The New Playset. . .

When we were living down south, we dreamed of having a playset for Emma one day. It was on our list of things to buy when we returned to the U.S. but we didn't get around to it last year because of all the other things on our to-do list! Kevin's been looking online for the past 10 months for the perfect playset at the perfect price. Finally, he found one on Craigslist for $50!!! Yes, fifty bucks! The couple just wanted it out of their backyard, so they were willing to part with it for a cheap price. Over a few days, Kevin tore it down and hauled the pieces to our place. He redesigned it using the lumber he had and then started digging. He placed the posts in concrete, so this playset will stay here if we ever have to move again! Our house might blow away in a tornado, but this playset is staying put!

Originally, we were going to place it in the grass, closer to the house. Then we started looking around the area and decided to place it behind the firepit, near the trees. I cleared an area and Kevin went to work. A few weeks later, we're almost finished. We just need a few more loads of dirt around the slide and then we'll lay fabric down and mulch around most of it. Emma goes out to swing every single day and Adri is learning to climb the slide. Because of the angle, I can't let Adri go down by herself yet. She's so tiny that she catches air on the bumps of the slide and she's just out of control when she goes down! She loves it though!

This is my favorite area outside. It's kind of a little retreat for us. We love sitting next to the fire at night and Emma loves playing back here during the day. Here's her view while swinging:

From our neighbor's yard, here's our backyard. Now that the trees are blooming, the playset is mostly hidden. We love our little wooded area. It makes us feel like we're living in the country, even though we're right in the middle of Bettendorf!!