You can buy these wooden things almost anywhere, but good luck having the tools and manpower to put one together! But it's done and Stella is enjoying it. She's outside by 8:30 in the morning.
Chris (John's brother) helped John get started and got the tower (where the slide comes down) part started, but the rest of the job was completed by John and a retired handyman here it town. His name is Carman, and he did the work practically for free. He did, however, spend the entire time teasing John about his carpentry skills and his old "antique" drill! He's a pretty gruff old guy, and teased John a lot about constantly referring to the instructions. But I could see John was a great assistant! I think Carman just enjoyed the chance to pick on a lawyer!
John spent the entire day today putting on some of the last pieces, including the climbing wall and climbing rope.
Even A.J. is helping to break in the playset!
Stella and A.J.'s Grandma Kathy, my mother-in-law, paid us a nice visit today. She was in Battle Creek for a graduation party. One of John's first cousin's lives here in town, and one of her stepchildren had a high school graduation party today. Kathy rode out here with her sister, Coletta, who as you can see looks a lot like Kathy! Here is A.J. with his great-aunt Coletta.
And here he is with John's cousin Teri, who's so much got the California glow that you'd swear she was only 25! She loves babies (she has 2 teenage children), and had no trouble warming up to Albert John!
And here's a picture of me and Stella just because she's my best girl!
The best news of all is that the weather's been nice and we've enjoyed a break from the heat. It's been a great weekend for hanging out in our own backyard.
