I built a Swing Set!

For my birthday I got to build a swing set!  Funnest birthday present ever. Once I FINALLY got it all done I realized just how crazy I really am. I really have NO CLUE what I’m doing. But once I get an idea in my head that is really the only thing I think about till it’s done. Kind of like a pregnancy craving, you don’t want to eat anything else till you get what you are craving. Well I have….Idea cravings .

My husband is so awesome to see how ridiculous I can be, and yet support all my crazy notions. I used 2 different sets of plans cause they both had things I liked. When you mash 2 things together like that, sometimes you get "holes". I used this one and one from Ana White. 

I wanted to make one completely out of wood cause when you start getting swing set brackets and braces you can double what you would have spent on just the wood. So with a little extra work I saved a lot of money. I spent a whopping $116 on this, and I got everything I needed. 

It's made out of 10 ft 4x4's (and here is the crazy part) I thought I could do most of it my self. And if you know me at ALL, you know that strength is not one of my strengths. :) It took FOREVER cause those things are huge and heavy. 

Day 1 last Monday (my birthday) (also the hottest day so far this year) I went to lowes and got the supplys and lumber. I got one A frame put together by my self, and the other one ready for assembly. Then my parents and siblings still at home came over and surprised me that evening. They helped me get it all put together. It took all of us a little over an hour to do what would have taken me all day. It was so fun to have them there working on it with me. We got down to the VERY last nut and bolt, and then we were gonna set it up. BUT the last nut was all screwy in the fact that it would screw on. 

Day 2 I went to ACE (just down the road) to get the last nut. Got the WRONG one, so I took it back (with all 3 kids in tow) And got the wrong one AGAIN. ANNOYING. Put the kids down for naps and worked on swings. When Rissa woke up I headed to Lowes and got the RIGHT one. Finally got it all put together and My brother Joe came over that afternoon to help me set it up. 

Here is the "hole". I only had one bolt in each end connecting the A's with the beam, so essentially I made a slight hinge. The swing set was swaying side to side. GRRR. So we set it down and I spend the evening figuring out how to fix it.

Day 3: Lucky for me I grabbed a couple extra pieces of lumber when I got the last bolt so I had what I needed to fix it. I got the braces on the ends and the front, I couldn't get them on the back cause that was the side it was laying on. 

 Mom and Dad stopped by that afternoon and helped me set it up. And it was STABLE!! Then later I had to climb up the side and finish screwing it all together while it was standing. Lydia got some puctures of me while I was up there. 


My favorite part of a project is seeing it all come together. It's still a work in progress. I have 2 seat swings up, and a partial baby swing. My original design didn't work so I found a better easier one. I will get it done this week. Along with a see-saw swing. I have everything I need for it except 4 bolts. The see saw swing will be more fun to make, but I should do the baby swing first so Ris can enjoy it too.

This is the gift that keeps on giving. Since it's all wood and I made all the swings, I can continue to change it and add. (not all right now) Some day we will make a fort to go with it...some day.

It was a lot of work but SO FUN.  Like I said, I have the best Husband EVER for putting up with all my crazy projects. My poor house suffered greatly last week. :)