New swingset

Our backyard typically has a bit of a....problem. A mosquito problem. So bad that you can't even spend any time back there without getting bitten immediately.

So what did we decide to do? Put a swingset up back there, of course!

(No...actually, the mosquitoes haven't been too bad yet this year. And if they do come, we're armed with some yard spray we're hoping works.)

Anyway, so I braved my way over to the neighbor's house. He had a wooden structure, what we could call a ghost swingset (similar to a ghost town). He moved in a year ago or so and his kids are in high school and are too cool for a swing set, so I thought I'd mosey on over there and ask him if we could take it off his hands. He said yes, and when I offered him payment, he said we could have it, and the sooner the better because he's hosting a graduation party and wants the room.

Well alrighty then :)

So Kevin's dad came over one day and hauled it to our house.

Colin found an inchworm on it.

We cut off the rope ladder that lead to nowhere but trouble but kept the climbing rope and the slide.

 

We took the baby swing off of the tree and put it on.

Kevin added a longer beam and we bought a swing for Colin, and Kevin's dad bought a steering wheel. (I asked Colin to steer his steering wheel for this picture, and he said, "But it doesn't go anywhere!")

We put some rocks underneath so Colin could play with his trucks (sand = kitty litter box for the neighborhood felines = yuck).

The boys really enjoy using it!

So thanks, neighbor! Not bad for the cost of a couple of swings! Oh, and that loaf of beer bread I've intended on baking for our generous neighbor.

Future expansion ideas: replace the baby swing with a two-seater seesaw, perhaps add some rings or a trapeze bar to the beam behind Ben's swing...the possibilities are endless.