The Treehouse that Rick built.

Have I ever mentioned that my husband .never. does things by halves?  If something can be done, then surely it can be done better, or bigger, or...

And so we have not just a treehouse, but really, a house in a tree.  He tells me it is our someday retirement home, and that I'll be thankful then that it is well-built.  I think he is somewhat optimistic on the thankful bit, but in the meantime, the kids are enjoying it very much!

As in any real estate venture, and perhaps even more in tree real estate, the first three considerations are location, location, location!!

This tree seemed a likely candidate, and so the platform building began...

Phase two of the project took place in the more controlled and possibly warmer environment of the barn.

Once the building was completed, it was disassembled and carried down a piece at a time and hoisted into the tree.  After some trial and error, and a broken pulley or two, it was finally in place.
It's probably just as well that there are no photos of this process.

Once the walls and roof were in place, the railing was laced in with rope and the final wall and door built.    At last, the finished product!

Once spring comes, it will get the final coat of paint, and whatever other ambitious plans the kids have for it.

  The view from the back side...notice the windows...fully functional windows.  I think this might have something to do with the deer trail that passes by on the hillside below.  It remains to be seen who will enjoy this treehouse the most!

O Christmas Tree!

We finally made it out for our Christmas tree on Saturday afternoon.  We didn't have to go far, because this place is just down the road from us.  We even had a little bit of snow in honor of the occasion...very little.

 Many trees were inspected...

But only one was chosen.

I wanted to cut it down, but they took the saw away from me right after this photo was taken...?

So, Rick did the cutting, and I think everyone got in on the carrying/dragging/riding on the tree to get it back to the car.

And one of these days, I'll convince my kids to wear their winter coats.  You'd think snow on the ground would be a visible reminder, but no.

Merry Christmas!

Cops and Robbers

Gus was tasked with writing his very own Bob Book for his co op language arts class,

           and he came up with this.

If you've read carefully, you'll have noticed that Matt is a bank robber, Bob might be Captain America, and "x-eyes mean you're dead".

This is what I found on the fridge last night.

We have a very negligent tooth fairy...

                            I wonder if she's related to our spelling teacher?

Life Perspectives from 6 & 7 Year Olds

As overheard on our way from Hist/Lit co op to Biology Lab from an assorted passenger list of my own children, other Biology students, and some others just along for the ride...

Assorted siblings and unrelated kids--  "Here Emily, here's a song for you and Colby"  (Can you feel the love tonight playing in the background from someone's ipod)  "You and Colby will be married someday...."  (sarcastic sighs from the back row)

Emily's older sibling-- "No Emily, you should marry Gus!"

Gus--"No Way!  I'm not marrying Anyone!"

Emily--"You're going to die an old and lonely man, Gus!"

Gus--  "Nope, I'm going to build a house, and live in Peace and Quiet!!"

                                        Hmmm.  Peace and Quiet...what fun would that be?

           

Exploding pans and Dinner out.

Dinner was an adventure last night. 

Rick was stepping in the door from work as I was pulling ham steaks out of the oven.  He was just in time to witness the glass baking dish explode in my hands.  It. Literally. Exploded.  Glass went everywhere, including into every other dish I had ready to serve for dinner.  

Since we didn't want a side of glass with our dinner, either shards or powdered, thank-you-very-much,  Rick took us all out to Gritty's (a favorite local pub and microbrewery) for dinner.  So, on the bright side, we got to go out for dinner

        (although I have to recommend NOT cooking AND cleaning AND dining out all for the same meal),

and with the mess extending into the oven, I also got my oven cleaned (which I'd been putting off for some time).  And while cleaning out the oven, the realization dawned on me that I had actually scrubbed the kitchen floor AND cleaned the oven in a single week...

Watch out Martha Stewart!

And now, I'm getting rid of all my CorningWare.  This is their second attempt on my life, and I'm afraid I might not get away unscathed next time.

Biking in Acadia

In the middle of a very busy fall, we stole a day to take the kids and head up into Acadia National Park for some bicycling and some fall colour.  We did a little less bicycling than anticipated-- due to coughing fits from a lingering cold, and saw less colour than anticipated--due to a very wet summer and hurricane Irene, but we did enjoy a day with the kids away from the to-do list.

Biking...

And not so much biking...

We found fall colour in splotches, here and there.

And we found the wind on top of Cadillac Mountain!

It was a good day!