Our Very Own Playground!

I have been thinking and looking and talking and researching and getting estimates and thinking and dreaming and thinking again about the possibility of purchasing a playset for our back yard. Well, after getting a multitude of opinions, and feeling confident that I had all the information I could have, thanks to a local discount warehouse, I found that I COULD have a fabulous play set and not have to take out a second mortgage on my house! I took the plunge, and ordered the deluxe model from this store that offered free home delivery, and professional installation for an additional fee (as if I was going to build it?!!!)
Well, needless to say, from the minute the delivery truck dropped the boxes in our driveway, we were both soooo excited!

  It was my last professional day at school, and Kayli would be spending the day at daycare while the installation took place. The two guys were dragging boxes to the back yard by 7 a.m. and while I was giving them some last minute instructions, we turned to see Kayli walking towards us with a tape measure in one hand and a paper in the other...

...as it turns out, Kayli had some detailed instructions of her own, that she had quickly sketched with her pencil, and brought out to share...

the "guy in charge" was great as he took the paper from Kayli, examined it closely, then proclaimed "that's exactly what your playset is going to look like when we're done!" Then, I broke the news to Kayli that we would not be staying around to supervise (although we all know I wanted to!) I left for work after answering a few questions and estimating where I'd like the playset positioned...decisions,decisions...then, I was back to check on things about midmorning...

 I had the guys move the base over and back, then just a smidgeon this way, then a tiny bit more, and then he said "ok, now, once I put in the anchors, there's no moving it" (arghh, the stress of decision making!) I gave the thumbs up, then let them move forward! The playset was not done by the time they left at 3:00, but they promised to be back tomorrow to finish ...and we just HAD to try out the parts that were done...monkey bars...check

swings...working well...

so hard to wait for the grand finale! As bedtime approached, I began to hear the rumbling of thunder, and started to hear raindrops falling. Oh, Man, I quickly ran outside to rescue the paper manual that was sitting in a box of hardware! Hopefully, all the other stuff should "weather the storm!" The guys didn't get back until afternoon the next day, when the sun decided to come back out, thank goodness!
Now, they had an extra "supervisor"...

upon completion, we could not believe the grand structure that stood before us!

Ohhh, it's a dream come true...the monkey bars...the rock wall...the clubhouse...the lookout tower w/ telescope...the built-in picnic table w/benches...we were swooning...

I made a plate of nachos, and we had our first picnic/happy hour on the lower level picnic spot! From that moment on, Kayli has been on this thing from morning, (in her jammies)...

to night...

Yes, I have also been in the clubhouse AND the lookout tower. I have tried out the swings. I have been down the slide a number of times. We have "decorated" the clubhouse with a magnetic dry-erase board, and small kitchen set with dishes, and even added small rug remnants, that not only help with muddy feet, but can be used to gain speed on the slide! This playset has given us ample opportunties to get outdoors and stay outdoors. This is totally a "win-win" situation! This playset is simply FABULOUS!