I have this theory that if I remove all the plastic out of the woods around our house and replace it with organic and natural materials to play with, the kids will stay there longer and take ownership of their space.  The transactional exchange they have with nature should be a positive one, much like the book The Giving Tree.  Except, let's try to save the tree and save the kids in the process. I made up my mind to build them a teepee style place to play in the woods to replace their little tykes playhouse.  I had the hardest time finding instructions, but I think it turned out pretty amazing and I'll try to walk you through the process.  

My kids have been in so much trouble for the last few months because of the mess they make with mud.  They know how to take playing mud over the top.  It was everywhere all the time.  I decided to embrace it.  I have been thinking about it for awhile.  I've looked up ideas and then today, when the Bigs decided they wanted to help, we got busy.  We had so much fun that  while I'm not giving play by play instructions, I am showing you a bit of the process to inspire you. 

10 months.  It's been 10 months today that we pulled away from our house on Swanson Road for the last time.  I don't know if you have ever moved out of a home that you've raised your babies in and possibly even built, but pulling up to grab one last thing before pulling away broke me.  I remember sitting in the passenger seat, (exhausted from moving all night long and driving an hour south pulling a trailer in the foggy dark), I had fallen asleep leaving the bank and when I opened my eyes I saw the new little family jumping out of their cars and running into the house.  My heart burst and I cried thinking to myself...  
That was my house.
That is where I brought my babies home.
That is my neighbor who I love.
That is my front door.
That is my backyard.
Ya'll I am sobbing just writing this....

But it's not mine... It's theirs now.  We have a new plan and a new life and it's going to be beautiful...right?!  Right!  I needed someone to tell me things would be okay.  You might as well have asked me to jump out of an airplane that was on fire.  That's how scared I was deep down.  I knew we were making the right decision.  I knew as we pulled away from making our last stop, that there was no looking back.  Looking back hurt too much.  Looking forward gave me such hope.

Forward:
Hope.