was delivered (via freight truck), it came in four boxes about 2 foot wide, by 10 foot long, by 1 foot deep.  Oh geez.  And, worse, the parts were not in the boxes by the order you would need them.  Oh no!  They were in the boxes how they fit best.  So, in order to build item A, you would need two pieces from box 1, three pieces from box 2, and eight pieces from box 4.  So... we did the only thing we could thing to do.  We unloaded, separated, and put into piles.

There was a quite a bit of this going on.  "I need 10 pieces labeled M22!"

I started by building the few things that would be complete by themselves, but attached to the fort later.  They were smaller, and easier for me to do.

Hubby started by building the base of the fort.  We started building in the car port. In the shade and a stationary spot.  We knew we wouldn't be able to stay there forever, but it was worth a shot.  And that was the end of days one and two.  This was back when the kids were still in school, and hubby was still at work.  So we didn't have all day to work on them.  Still, it took about 7-8 hours for the first two days.

Realizing we could benefit from some more help, we "invited" our good friends over to assist.  This was Saturday morning, as the architects came back from scoping out the correct spot.

And then it was time to move.

Which quickly became a group effort :)

Phew!  Time to take a break!

We decided to put it in the back corner of the yard.  This area has lots of shade, which mean we don't grow grass there (nothing to ruin) and hopefully the kids can play longer without getting too hot in the summer.

Stay tuned for more progress :)

Birthday Celebrations

My birthday happened to be on a Thursday this year.  Hubby had been out of town over the weekend (which is pretty unusual for him), so he got to take off Thursday and Friday to kinda make up for it.  That meant he was home for my birthday!  Kari made a secret plan, and spoke with hubby about it on his drive home.  Thursday morning, he and the kids set their alarms super early so they could run some "errands".  It allowed me to sleep in a little bit, and I never mind that.  When they came home, it was a sweet wake up...

And then I came downstairs to decorations and donuts!  Happy Birthday to me!!! :)  

 For the rest of the day we didn't do much (which I also don't generally mind).  I did some online shopping for a new purse and a new bathing suit.  We went to Kelsey's "nastics" that evening.  And after that, hubby and the kids took me out to dinner.  Our good friends Mandypants and Josephine got to come with us too!  Olive Garden, for the win!

 We stuffed ourselves, because that is what you do, and then headed home.  We were so full we didn't even eat my cake!  We put the kids to bed and then played a few board games.  I am such a party animal.  My other baby mama friend stopped by for a few minutes too, to drop off some sweet cookies, and play a round of Clue.

Then, because hubby didn't have to work, and because "why not?", my birthday sort of spilled over onto Friday too!  Mandypants watched the kids for us, and hubby and I went on a motorcycle date to the range.  I was finally able to shoot my pistol.  And, it turns out....  I'm not horrible! :)  We reunited with the kids and had pizza for dinner before we played a few more games and went home.  

I got to sleep in, I didn't have to cook dinner two nights in a row, I got to go on a date with my hubby and shoot my pistol.  I am not sure a birthday can get any better.  Seriously.  :)

Best Daddy

When Hubby is home, the kids love to spend time with him.  Kelsey will bring him a book and demand that he read to her.  Regardless of what his previous plans were, how his day went, or whether or not she had gotten out of her pajamas that day.  Sometimes, that means lying on the floor, legs in the air, panties showing.

 And, sometimes while we are trying to break Kelsey of her nail biting habit, someone needs to paint her fingernails with that nasty tasting stuff.  And daddy happens to have free hands and free time.

 And because he is such a good daddy, painting nails doesn't bother him at all.

Yes, that is my toe separator she is wearing on her hands.  Don't try to tell a 4 year old how to do things.  Most of the time, they won't listen :)

Happy Belated Fathers Day to all the daddy's out there.  To my hubby, who is a great teacher, a great provider and who wants to share so many things with our kids.  To my dad, now known as Grandpa, who has grown into that title so well.  To Pop, who raised a good man, and who always has an extra for me or the kids.  To the many fathers, potential fathers, "extra" fathers, father figures, and good men who make this world a better place.

DC: Day 4, Going Home!

After our legendary sing along, it was time to get in the buses.  In an effort to save money, and make the trip seem shorter, the last night of our trip would be spent on the bus driving home.  We loaded up around 8 pm, and had a long drive a head of us.  Now, the kids were tired.  The adults: probably more tired.  But there is no way you can go to bed before 9pm.  It is just socially unacceptable.  To entertain some of the kids on the short bus, the English teacher (duh) helped them to write a song.  I can't upload and share the video directly, but here is a link to the video on their facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/LadoniaElementary/videos/966277366818345/

And here are the words. (sung to the tune of Welcome to my House by Flo Rida)

And there was a movie or two played.  But most everyone was asleep before midnight.  The driver stopped to get gas and switch drivers.  And even though I didn't exactly sleep well, thankfully, I didn't have to actually try to stay awake.  No bus troubles.  Few pit stops.  We made it home in pretty good time.

Many thanks to these teachers who arranged and planned their little hearts out.  They even gave me an award when we got back for being a good helper.  I felt a bit silly accepting the award, because I don't feel like I did anything special.  But it is nice to know that someone was appreciative of little ol' me :)

We got home on Sunday morning.  Around 7.  Kari and I ate breakfast, and then went and took 3 hour naps while hubby and the other kids went to church.

Thankfully our good friends Mandypants and Josephine invited us over for dinner too, so I didn't even have to cook!  It really was a trip of a lifetime, and I am super glad that Kari and I got to go together!

DC: Day 4, Hard Rock Cafe

Once we were done shopping, we literally walked across the street to go to dinner.

Please remember that all meals and snacks were paid for on this trip with our initial fee.  From breakfast at the hotel, to Subway sandwiches (or the Mane Grill) for lunch, to 2 food courts and the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner!!!  Amazing selection.  Something for everyone.  And super great that we never had to pony up for food unless it was extra and we wanted to.

Our buddy Kevin came to sit at our table too :)

As you can imagine with a group this large, it took a bit to get our food.  But they had a special set up where the menu choices were fewer, but easier prepared for the entire group.  And, what was available was delicious, of course.  

And then....  And then.  Music is playing in the background constantly.  It is the Hard Rock Cafe!  But as our little group of Alabamians were sitting in our Nation's Capitol of Washington, DC, a song came on that was special to our hearts.  And that was it!  We busted it out!

If you can't tell, that is "Sweet Home Alabama"!!!  And a whole school of 5th graders singing along.  :)  The "Roll Tide Roll" part is something that I don't agree with (War Dang Eagle!!!) but it is apparently customary if you go to a University of Alabama home game.

And the flood gates were opened.  Maybe we were punch drunk and tired from go go go-ing for the last several days.  Maybe we had just had so much fun, we could no longer contain ourselves.  But whatever the case, whenever a song came on that the kids knew, there was no containing them, and they sang out their little hearts.  And an impromptu concert was born.

There were a few boys who had gotten their food first, and therefore got done eating first.  And they began to dance.  When Kari got done with her food, she started to get up.  I asked her what she was doing and she looked at me and said "To dance".  And this is where I struggle.  Me.  The white girl.  Who doesn't always have a great sense of rhythm.  Or look great while she is doing it.  Here is my daughter, who has inherited certain traits from me, but obviously not others.  While my self-conscience self would not even dream of going up there, Kari has no shame and doesn't care what other people think.  So, trying not to project myself onto her, I said "Go."

And for about 30 minutes, the kids sang and danced and had a grand old time.

I'm not sure whether the rest of the people in Hard Rock thought it was as epic as I did, but I don't think I could imagine a more perfect ending to the trip.  Full of energy, full of fun, full of coincidence and unexpectedness.

While they had told us we could not request any songs, our teachers somehow knew what the next song would be.  And because they had previously prepared a little routine for an assembly, they got up and worked it!

And it became a duet of sorts.  And the kids were happy.  And the chaperones were happy.

And there was much rejoicing in the land.  I'm pretty sure, by the end, every child had gotten in on the singing and dancing at least once.  And I'm pretty sure that there really isn't a more epic way that our trip could have ended.  So fun.  So unexpected.  So perfect.

DC: Day 4, Souvenir Shopping

After our quiet time in the cemetery, the buses picked us up.  The kids were still a bit quiet.  I'm not sure if that was residue of the cemetery or the fact that they were exhausted.  Probably both.  

They dropped us off at our dinner spot.  But first, we had the opportunity to go across the street to go shopping!!!  The teachers had encouraged the kids to wait to buy something because they figured it would be cheaper here than buying at each individual place.  Plus waiting for individuals to buy things would be insane.  So, we sent approximately 50 kids, and whatever adults wanted to go, into this store.  There was so much to see, and so much to pick from!!!

In the end, I picked a pretty green and pink Japanese cherry blossom bracelet.  (We had missed them again by about 2 weeks this time).  And my traditional trip ornament of the Capitol Building.  I like to get these ornaments because then I get to decorate my Christmas tree with memories :)

Kari had a pretty hard time deciding what to buy.  She had worked hard for her spending money, and wanted to make sure she spent it wisely.  After looking over the whole store, and then some, she finally decided on this cool diorama thing.  It was inexpensive enough to fit her budget, and included pictures of each building that we had seen or toured through.

The last thing we had to do was eat dinner before we got on the bus for our overnight drive home.

DC: Day 4, Arlington Cemetary

Thankfully, after standing for over an hour, and having walked over 20 miles in 3 days, we got to go on a trolley tour of the rest of the cemetary.  

They told us some history, pointed out some famous graves and answered questions.

Its amazing to see how many people have served our country.  Not all of them have died during their service, but they still have the honor of being buried among their friends and fellow servicemen.

Fun side note: there was some plumbing issues at the cemetery while we were there.  And they had probably 25 port a potties lined up in the parking lot.  Good times for everyone.

DC: Day 4, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Once we got off the subway again, we walked down the street to Arlington Cemetery.  We made sure to give the kids a talking to before we went inside.  About respect and quiet.  We headed towards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier first.  

 Though it was a pleasant surprise, the kids were actually quiet.  We walked in on the tail end of a changing of the guard.  During the summer months, they change every 30 minutes.  So we decided to stay for an extra few minutes and watch a complete change.

 We were then pleased to see two wreath presentation ceremonies.  Again, the kids were silent and very respectful.

By the time that was over, we waited for about two more minutes and watched one more complete changing of the guard.

There were several vets who came to see the procession also.  

 I don't think the kids really entirely got it, though they were very respectful. Many of the chaperons and teachers were a bit tearful.

I had to take a picture of the mat they walk on.  Their exact number of steps are so precise, that even though there are many different people who march, the places are worn through.  It was a quite moving experience personally.  The respect given to those soldiers, whose names we don't even know, was a palpable thing.  One of my favorite parts of the trip.