This is holidays??

Holidays so far haven't been very restful. We decided to build the kids a play structure. After many online plans and catalogues, and not finding the kit or the plans that seemed right for us, we went ahead and had a family meeting and designed our own plans.

So in the past 3 days, we've gone from this:

and we added this:

and we got THIS:

It still needs a LOT of sanding and we're staining the top and painting the bottom sort of rock/castle-ish. We've purchased rock-wall holds for the far right side - all 9' to the top of the railing. We've also left some space off the far left side and the back of the second landing in case we stumble upon a slide/cargo net/climbing rope/fireman's pole either used or cheap. Mica's already been cuddled up in the top reading a book and the kids have had friends over who think it's the coolest thing ever.

The kids are beyond thrilled.....and I am so sore I can barely move. In fact, if I don't get off this computer chair right now...I may never get up.

Our Trip to Nebraska

We just got back from a week's vacation - to Nebraska. We have family there - Uncle Randy & Aunt Jan, and cousins Danica & Jason. It was so good to see them all again - we've been meaning to get down there for years! Anyway, it all began with a breakfast at McDonald's....those happy meal toys entertained the kids all the way to our first hotel in Sioux Falls, SD. Our next 3 nights were in Omaha....we had a day at the zoo, several yummy suppers, a day of shopping, an afternoon fishing in the park with Jason, lots of swimming at Jason's parent's house....and of course, we were there over the 4th, so lots of fireworks. Oh, and the shopping was good too - we bought tons of clothes and stuff for the kids. And creamer for me. The Americans have some delicious flavours we can't get here.