Wuthering Hyders

The Sandbox

I want to start this post with a big "thank you" to all of the amazing men and women who have chosen to serve our country. My father, my brother, my grandfather, my great-grandfather, Heath's grandfather, and all the rest. I could never do what you have done and I admire your bravery and strength in defending a nation that doesn't always show support for what you do. Thank you.

Heath and I decided to build the kids a sandbox in the backyard this weekend. My mom had them overnight on Sunday so the time seemed right. It's much easier to assemble things without their "help". We went to the local lumberyard and bought the wood (I learned that "treated" wood is important for outdoor projects and it costs more. Being as this was my first time building anything outdoors I think it's forgivable to not have known.) and sand. We actually got a great deal on the sand. They had a pallet of damaged bags and we got enough to fill the sandbox (plus five bags of topsoil and two bags of paver base) for only ten dollars. Considering one fifty pound bag of sand costs over three dollars, I think we did alright.

Once we had the materials, we went home and built a sandbox. I honestly think yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far. Humid and nasty. Hauling around bags that were very nearly half my weight made me question the wisdom of my decision to build a sandbox altogether. Thank goodness Heath is stronger than I am or we'd have been at it all night! It really didn't take us very long to build it, but it felt like a lot longer. Not very often do I take a cold shower on purpose. I even managed to enjoy it.

We brought the kids home from my mom's and expected they'd be thrilled with the sandbox and occupied for hours, but no. They were in it for maybe five minutes and they were over in the neighbors yard asking to play on their slide. We all four spent some time in it this evening building castles and knocking them down. My castle had a princess, trees, and a unicorn. Heath's had guns. I then decided the stick behind my castle looked more like a nuclear missile as he took aim at my front gate.

In spite of their initial lack of enthusiasm, I think the kids will really enjoy having a sandbox. I realize it won't keep them in the backyard, but it was cheaper than a swing set. Not that I wouldn't love to buy them a swing set, but that's just not in the budget right now. Besides, a sandbox takes more imagination anyway. It's just a good thing the cats are indoor cats or we'd have spent the afternoon building a giant litter box. I just hope Perrin doesn't get that idea when I start potty training him...