If, like many of the fans of this site, you've wondered what the heck we've been so consumed with that we couldn't even update some pictures, well, for Derek, this was a big one - a treehouse! There was a tree in our backyard that was just begging to have a house built around it, and so it became my mission to get it done before Sam's 4th birthday. So at night when I'd open my computer, rather than editing and posting pictures, I tweaked my treehouse plans. I got Jen's dad excited enough that he planned a week here in Tucson to help out. The result: well, I'll let you be the judge. But Sam thinks it really rocks, and that's what matters!


We'll start with the end result - our treehouse! It's so fun to see it outside our windows!


Clearly, the treehouse had more modest beginnings... The primary goal was to create a structure that didn't affect the tree at all. In fact, there is no point where the treehouse touches the tree!


The tree did not necessarily make this goal easy... it had about six trunks that came up through the structure!


The key was to create holes big enough to let the tree through (and allow room for swaying in the wind) but not so big that a 3-year-old's leg could fall through.


Sam and Pipa spent the week of Passover helping out - after 6 days the structure was practically finished. On the 7th day, naturally, we rested!


We also got an assist from Brian and DeWalt!


Papa (who visited a week later with Grandma and Uncle David) tested out the swings with Henry!


Meanwhile, Uncle David and Sam yacked it up in the sandbox!


Special thanks to the chief monkey. We'd have no treehouse right now if it weren't for his help!