We couldn’t decide on exactly where to put the sandbox at first. A few days of watching the sun, where the leaves on the trees cast shadows at the hottest hours of the day, how far that shadow stretches, and the place was determined. Morning light, when the sun isn’t at its strongest, and then afternoon shade when it bakes the rest of the yard. The way the boys gravitated towards the side of the garage where we had some mulch, and their construction trucks, picking up the pieces in the front end loaders, pushing it with the bulldozers, we knew the endless fun they’d have in a sandbox. Steve had one as a child, making intricate army set-ups, a love he’s most certainly passed down to Parker. He’s been talking about building him one for awhile. A change in weather, our days beginning and ending in the backyard, and it was time.
Steve built a frame, began digging, and William started to haul wheelbarrows full of dirt to the back of the yard. Parker and Anders busied themselves, playing in the hole he dug, already moving dirt around with construction trucks. The next day, some landscaping fabric laid, and the sand was ready to be poured in. Three tons of sand (three tons!) and the project was complete. I’m certain that Parker feels like he hit the jackpot with this in his backyard. The opportunity! What will the sandbox creations look like today! Steve and he have already spent hours building tunnels and setting up army men. The next day, William was part of the fun. Demolishing yesterday’s work and coming up with a new set up. Anders sometimes watches from the outside, smashing castles or pushing his dump truck through, not entirely sure of how he feels about the sand between his toes. I see him in it, but I more often see him just along the perimeter.
When Anders isn’t at the sandbox, he’s sitting in a dump truck. He does this all the time. He finds anything with wheels, often small things that are certainly not meant to be sat upon, and he steadies them perfectly under himself and then sits down hoping it will hold. It’s the funniest thing. Lucky for me, my camera was just inside the door when he did this. I just love these pictures. I just love this sandbox, and this backyard, and this husband of mine who can make things like a sandbox for the kids. My favorite things, and the kids’ favorite things too, have all been Steve-made (remember the train table?).
links:
{we have these metal tonka trucks–well loved and well used, most of them are rusty at this point! but still in good working condition; parker’s shirt, which he tries to wear every day lately is this one from gap. anders’ track suit is a hand me down, but similar here.}
Those really are some of the cutest pictures!!
My 18 month old son sits in or on his trucks all the time too! It cracks me up.
Once again I fell in love with your pictures – they always warm my heart and make me smile. And that sandbox is fantastic!
thank you licia!
Cute pictures. Do you have a cover for your new edition? You should definitely get one if you want to avoid the potential of neighborhood cats/raccoons/etc. using it as a bathroom. Also, I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer but I wondered if you were aware of the health risks with certain types of sand. I'm not sure if the type you used would qualify but here's a link to an old post by the bloggers Young House Love about it. They ended up replacing their play sand with pea gravel. Just thought you might want to be aware! I know you're pretty health conscious. http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/04/the-sandbox-chronicles-part-3-the-remix/
we do! and yes, i read all about crystalline silica before getting this sand! we also let it get really wet with a good rain and it's had virtually no dust! thank you, rachel!
Oh good. I should have known you would be on top of things. 🙂
What wonderful summer memories you are creating for the little boys.
Hey – this is a test!