Exuberant Grandkids Bring the Tree House to Life!

No, that's not one of the grandkids in the

tree house.  It's Chipper, who some of you

may recognize.  Chipper was my classroom

mascot the last several years I taught, and now

he accompanies me to all my singalongs and

other events at school and nursing homes.

A few weeks ago I outfitted him in this

construction outfit and created a narrative

for his rest home friends.  It goes like this:

"You may have heard that the unemployment

rate has gone down.  That's partly because 

Chipper got a job!  That's right.  I've hired him

to build me a house.  Of course, with him being

a monkey, it had to be a tree house.  I couldn't

be too picky, because I only paid him with bananas."

Now these are grandkids.  And I was thrilled

with their response this week.  On Tuesday

Bri and Hunter made their first visit.

Bri is on the upper deck.  It takes a little

getting used to.

Amanda could get attached to this place.

And Hunter hopes she stays put.

Tree house follies with Bri and Hunter

It takes three to make a ring around this tree.

It's not part of the tree house.

On Wednesday, Claire and Evan were

introduced to the new tree house.  They

scampered ahead on the trail and arrived 

before the adults.  Up they go.

They made themselves right at home.

Claire was all smiles the whole time we were there.

Posing on the "deck" or "patio." Whatever.

An equally big hit was a deer skull and

assorted bones just a few feet from the

tree house.

Now that all the kids have seen it, I think

Amanda is going to take the bones home

and use them in science study.

Claire has an eye for the camera today.

That old ladder from my childhood bunk bed

is serving admirably for getting to the top floor.

One happy girl!

It's so relaxing to just sit and chill. Judy

and Claire sat there swinging their legs

for several minutes.

Just a swingin.'

Evan, our daredevil (one of them), likes to

lean over the railing and grab leaves off the

neighboring trees.  Then he watches them

flutter to the ground.  

Speaking of daredevils, here's another one.

Claire was emphatic that I should get her

"in the air." And I did!

I was snapping a picture of Judy and Evan

hanging out on the top deck when guess

who should pop in?

Yes, it's been a big hit.  And all of us will 

enjoy it even more as winter inches toward

spring.  Even Chipper!