So it's been since May. Where haven't we been? We've finished school, vacationed, built, hosted and gone back to school. This post though is for the weeks of return from sunny Florida, when we spent two and a half weeks building a play structure designed by Christopher Michael!
1 and a half holes were dug before we left. Days 1 and 2 were spend buying, digging, building, and pouring. Lumber was purchased down the road at 84 Lumber. Macaroni hauled it all in two trips!
The rock took 3 hours to move.
The rock took 3 hours to move. Chris framed it, while Jess made lunch and took a break from the blood suckers and gnats (and yes, stayed cool and hydrated). We dropped the mainframes in and poured the concrete and left our prints in it:)
Day 3 was for decking first the joists. Chris pleasantly solved the bug issue for Jess by aiming the undying Shullenbarger work fan in our general area. Elijah was so diligent that we brought him out his own tool bench. Then the start of the decking.
Day 4 saw more decking. Elijah organized ALL the scrap in his own work area. Then he began providing assistance from the ground, but he finally conquered the ladder and moved in on the real deal. He screwed a whole plank in at some 20+ screws with the power drill and used the rachet too.
Day 4 saw more decking. Elijah organized ALL the scrap in his own work area. Then he began providing assistance from the ground, but he finally conquered the ladder and moved in on the real deal. He screwed a whole plank in at some 20+ screws with the power drill and used the rachet too.
Not to be outdone Caleb and Rebekah quickly helped too and by the end of Day 4 you didn't need the ladder to get to the structure. YAY! Day 5 saw the roof and swing bar go up and the first piece of equipment, the climbing rope.
Week 2 put Jessica at camp but the rest worked hard and she contributed in the afternoon. The swing anchors went in. The swings went up, the ladder was installed, the post wrapped, the tire was picked up at Nininger's out of the scrap bin and the decking was partially closed in.
Yes, she is going THAT high. The tire swing (a must for Jessica) holds 350 lb and each swing 250 lbs. The anchors (A frame) are on a rod in the ground and then bolted to traditional swing anchors. The post huggers were on sale at Home Depot for $5 a pack.
Final touches included a ship's wheel and telescope with map to chart course, the compass does not point to your heart's desire, just north.
Week three saw the completion with the climbing wall and enclosures on that side. The slide has been up. In case you didn't notice the gang plank is connected to the deck.
The baby swing will be for Hadassah in the Spring but for now her big brother still fits.
The only piece missing is on order....netting for around the gangplank.
It's been used almost daily and now with school it makes for a great recess area.
Important facts:
1. Chris has electric run out to the shed
2.Only one set of tools was purchased (quik clamps)
3. We drank LOTS of ice water--thank you Rebekah for seeing the need to often and filling it
4. OFF doesn't work on MD bugs
5. Being pregnant taught Jessica what everyone else in the family feels like when a bug bites
6. Elijah can climb a 6 ft ladder
7. Caleb can survive a willful jump off the 5'6" deck...and not know it's supposed to hurt
8. Rebekah can climb the rope with her toes.
9. Chris can do anything he sets his mind to--pouring concrete for example.
10. God helped us survive it all-- the heat, the bugs, the trips to the hardware store, entertainment for the kids, and patience to perservere
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