Our New Playground

Last fall I got a great deal on two playground kits on clearance on the internet. This spring we finally got around to putting them up. I changed the designs around a little bit, and connected the two playsets with a bridge. Some of my daycare familes came to help out the Saturday of spring break, so we got a lot done that day. Then Bryan and I worked on it as much as we could. Now it's done for now. I'm hoping to get another online deal and add a big covered twisty slide this fall.


The top picture is the view from the house. There's the 5' platform on the left, then the bridge to the smaller platorm, then monkey bars to a tiny platform (designed by me and built by Bryan).
Off the tiny platform towards the house is a Bryan-designed balance beam (Merlyn wants to add an "up and down fing like Grandpapa's", which is teeter-totter that we'll hopefully put on the end of the balance beam). Opposite the monkey bars is a cargo net, which Berkleigh can climb all the way up and then over the beam of the platform to the other side.

Attached to the side of the tiny platform facing the barn is a swing beam with a baby swing (donated by Faye and Jerry) for Alison, two regular swings, and a trapeze. Off the big platform is a swing beam attached to another little platform with a ladder and green slide. That swing beam has two regular swings. I am also working on finding a deal on climbing rocks to build a rock wall onto the other side of the big platform.

In June we are planning on putting porches, siding, and a new roof on the house. We'll put roofs on the playset to match the house at that time. The kids love the playground. It's wonderful to watch them all swarm all over it when the big kids get home from school. All eleven kids (mine and daycare) can play on it easily. Now the yard looks like a real daycare play yard.