Today marks the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Nay, the surpassing of a life-long dream. If you grew up in a family that had the Childcraft series – particularly volume 11, “Make and Do” then please, don’t allow yourself to be too jealous – oh, who am I kidding? You won’t be able to help yourself.
It all started when we were rushing to beat the recycling truck to the street with all the Amazon Christmas boxes and I saw the neighbor recycling 3 or 4 child-sized boxes. THIS:
immediately came to mind. Particularly the image on the lower right. Sigh. We all live with so many unfulfilled dreams.
So John asked him if we could have them. Being the friendly, generous, small town neighbor that he is not only gave them to us but he later delivered a total of 11 large cardboard boxes from his new cabinets. OH JOY!
And THIS:
is what I managed to come up with. Complete with:
a lookout tower and:
Peep-holes.
The window idea in the inspirational picture above proved to undermine the structural integrity of the entire fort.
I am planning flashlights through parts of the roof for lighting and blankets and pillows for increased comfort.
Sadly, I am too long to make the tight corners so I can only live vicariously through my children. But frankly, I feel a bit like a self-made millionaire who is nervous about just indulging his children because he fears that they don’t value what they have. My children didn’t have to ache and yearn for this wondrous habitation for the last quarter century – it was just handed to them on a silver platter. Ah well…this is the perennial tension – how to give good things to your children without risking their own goodness.
So, to my brothers: James and Evan – eat your heart out. And Nick…you may build this:
but we both know that deep down you really want to build:
THIS!
This is totally awesome. All of my dreams come true. :) What lucky lucky kids to have such a talented and fun mom.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome...wish I had the room to do something like that. We'll have to settle for the stuffed animals train made from diaper boxes in the upstairs hallway. ;0)
ReplyDeleteO the number of times I have looked at that picture! There is no clever or little quippy comment for me to make on such a thing of greatness- just a simple: Well Done.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm NOT crazy! Every time Mark breaks down a large cardboard box, a little tear drops from my heart at the thought of what it could've been. Ok, that's melodramatic, but seriously, it's good to know I'm not the only adult has the dream of the cardboard fort!
ReplyDeleteYou are hilarious. And so awesome. I want to climb in there with a flash light and read books!
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