New places to play

I have been busy making spaces for thriving children.  I am no where near finished (I never am), but I've carved out a few pretty spots I want to share.  

First of all the kid's room;

I removed the slide tower from our old swingset, and painted the tower white.  I fastened it to their bunkbed and viola, free castle-bed!   

Then I put 4 c hooks up on either side of the bunks and strung wire from one to the other.  I strung up some cafe curtian rings onto the wire.  Cafe rings are brass, really inexpensive (around 2$ for 12), and can be found in your local retail store.  Next I clipped my ikea curtians up lengthways onto the curtian rings (the stripes are really supposed to go up and down).  

If the kids try to swing from thier curtians the rings will loose thier grip and the curtains will fall.  I figure it's better for the curtain to fall then the hooks to pull out of the wood or wall, or the wire to break.  This way I told them if the curtian falls because they yank on them, they can do a chore so I will reattach it.  Also if I need to wash the curtains I can just unclip them.  

The kids are now calling me the "coolest mom ever" for pulling off this new bed and Dorathea wants to hold a cool kid's room contest because she is sure will win.  They both love the privacy of the curtians as well as the fun of the playground equipment.  Doesn't every kid need a place to hide?

Most of the time I am loosing my kids to the backyard.

Remember the post on my personal blog about our move here?  I asked for a lot of things, space, a studio garage, full grown fruit trees that God answered with this house.   Well that just keeps happening.  I was thinking it would be nice to plant some blueberry bushes, and what to you know, there was a giant blueberry bush!  

I told Ted we should look for a dinner bell to call the kids from all the hidden places in the yard, and vioala!  Their was a dinner bell on the back porch.  

.  I have always asked God for place for the kids to hide, a playhouse maybe in the yard.  I think being outside is the best way for kids to organically grow up loving God and feeling peaceful.  

Well, There is the circle of giant rocks hidden away for adventurers to climb on, 

An overgown cedar bush by the house that Dorathea calls her "Hangout", and 

some lovely apple trees that make a great perch, and 

A mud puddle that the kids have made a "mud restaurant" out of.  

Here they are having tea a teddy bear's birthday.

"Toast!", with peppermint tea.

I am loving watching this yard unfold each season of flowers fruits and surprises.  

So thank you to the God who hears my prayers!

Next post will hopefully be of the rest of the house.  I can't wait to show you!

Peace to you and your home too!

Allison