Backyard Treehouse

When Mick, Tori, and Kade were here the first part of July, about the last day of their visit they were climbing in the apple tree and decided they wanted to build a treehouse. Grandpa told them there was not enough time to do it that visit, but the next time they came they wold definitely build a tree house. Well, they came again the first week in August and they had hardly gotten out of their car and they were asking when they could start on the treehouse. We do not have a tree big enough to hold a treehouse, so it was decided to build a freestanding structure. Monday afternoon Grandpa and Mick made the first of many trips to Lowe's and came home with a truckload of supplies and a book of plans. Clark started laying it all out. Rhett (Mr. Tower Crew) came along and offered some helpful suggestions. We ran out of daylight that day, but as luck would have it, Rhett happened to be working in the local area that week so he was at our house for a few nights. He was able to get the 4 corners put into concrete (this building is not going anywhere). Mick and Tori were good helpers. They each learned how to use the power screwdriver and the saw.Jamie and Lilli happened to be here that week also. Lilli did NOT like the noise of the power tools. We tried a number of things to make her happy. The ear phones from the car DVD system seemed to be the best sound blocker. Tori was also a good measurer. She was good at keeping Kade occupied so he didn't come to close to the power tools. Natalie showed up for the weekend "Yeah!!". She is so good at making a fun time for the kids. Last time it was the life size paper dolls. This time it was trampoline sumo wrestling. They had so much fun.

The work crew after the floor was finished. I was there helping (a little). Doesn't every job need a supervisor???One of the favorite parts is the "draw bridge" style ladder. The kids love that. There is also a bucket on a pulley so they can bring stuff up without having to carry it up the ladder. On the back side there is a climbing rope. It is a nice soft nylon rope with big knots every foot or so. It took Tori about a nano second to figure her way to climb it. She put the rope between her big toe and second toe and would stand on the knot and work her way up. She had all the neighbor kids doing the same thing before she went home. The finished project. Before the kids went home I was laying in bed with Mick and Tori Sunday night and said something about the "fort". Mick said it was a treehouse or maybe I could call it what Tori had called it that morning -- the PPP aka the Perfectly Peaceful Place. I love these kids so much.

It does look peaceful, doesn't it.