Totally Worth It
On Saturday morning, hubby and I did something that I have balked at for a while now, hesitant to have part of my family’s life. We bought a playground for the backyard. My daughter has been begging for a tire swing for a while now and it’s been taking hubby a very long time because he’s just had other things he’s been working on and whatever. Hubby has kept his eye on Craigslist for a playground, but even used, they were all pretty pricey. I didn’t want to drop nearly $2K on something that would make my yard look like a park instead of a private residence. I just wasn’t sold on the whole idea. I can just take my kids to the playground and I DO take my kids to the playground A LOT.
Saturday morning hubby and my daughter were up early so she sat on his lap at the computer and they looked at Craigslist. And found one. A good price. Not ginormous and gaudy like I was afraid of. Just perfect. And they formulated their plan. Hubby took both kids to the beach early that morning so I could sleep in. I woke up and drank coffee in peace on my new patio. I enjoyed peace and quiet and finished one of my sewing projects. I was really relaxed and full of happiness when hubby and the kids came home from the beach and they tossed the idea at me of getting this playground.
So I said yes.
While hubby drove an hour to meet my dad where it was located to pick it up and then an hour home to set it up - through a blowout tire on the trailer carrying the playground on 95, I waiting patiently in the front yard for the truck to pull up with the “surprise”. They set it up quickly and before the last bolts were in place, the kids were climbing on it and in little kid nirvana.
My daughter has never said “thank you” so many times or “I love it!” so many times. She couldn’t be pulled off of it on Saturday and there were instances of whining like “but I will miss my playground and will dream about my playground” and then there was “My tummy hurts! I think it will feel better if I go play on my playground!” Creative, that one is. Yesterday, both kids had to be carried inside to take naps because they were both unstoppable and playing on it under the influence of tired. It would be an understatement to say it’s been a hit.
And so, I say, it was worth it. I eat my words. A playground in the yard is fun. The playground in our yard is perfect. Not to mention now I don’t have to pay for gas to the playground numerous times per week anymore. And I can wear my jammies while they play 
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 am
Warm fuzzies. That’s what this post gave me.
And playing at the beach… the BEACH! (Don’t have those up here)… You having a relaxing morning sipping coffee on your patio - Heavenly!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
What an awesome deal and I loved reading how happy the kids were.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 am
YAY! I remember when we bought this house and the kids found out it had a treehouse. Oh my gosh the ecstacy they were all in!
Hooray for sipping coffee in jammies while the little ones run themselves ragged.
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
How fun! We used to have one of those, but when we moved to our last house with a tiny yard, we took it to the beach house to use there. My son misses it terribly! Our backyard in this house is in shambles so we won’t be having anything like it again in this yard for a very long time. But, we do walk to the park and that works for now! But there is nothing like having a playground right outside your door. Your daughter cracks me up!
Happy day,
Melissa
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
ok that is SO SWEET.
it has been on my/our to do list for a while…this mightcould be the nudge I needed to suck it up and spend the money
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Someone gave us our playground when they moved. It replaced the rotting, gaudy “tree house” that made our son fall in love with this house. Our son was sad, but when he saw how flimsy the boards were he understood. That house was an accident waiting to happen.
You will enjoy all the things that your playground turns into as your children grow. Ours has been a ship, zoo, house, etc.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
That’s so sweet! Our playground finally bit the dust over Spring Break but we had many years of fun–and now my kids have kind of phased out of that stage. Our was just a $150 metal thing from Toys R Us but it provided years of enjoyment!
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
We don’t have one in our yard, but close friends of ours do, and it’s AMAZING. I agree that if it’s not too big, it’s a great addition to a house with kids.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
What a deal! I had to eat my words about the cheapie-pool I didn’t want in our backyard. The kids have been in it almost every day since we got it. I think we already got our money’s worth out of it and it’s only June 2!
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I see they knew just how to get you to agree with them: put her in a good mood and then just spring it on her
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Great post. It made me remember when my son was that age and how excited he would get. At 17 his thank yous don’t come with quite the same enthusiasm but at least he still says it.
It sounds like your outdoor area now satisfies all of you. Plus how great is it to be able to have your kids be entertaining themselves at home where you can look after them in your jammies?
Enjoy the new play area…from the patio that is with a cup of coffee in hand and your feet up
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
You’re gunna love it more than them. Wait til they have to carry YOU in while you’re kicking and screaming you won’t go! LOL