The sandbox

My sweet husband honored my one birthday request and built me a sandbox.  Yes, for me!  I may not be the one spending hours playing in it over the summer, but I will be the one spending hours sitting on the porch, making dinner, working in the yard, cleaning the house, or, if I'm lucky, reading a book while these little guys are entertained.

We got the plans for this sandbox from Ana White.  Pete got most of the wood cut at Lowe's after he bought it, since we don't have a fancy saw.  Then all he needed was a drill and screws.  The instructions were easy to follow and he was able to finish it in 3-5 hours.

The seats on either side have hinges and fold down to double as a cover.

I love how it turned out... simple design and super sturdy.  Now I just need to find a way to keep the sand from making its way into our house.

DIY Marble Run

A marble run is one of those classic toys that every little boy has to have, don't you think?  I first saw a homemade marble run similar to this one at a friends house and knew I had to make one.  And with Joe's birthday coming up, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.  Unfortunately I didn't take pictures along the way... so if you want to make one, you can do the same thing we did and wing it (sorry).  But I do have to give Pete the credit for this one.  He bought the supplies, measured everything out, and put the screws in... so pretty much everything.  I sanded down parts, stained it, and helped with the measuring.  All I know is this thing is a rock!  Pete built it knowing that 4 little boys would be playing with it for many years to come. Well done Pete.

A close up of one of the corners

And here it is in action: