the big night

The tree house had its first overnight guests last week when Emma, Sophia, Sela and Nina had their first sleepover in the trees! I was excited for the girls (as were they with their new freedom), but Serena and I wondered if they'd really make it all night. We kept lots of house lights on, equipped the girls with flashlights, bedding, favorite stuffed animals and even toilet paper, just in case. Emma had her cell phone so they could call if they needed anything. Kona  kept a close eye and slept on the lawn down below.

I stayed up till about 12 and made some kettle corn for a midnight snack and also for an excuse to say one last goodnight and check to see if anyone was feeling uncertain or afraid. As I was bringing the kettle corn to the girls, I stopped across the bridge from the tree house when I heard  music playing.  They were having a dance party! There is a huge window in the tree house and the four girls were all facing it so they could watch themselves groove.  It was seriously the most adorable thing ever. They couldn't see me since I was in the dark, and I didn't watch long before I knocked (I felt like I was spying), but oh my goodness, it was cute. A total "girls just wanna have fun" moment. I slept in the front guest room with the window open so I could hear if they called out. I actually thought I wouldn't sleep much, but next thing I knew it was morning and there was no Emma, Sophia, Sela or Nina in the house and no missed calls on my phone. Amazing! It was actually a little bit strange to realize my kids slept outside of my house all night long. I started making them some raspberry muffins for breakfast and then I got a call from Emma saying she was coming down to use the restroom. She said the other girls were sleeping and that everything was good. I had to grab Sela and run to a tennis tournament, but it looked like everyone slept well. Nina was on the daybed, Emma in the loft, and Sophia and Sela on thick mats and blankets on the floor. I think this will be one of their top memories from summer 2010!

what? rain in seattle? on a holiday weekend?!

Our plan for this weekend was a last minute trip to one of the San Juan Islands, but the forecast for what seemed like most of Washington was pretty soggy for the entire long weekend, so we decided to stay home. This turned out to be a good thing because I wasn't feeling great part of the time. We watched movies together, made pizza, worked in the garden, went out to dinner at Lola in Seattle, and the rest of the time the kids were so happy to just play, and not get in the car. There was rain, but the temperatures were still warm so they were able to play outside. They pretended to be a family of monkeys and used the ropes under the treehouse for vines. Then they built tunnels and sand castles in the sandpit. Sela decided to make a scarecrow for the garden. Zig put drip lines in our pumpkin patch and I did some cooking and organizing. I felt sick to my stomach all day saturday and stayed in bed. Today I couldn't move my neck when I woke up so I had to get the earliest appointment for a massage that I could find. I've never had a massage for pain, only relaxation, and I definitely prefer the relaxation kind, but this one helped tremendously even though it hurt because I was so sore. I'm not 100%, but much improved. I'm pretty certain part of healing is not picking up Evan all the time, but we all know that won't be happening. Now we're onto another busy week of field trips, projects, meetings, birthdays and other good stuff that I can't wait to be through with :)

treehouse

It's been a long wait for these anxious little kiddoes. About 16 months or so. But Ben and Eric worked like crazy to get the treehouse ready this week and Saturday afternoon the big moment arrived. No one has been allowed up since the beginning so all the kids have seen has been from below which has totally added to the magic and anticipation. I think they must have asked Eric a hundred times on Friday "is it done yet?" Zig spent a few hours Saturday morning adding some fun touches to the inside. And then we gathered the kids along with Sophia, Emma, and Sydney and led them up to their new little getaway in the trees. I don't know what I enjoyed more, watching Zig beam as they explored their new space or the looks on the kids faces. What a memorable day! The videographer had some difficulties so you might get a little motion sick watching this :)

After more than a year of waiting, the treehouse is finally complete. Come on in!




Rollin was just a little bit excited.


A ramp leads to a swinging bridge


The front door

the kids made a "no shoe" rule

this is the ladder leading up to the loft

Another way to get to the treehouse is to climb the ropes


Some of the windows salvaged from an old tear down house and painted

back porch


who's lookin' out the window!



the old bed...the cushions were white so they are being recovered



monkey ropes beneath

the table is one of Zig's finds

Ben made a balance beam

tire swing from a racing tire



more fun on the ropes

Can we just live here? It would be so much easier to keep clean ;)


And the man who built it all!
To say the kids adore Eric is an understatement!


Zig came up with the design and most of the details and Eric made it happen. They make a great team!

Just making sure it's safe for the kids.....

And having a little bit too much fun! There's a kid in all of us, or so the saying goes. I believe that to be true and it's pretty fun to see Zig embrace his inner 9 year old. I heard laughing coming from the tree house area while Ben and Eric were "working" on the zip line last week. Zig came home Friday and had to give it a test run as well. Just to make sure it's safe for the kids, of course :) He talked me into trying it without the harness (we don't have it yet) and it was actually pretty scary to jump from the balcony. I stood up there for awhile like a big chicken. But I eventually went thanks to Rollin's encouragement and it was a kick.

The kids think Zig is having this tree house built for them, and that's partially true, but he so into this thing that I'm starting to wonder if he might relocate his home office up here. It is peaceful and quiet. Gee, can't imagine wanting to escape when our home is so tranquil these days. The details on this tree house are amazing, and nothing is standard. It has taken forever to finish because Eric and Ben are cutting down trees from their own property to make the railing, none of the windows are standard, and the list goes on. The kids cornered Eric today to find out when it is going to be done. Maybe next week although I highly doubt it.

A zip line coming from the balcony, rope swings beneath, a tire swing made from some special racing car tire, special lights, decorations that are top secret and keep arriving in the mail, an antique bed that had to be put in before the biggest window was added are some of Zig's fun ideas. Ben and Eric almost killed themselves hoisting that bed up the ladder!

Zig is also going to have their beloved love sac reduced to several smaller ones and recovered. They cry anytime we mention getting rid of the monstrocity. Zig just brought home a ton of fabric samples to make sure the love sac lives on. Uh, I'm still working on pillows for inside our house. I think the tree house will be decked out long before my living room is complete.....that guy can focus like a laser beam and get stuff done. I'm a bit envious of that quality sometimes!





Don't worry Mom...there will be huge nets underneath!

Treehouse

It's been a long wait for these anxious little kiddoes. About 16 months or so. But Ben and Eric worked like crazy to get the treehouse ready this week and Saturday afternoon the big moment arrived. No one has been allowed up since the beginning so all the kids have seen has been from below which has totally added to the magic and anticipation. I think they must have asked Eric a hundred times on Friday "is it done yet?" Zig spent a few hours Saturday morning adding some fun touches to the inside. And then we gathered the kids along with Sophia, Emma, and Sydney and led them up to their new little getaway in the trees. I don't know what I enjoyed more, watching Zig beam as they explored their new space or the looks on the kids faces. What a memorable day! The videographer had some difficulties so you might get a little motion sick watching this :)

Friends, flowers, and slowing down....

This week flew by! We had some more beautiful weather and spent lots of time outside. I had some friends over for brunch on Tuesday...everyone brought such yummy salads and I made a veggie quiche, tomato goat cheese crostini, and maple yogurt muffins. We watched the kids play and enjoyed being able to visit a bit. I really love the company of good friends, but lately I've been so busy in my own little world with the house, yard, getting ready for baby, etc.


On Wednesday night, the moms from our preschool and Mrs. Judy met for dinner at a really great Thai restaurant. What a fun group of women! It was so nice to be able to spend some time with them outside of the preschool pickup/drop-off. I tried this shredded papaya salad that I'm still thinking about...I must re-create that thing or I might find myself hitting up that restaurant a few times a week!

Friday night a babysitter practically landed in my lap, which is often what it takes since I am so poor at planning ahead for much needed nights out. The girls only want certain babysitters and I usually wait until Thursday night when they are taken, etc, etc. But one of their favorites happened to stop by on Thursday so we planned for Friday. This darling girl brings practically a whole suitcase of activities. We were only gone a few hours and they played soccer, ate dinner, did leaf rubbings, made these little kite things, made flubber, had a dance party, and watched a movie. Zig and I enjoyed what is likely our last date for a little while. We went to dinner and did a little shopping. We were home by 9:30, but somehow managed to stay up till midnight. Of course Saturday I was in a walking coma again...slow motion, unproductive, scattered, jumping from one project to the next and completing none. Going to bed late, combined with the horrible sleep I am getting right now, and I am absolutely worthless the next day. But it was a busy week, and a slow Saturday is often the best kind.

Everyone else around here was busy. Two truckloads of crush rock were dumped here this morning. It was supposed to be spread by the company who delivered it but the first guy who came was on his first day on the job and ended up dumping way too much of it in one place. He created about three hours of work for Zig who had to even it all out. The second truckload was spread just right by someone who knew what they were doing.


Eric and Ben finally wrapped up the garden project, which was a huge undertaking. Much more complicated than it appears from the surface. I know they're glad to have that behind them. I had a little chat with Eric last week about the tree house. He took on a new project in Seattle where he is working on a house flip, gutting it and re-doing everything. The tree house has been put on the back burner because the garden took precedence, but with summer coming, I tried to light a little fire under him to get cranking on it. Today they put the windows in and were able to get quite a bit done. It still has about 3 weeks solid of work to be finished because Zig has so many specific ideas....

The girls and the neighbors made a new nature village in the trees beneath the treehouse complete with a hatchery for eggs, a garden, a kitchen, a writing center where they made charcoal pens, and lots of trails. That kept them busy for most of the afternoon.

About the only thing I can say for myself is I kept everyone fed and supplied a steady stream of snacks. I also made a few little flower arrangements with some of the new flowers that came up this weekend. I tried to sneak off to take a nap and Rollin came in and started doing kung fu on my back so I would get up and come see his trick. I might need to invest in some locks for my bedroom door. The thought never occurred to me until lately. It seems everyone has a need sensor that goes off as soon as my head hits the pillow! Once I realized I wasn't napping, I decided to try and find some more newborn clothes in the many boxes of clothes sitting in the barn. Rollin was on me like glue, of course, as he saw some of his favorite outfits resurface. Like most little kids, he wanted to try on some of his old favorites and insisted they still fit. First he reclaimed the crib, and now it's the baby clothes. Can't wait to see how he feels about nursing!



Our favorite maple tree is finally in bloom...a little late this year!

Tree house

Eric and Ben have been working very hard the past few weeks to get the treehouse done. It's turned out to be a much bigger project than I thought, of course. Somehow these projects grow in scope without my knowledge! It's like a guest house in the trees. I think there will be heat in it for winter and the porch that wraps around the whole treehouse is covered so the kids can enjoy it even in the rain. The kids are very excited to see the finished product!