2015 Prayersolutions Answered

Dear Heavenly Father.... (January 2015)

Family
Help put in place the people and resources as we prepare to welcome a new family member. Please let this birth experience be a positive one with better healing and recovery after surgery. May our baby be healthy and strong. Also for Nolan, to transition well into his new big brother role.

God came through for us in a huge way this time around. With having a mentor mom from our MOPS group take our kids for 2 nights for the birth of Alden...it was a great weight lifted. Another person also fell into our laps for some day coverage. Nolan loves his little brother too. Healing also went much smoother and enjoyed recovering in the summer verses winter. Our Aflac coverage also came with a big financial discovery that enabled us to pay some debt down and cover bills. A much needed blessing after little to no tax return and having to unexpectedly purchase a new vehicle.

Space
As much as I have tried to be content in our starter space here in New York, it is becoming evidently clear that something has got to give. I desire to have a place for people and things, instead of cluttering up on each other. The winter months are long and having a finished basement for family time and play would be a wonderful blessing. To have the space means, being able to keep things clean for longer periods of time and use the new place to host gatherings of fellowship.

An interesting discovery came when after the snow melted and new neighbors were discovered. We had a new community of friends who had children and liked to play outside and open their homes to others to enjoy. I had become content with our home and loved the perks among the pits it came with. But with the city taking ownership of the properties, it pushed us to put on our grownup pants and purchase a home!

I would have never dreamed this day would happen back in January, and will answer many of our problems of living in a small space with 3 messy children.

New Beginnings?
We've spent about 5 years in one place....the longest for myself at least since moving away from home. We keep wondering when you will open the doors to a new state perhaps that will be better for our family's future outcome. I know it would be a mixed blessing, as I have made some wonderful friendships over the years, as have my kids with theirs. Help us discern what your will is for our family.

With deciding to stay in Rome for a little longer with the house, I think God has closed many a doors to moving away, while opening the financial ones to finance a house. Matt was also offered a promotion after interviewing for a new position at DFAS. I thank the Lord for his job security and benefits offered.

Health
This last half of the year was rather eventful when it came to our health. Besides the birth of our 3rd child, please keep us healthy and well, with no hospital stays. We are grateful for your providence when these surprises have popped up and for the insurance Matt has with his job.

Our health has been very uneventful in this department! So happy to have healthy and thriving children :)

Six Months!

My my my....how six months has flown by....and yet it feels like Alden has been part of our family forever. He really does help balance out the older two, giving them a distraction from fighting with each other...some of the time.

In this last month, we've celebrated Thanksgiving, moved out of the infant carrier to a convertible car seat and spooned our way into the world of solids!

.....yes, I know...riveted reading material here folks.

He can still fit into a few 3 mo onesies, but mostly in 6 to 9 mo clothes. And I think we are on the way out of size 2 diapers, but not till our last pack of 2's are used up.

Right now we are working on sitting up unassisted without the boppy or sitting in a high chair. I think this is where the world really opens up to them when they master this gross motor skill.

Our Well Baby stats are as follows

height: 30 in 97th %

weight:18.3 58th %

head: 91st %

Nolan at 7 months 

Weight: 18.5 lbs. (41st%)

Height: 28 inches (76th%)

Head: (78th%)

So weight wise, they are pretty much spot on. But on the height...yeah this kid certainly grew. Our boys also seem to carry on with the big head trend :) Our next appointment will be at 9 months.

Heaven's Baby Boy

Life

It's unpredictable and many times unfair when you think about it.

A phrase we tell kids many times when they are not happy or the situation was not fair.



Sometimes we don't know when we are going to have to use the resources we prepared for. Sometimes we have lots of notice for when we will be required to use it...and then it may be sprung on you on a normal everyday kind of day.

For me...that was a Thursday I will never forget.

I had just recently put Nolan down for a nap after giving him a haircut and a special mid day bath time. Eliza was away at school, but expected to return soon on the bus. Alden was rather clingy due to teething, so I kinda ran with it and wanted to enjoy some non kid tv time. A real luxury.

Then I found my front door opening. It couldn't have been Matt, as he had already come home briefly on his lunch break and there were no other therapists scheduled to come in the afternoon for Eliza.

It was my neighbor.

She had a baby in her arms, one who I knew and had held at just hours old in the hospital. You could see a frightful look in her eyes. At first I thought she needed some help with some first aid supplies for a bloody nose. But as she came closer, and proceeded to hand him in my arms....there was much more going on and he was limp.

For a split second, it dawned on me, "Oh my God, I am actually going to have to use my cpr training for real!"

I immediately took him to the floor and did a rescue puff. Then as my training was flooding back to me, I remembered to try to locate a pulse. No pulse. As I gave rescue breathing, I could hear fluid in the lungs and there was a bloody discharge coming from his nose.

Well now...they certainly didn't go through this in class!?

 So as I continued rounds of CPR, my neighbor was continuing her call with 911 and ensuring the emergency help came to the right house. I continued with this until a paramedic took over and I assisted with the oxygen until the ambulance arrived and they didn't wait for them to come in the door. He was scooped up and rushed inside it.

It wasn't until I was at the police station, giving a deposition that I was able to get an update on the baby and his passing. A flood of 'what ifs' came gushing. Did I do the CPR right? Was my rescue breathing strong enough or too strong?

One would hope for a positive outcome to result in having this sort of training for his life to be saved. But despite how the day ended...God was in the details.

He helped me remain calm

He helped bring my training back to memory

He had a doctors appointment for Alden canceled before hand that morning. If this hadn't happened, I wouldn't of been home when she tried my door.

He helped Matt be able to get off work to help watch the kids and give a place for our neighbors to crash at our house for the afternoon and evening while the police did their investigation.We had food to eat and warmth from the outside.

No one but God could see this coming. Life can be too short and there are no guarantees about the one you are given. But I do know where this little baby boy is sitting, and it gives me hope.

So please, hug your children tight. Love them all the more despite the times they are driving you nuts and crying over anything and everything. Because they are alive and well to do those things. There is so much brokenness going on, but I have faith in The Almighty who will use this and good fruit will be produced. Maybe not right now, but with time....anything is possible with God.

We're Expecting!

Come January, we'll be adding a mortgage to our family!

Part of the lack of posts on here has been partly due to house hunting and going through all the highs and lows of that process. And I'll add...trying to do so with 3 children with you makes it real interesting to say the least.

So far we've done everything on our end. The house has already been inspected and came back with glowing comments despite it being built in 1899...but it doesn't matter when the previous owner has lived there for 50 years and raised her family in it.

I'm thrilled to have my laundry out of my kitchen..

Eliza is giddy about having her own pink room

And Matt is delighted to have a second toilet ;)

....Well I think we're ALL happy about that last one!

We never thought we'd ever buy a home here in Rome, but with a family of 5 and the cost of renting a larger and still well kept house just wasn't in the financial cards. So I guess we are going to put some roots down for a few years and go from there.

More details will follow when things get even more real with a closing date and such.

Now the fun stuff starts with packing up all our crap we can't part with and having to do it after 6 years and 3 kids later.

At least it beats having to pack for a cross country move!

Mothering with ADHD

*Note- Not sure if I've posted this before...but its something pretty important I feel to share. And maybe someone else won't feel so alone in the process*

The year I turned 27, I finally got some answers to some long wondered difficulties. It seemed like once I moved away from my safe haven of 24 years in the same house and community....everything kinda hit the fan.

Like the biggest stinky pile into an industrial special effects fan.

Since getting the diagnosis of ADHD as an adult, it was as if there was a fog being lifted.

Everything.made.sense.

Growing up and my educational struggles before college were now explained. When I went to college and was able to focus on something I was very interested as opposed to the things I HAD to take previously. My HS GPA was 2.85. Graduating college it was 3.80. I knew I was smart, but couldn't understand why it didn't translate.

As the years have passed, I've been on and off medications. Turns out...being an adult who needs meds is actually a hard thing to be prescribed, let alone be able to pay for it. Then throw in pregnancy and having to go off them for safety and breastfeeding concerns...

It seemed like every time I was eligible to go back on....after two weeks I would be pregnant. Coincidence maybe?

The biggest challenge in the past has been my working environment. I've described it like being a Philips head in a flat head world. I can do the same thing as everyone else, but I just get there differently. I have my own 'tool box' of tricks to apply if I'm allowed to use them. Otherwise....we have lots of frustration and tears shed.

Being a SAHM with ADHD has been an interesting journey as those who have faithfully continued to visit this blog can surely vett for this. I live/breath/sleep in my office. No sick time or vacation days or even date nights for that matter! Every day is the same and different at the same time. I struggle with finding the motivation and drive to do the daily tasks while also give care and attention to my children. Many times, I don't find this until late at night.

So do I give in to chores or have some 'me' time? Me time is usually because I found an unexpected burst of creativity and I want to ride the wave as long as I can. This can also happen with house chores.

Having ADHD is like surfing. You paddle out, waiting for the perfect wave to come. Mean while, you bob up and down...going no where. This going no where, is when you find yourself getting depressed/agitated or letting your anxiety get the best of you. The motor is revving, but has no where to go or put that energy into something.
A lot of the time, there are things outside of your control.

You.don't.like.this.

Focus comes in different categories.

Maybe I'll get a wave of child oriented focus where I'll come up with an activity or play on the floor with them.

Maybe a house cleaning wave comes my way.

Or the hardest....a me focused project.

Then, like jealous children....they get upset and fight with each other...feeling neglected while guilt sets in over not giving them enough attention.

Drugs are not 100% the answer. They only allow me to better utilize my tips and tricks for daily life. Right now, I am on some sort of medication that can help with focus and keeping the idling engine in check. It's not perfect, but it will have to do due to my present breast feeding relationship.

But at least I can afford this one.

I am not sure how individuals can afford mental health drugs each month. The previous one I was on recently, which was the only non stimulant option, was also the ONLY one available. And of course that meant it was brand name. Even with my decent health insurance AND a prescription savings card from the pharmaceutical company...came to $105 dollery doos!

You may not see my disability on the outside, but many of us go through life with invisible struggles. Some know about them, and others have yet to get the answers as to why life is so difficult to function with most of society.

My name is Erin Geddes, and I have adult ADHD

Five Months

Time is just whizzing by before my very eyes. If only to bottle up this baby time to enjoy it when I have more time for it. That's the problem with each subsequent child. You have to divide you time and attention while the house work only multiplies!

Besides the festivities of Halloween and his dedication with the grandparents...there hasn't been too much big news or accomplishments. Oh well maybe except...

Sleeping.through.the.night!

We've graduated him to the crib and out of our bedroom. Knowing how he seems to prefer sleeping on his tummy the most and feeling like we've gotten out of the wonder weeks period of sleep ridiculousness...it was time to bring on the CIO. I've tried to wake him before heading to bed myself to nurse to ensure there isn't any legit hunger pains later on.

First night he woke up twice...

Second night was just once

Third night was freedom! 

Mommy and baby are doing MUCH better in the day now that we are getting some better sleep and naps are becoming more predictable in the morning and afternoon. And as long as he is indeed napping...he can sleep through the noise of his brother and sister fighting. So well that I don't even bother to shut the bedroom door, hehe.

We're getting close to rolling over from back to tummy and working on our core strength in sitting up. If he is sitting just right in the boppy, we'll get a diagonal upright position. I look forward to when I can place him on a blanket and surround him with toys for longer times of occupied bliss. Its the little things :)

To Potty or Not to Potty

**Disclaimer- if hearing about toilet training and the words poop and pee make you at all squeamish...stop reading right here and close this tab immediately. You've been warned**  

I think one of the most nerve wracking things for a parent to go through is toilet training their children. Maybe even deciding when to start. Everyone has their advice and the loads of approaches available online. But of course....

Every child is different....grrrr.

Nolan has been giving us quite the mixed signals about being ready for it. But after finding a dry night diaper, we thought...let's see what happens!

In the last 2 days...I've seen a lot of little boy parts. In starting off as I did with Eliza....its a bare bottom attempt. Nothing to hinder the pee from hitting the target. Leg warmers are fashionable still, right?

And we've had some successes. Even poop after only a day.

Between special stickers and mini M&M candy for successful liquid deposits...its been enough incentive to encourage him to sit on the potty chair. So much in fact, that he's tried to cheat the system with pouring water and juice in the collection bowl and pass it off as his own waste.

Nice try bub....

(I think we'll avoid any apple juice for a while to ensure there are no fraudulent entries)

But the frustrating part thus far is when I put anything on him...he'll pee as if it was a diaper. Even loose shorts. With this being said, I am about to try some pull ups, which I never had to with Eliza. But my couch cushions/pillows will cry foul if I don't do something soon.

For some reason, the middle of the morning is when we have accidents in a row. And of course we are not nap or nighttime training. So now we'll see how long we both last until one of us breaks....

This sucks....

A Gallagher Visit

No matter how I get, whenever family from my side is able to visit...it really is a treat. We were blessed to have my Uncle Dave and Aunt Grace come out to our neck of the country and visit for a few days.

The kids took right to them and gave the usual workout of wrestling and climbing all over.

We finally got out to taking a walk on a new trail that opened up along the Mohawk river and found where a group of ducks lived. The kids loved every minute of their attention while visiting and were a bit sad to see them leave for the west coast. The last time they visited, Eliza was only but 2 weeks old when she was dedicated. First borns get everything  right?

Dedicated

Once again, our newest family member was dedicated by his grandparents. Albeit with one less grandmother, it was still special none the less. For those who aren't familiar, a baby dedication is a special ceremony where we, the parents, are held accountable to take the responsibility of raising our child to know God and to raise them in the church and sheperd. This isn't to take the place of asking the Lord into their hearts. They will have to make that choice on their own later on as we believe Salvation is a personal decision.

Now that there are three little ones on the stage.....two year olds will ALWAYS have a mind of their own and only cooperate so much. Nolan spent much of his time laying on the floor. At least he stayed on the platform.

A special thanks to my neighbor Katie for taking pictures of the service. Otherwise I would have had to try and tripod the camera and have a remote shutter in hand and pray I could get something of worth.

Pumpkin Face

As the kids become older, I've tried to instil some holiday traditions into our family time. I grew up celebrating Halloween more so than Matt, but we both did do trick or treating. 

Without getting too huge into what this holiday means and what we want it to represent to our kids, I think there is nothing wrong in carving pumpkins and being creative. Hence why we do it a week away since we are not worried about them lasting until Halloween night.

 

We gave Eliza a marker and told her to draw a face, while going over the different parts that make one and how many of each. Then I tried to interpret the stribbles to the best of my abilities to showcase Eliza's design.

When trying to do an activity with all the family and with the young ages....I won't lie....it wasn't as magical and peaceful as we'd like when Matt is barking at the kids to not touch the knives and ensuring the pumpkin mess only finds its way to the slop bucket or table. I'm sure things will get a little easier each year...I hope!

Cell phone flash light apps work wonders for pre night testing. Once dark, I cracked a few glow sticks and put the pumpkins in their room for bedtime. Eliza is already counting down the days when we let her carve with a knife ;) 

PS- I found a WONDERFUL technique for roasting the seeds. I used season salt for the baking seasoning. Makes me sad that you can't buy pumpkins throughout the year.

Four Months

The month has come and Alden continually changes and delights those around him wherever we go. Today's well baby appointment was without any hitches.

Height: 26 inches (83rd)

Weight: 15 lbs. 14 oz (69th)

Head: 84th

We've been blessed with good health despite some fussiness with those dreaded teeth trying to bust through. Toys are now a thing of interest as he'll shove them in his mouth, hanging from the activity gym.

Besides some of the usual activities, we took him to the apple orchards for the first time.

Also, Alden got to meet Uncle Dave and Aunti Grace from San Francisco!

Still wearing some 3 month onesies, but have moved up to 6 month sleepers. Diapers are 1-2 depending on what we have laying around and trying to use up before moving up full time to size 2. Otherwise, due to the craziness of still adjusting....Alden hasn't worn much cloth. We've gotten too use to only have 1 child in cloth for a while that until Nolan is potty trained...we're not going to sweat too much over the convenience of disposables for him.

Talk'n Turkey

They certainly are brave outside of the month of November. This family of babies has been growing bigger and bigger from only a little over a month ago. They roam around the neighborhood, including our front and backyards. Besides a few stray ones seen many years ago, this is a first for our wild encounters outside our door.

Eliza was happy to be given a turkey feather and felt proud to have stumbled upon their poop!

Mid Monthlies

So here we are...another month and they always have a middle to them. Lets just see about how AWESOME of a mom I've been lately...

The third child is getting to test the limits of just how absorbent those huggies really are. I'll get caught up in all the things that are required in the day dealing with the kids, that I have to pause and think...wait. when were you last changed : /

My 2.5 year old now requests mommy milk....as if never having weaned him at 15 months...he picked it up without any question one day when I was so tired of trying to fight him off while feeding Alden. And even in the long streak of not allowing him...he would try going for them almost every time! What can I say...I think I'll know what kind of "man" he'll be.

I let my 4 year old CIO last night for nearly an hour as she demanded a bed time song after I had already supplied them with a long story. And might I add, this request came right as I was closing the door. The difference between a CIO infant over a preschooler is they can bang the door while wailing like a banshee!

I have had to resist the urge to email Eliza's teacher every day. I only get so much out of my daughter after she gets off the bus as to what she did that day. It is weird to have her in the new world of school and not be in it with her. Like who would name their kid "Galactic"? She swears this is his name and she could not be mistaking it with Sebastian...


Oh...and there is plenty of room on this mountain of awesomeness, so enjoy my fellow friend here

School Dazes

The years have caught up to us and we officially have a child in the public school system. Gone are the days of play dates and naps for our eldest.

HELLO to some ME TIME!

Well...okay...maybe some time with a few more options during nap time.

Wearing our "magic school bus" ticket. Grown ups are too big to get one ;)

In our city, they provide a public pre-k program that also includes busing. Depending on where you live will determine if you have morning or afternoon session. We lucked out and got the afternoon, so at least there is one more year until she'll have to wake up and head on the bus each morning.

Waiting for the bus takes patience

Hard to believe my kid gets a locker! I didn't have one until high school and it was a third of the size of hers.

On her first day, the parents get to join their child for the first hour and then leave to go to an informational parent meeting. This was the only time which there was a little hesitation to let us leave her. Parents are not allowed to ride the bus, so it wasn't like this was the first time on her own. But after an extra hug from daddy, the teacher aids quickly swooped in and redirected her attention.

Matt finds it hard to believe he is old enough to have a child in school.

I find it hard to believe they will only take her for 2.5 hours! I was just as much ready as she was to have her start. She is ready and excited after only the first day while informing me they played a matching game and balloon pop one.

We've had 3 days so far and she is just as excited to get on the bus each time. Then there is much excitement when she see's me getting off in the afternoon. Nolan is still adjusting to the switch, as he has about 1.5 hours time of being on his own before nap time. Eliza though, is a bit upset that she doesn't have her quiet time sans brother when returning home.

"Nolan needs to go in his room now"

Three Months

Oh....there's been a bit of excitement in the Geddes house, which explains some of the lack of blogging around here. More details to come as we continue to transition into some new phases in life. But at least I found some time to get a birth month milestone done on the actual day.

Yes...I am just that awesome.

So what has Alden been up to this last month?

First teething episodes

First overnight trip to Grandma and Grandpa

First trip to IKEA

Holding head and chest up off floor

Sleeping through the night once

Graduating to the crib in the kids bedroom

First State Fair experience

First movie: Minions

Alden continues to be a pretty chill baby, and only fussing when he's hungry or we've reached the witching hour when we know he is ready to knock out for the night. Despite some of the roughness from Nolan, he seems to tolerate it for the most part.

Still wearing 0-6 month clothes.

Starting to play and grab toys that dangle in front of him.

Reflections on our Possible Last?

As I write this post, it has occurred to me just how fast this summer is passing us by.

The summer season seemed to reside on a distant planet.

DISTANT I TELL YOU!

The space in which was between me and my due date was never close enough. Couple that with a winter season who buried us alive, freezing our sanity in the icicles hanging on the outside eaves of the house. Everyone who had a vagina seemed to be pregnant, and I was towards the tail end of the baby train. You were happy for those ahead of you having their baby, but childishly burned with envy, that it was you instead.

Now I sit and look at how we are almost done with the month of August. In a few weeks, Alden will be turning three months. It feels like forever ago and at the same time, just last month.

This brings me to nearing a very hard time as a momma.

It isn't the sleep deprivation, shirt changes from spit up (like I have time to change clothes anyways), fussy moments when all you want is to sit down and enjoy dinner. I can't remember the last time I was afforded the luxury of dining.

Where each bite was savored.....appreciated....and not eaten in such a rapid ferocious manner one would eat as if this was your last meal ever and a herd of tyrannosaurus rex was headed in your way. Behold the powers of a crying baby.

I think I'd just enjoy being able to eat and not have to dodge gross covered hands using my clothes as their personal napkin.

What brings me a great deal of personal and ridiculous distress is when you have to start putting away outgrown baby clothes.....sigh.

Why are these sleepers with silhouettes of elephants/firetrucks/dinosaurs causing such emotional turmoil!?

BUT THEY'RE SO DARN CUTE!
YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY HAVE OUTGROWN IT ALREADY!?
YOUR UMBILICAL CORD STUMP JUST FELL OFF THE OTHER DAY!

Curse you Lord for not designing our children with a pause button!

I've been caught off guard by the feelings, or lack thereof, of having an overwhelming desire of feeling complete with our family size. Yet, the thought of being pregnant again and going through a 3rd cesarean as I approach turning 33 brings a quick reality check. And as I laid my youngest down in the crib while Thing one and Thing two were fast asleep in the same room....where on earth would we put a fourth child in our place if we still remain in this house!?

I cheer on each of my children for reaching new developmental milestones....but silently weep inside.

Matt feels very much content and complete with our number of bio kids. He is very verbal, stating if we do add to the family, they will either be house broken or come with underwear.

So as each new day comes to pass...sometimes you can just say "screw it" and let your baby fall asleep at the breast instead of self soothing while drowsy away from you.

laundry and house chores will have to wait because....I'm holding my baby :)

    

Nolan: Flying Ace!

After attending a birthday party in Canandaigua NY, we decided to check out their local airfield after seeing small planes flying low for landing. It must have been destiny, because one of the pilots had just finished with a ride and was finishing up with the riders who booked a WW2 Warbird experience ride.

Of course, our little aviation enthusiast had to get out of the car and get an up close look. As we were chitchatting about the plane and how for only a mere $250, you could also enjoy the same experience...I mentioned how much our son loved planes and if he could check out the cockpit.  

Low and behold...he obliged and even got to wear the flight cap! Oh how over the moon he was!

Maybe some day....he might just be a real pilot.

2 Months!

Phew! We have reached the second month already! Time just keeps rolling along. And in that time span, we are getting some smiles and the chunk is starting to pile on.

2 Month Stats

Weight: 12.4

Height: 23.75

Alden did surprisingly well for his well baby exam. No problem being held/poked/prodded etc.... This was much relief compared to Nolan who wanted NOTHING to do with the pediatrician. She could tell right off the bat about his temper and that I was in big trouble. Oh how those words have never been truer! 

We're in mostly 3 month clothes, with some summer items like shorts and rompers being utilized in the 6 month size from Nolan. I'm finding there to not be much of a huge difference between these sizes and as long as the waist works....boom sauce! I've even gone with some 12 month 2 piece pajamas. I guess this way, I'll get to enjoy Alden wearing them longer as he grows into them. Then when the time comes to retire those precious items, I'll of had enough time putting them on to help make the process a little easier....I hope.

King of the Mountain

In all the craziness of the beginning of this summer season....having Alden ended up blessing us more than we'd thought. Through our Aflac coverage, we found out about a portion of our policy that all children born while on the mother's coverage are also included for the first 30 days.

An unknown financial blessing came our way :)

And like most parents....you love your children despite the days where they mutate into little monsters.

In the backyard, we have a ghetto swing set up. It is a long chain stretched tight between two large trees with 2 regular and one baby swing. It works pretty well and was the least expensive route to go. We had always drooled and envied those with the wooden set ups with the tower to climb and/or monkey bars. But they've never been in our budget. So when we had some unexpected funds become available...we thought this would be the only time we could do something like this.

We searched online and instore...did our research...compared and weighed the pros and cons.

Hey, look....Walmart has one on rollback!

.....but when it came to hitting the complete purchase button....we got cold feet.

Never had we spent this much money on a toy for the kids. Shoot....not even that much on a stroller!

These things have been known to be a beast to assemble. An all day job at that, and that is assuming you know what you're doing. By the time it would arrive, and be constructed...I couldn't help but wonder if they'd have a month to play on it before the weather turned sour. Kinda like giving a kid a bike for Christmas in the North East.

We don't own our place and is unknown as to how long we'll stay here. So we skipped the idea, since it was really the tower we wanted so the kids would stop climbing us or the furniture. Ain't nobody got time for that! But what else was there to climb on?

Low and behold....Amazon!

Step 2 had a mountain and it came with free freight shipping. Hooray!

It is over 6 ft tall and has been our solution. It ended up being cheaper on the budget too! It is rated for up to age 8 and should last a long time with the kids. And in the event we have to move, this should be more manageable to take with us. If not, we should be able to get a few bucks back out of it :)























Nolan can already climb to the top and drop inside to the middle platform.

Overall, it is a big hit with the neighborhood. Now if only I had room to bring it inside for winter play!