the play structure

aaron spent the first bit of the summer building a beautiful play structure for the kids in the side yard.  first he moved the raised beds to the backyard, and then leveled the ground and covered the dirt with a weed-preventing fabric.  then he gathered materials (the main beams are from a local telephone pole manufacturer) and got to work!

there are two towers connected by curved monkey bars.  the east tower has a beautiful spiral staircase and a metal slide at the end.  the west tower houses isla's ice cream shop.  ezra's little swing hangs in the middle.  we've added a few pulleys, but there are also plans in the works for a boat steering wheel, a telescope and maybe some pirate flags.  

the gravel itself has been lots of fun, and the little excavator aaron made noah for his 4th birthday has found a great home deep in the gravel.  

here's a little photo montage of the project:

balancing the spiral staircase, with help from a neighbor

staircase in place

getting a feel for where to place the slide

isla trying out the new platform

works just fine for plies!

on the platform

ezzie watching through the window from his high chair

trying out the slide

ezzie, snap-peas, noah

staircase, slide and monkey bars in place!

ice cream shop tower in place!

spreading the pea gravel

fun with gravel!

baby swing added

baby added

sneaky baby

trying out the new pulley system

sending the bag of gravel on the pulley

receiving the bag of gravel on the pulley

enjoying some ice cream in isla's ice cream shop

selling some raspberries in the ice cream shop

beautiful sign, painted by troy

mysterious stones found on the staircase