South Carolina Dwiggins Family

Hello to everyone. Just wanted to let you all know Santa stopped here in South Carolina. We thought he might get lost in Arizona or Colorado, but we heard the reindeer on the roof. Plus, Santa ate his cookies and the reindeer ate thier carrots we left by the fireplace, not to mention all the wonderful toys Santa left for us all. The present we were all waiting for was in our living room on Christmas day. Caleb got a big yellow slide to attach to the fort, which of course we did right after opening all the other presents. Caleb also got a nice roller coaster to put in his room. He likes to ride his roller coaster with his baby brother Austin on his lap. We had a great Christmas. We wish we could have seen you all and hope you all had a Merry Christmas. By the way if you hear some loud noises on New Years Eve, it is probably just us out here in South Carolina shooting off some awesome fireworks. Caleb and I went yesterday and bought a bunch of fireworks and firecrackers for our New Years Eve show. You all are more than welcome to fly out and enjoy the firework display with us. We love you all. Here are a couple pictures of Christmas.

Only 5 days til Christmas and what Caleb calls the "fort" is all ready for Santa to bring a nice big 10ft slide to attach. There are still some things that need to be done, but the main tower is completed and ready for the man in the big red suit. I figured if Santa was going to have to get up on top of the swingset/fort to attach the slide, I'd better make it pretty sturdy! So after 9 16ft posts cemented 3ft into the ground, lots of 2x6's and 2x4's and 1x4's, just over 100- 5inch long carriage bolts, 300 - 3inch and 200 - 2inch deck screws, I am almost done! I bought a router and belt sander (early Christmas gifts) to round out the edges to make it totally kid safe. So I still have quite a bit of sanding and smoothing to do. One of Caleb's other Christmas presents will be a swing. So not long after Christmas, I will start the 1st addition to the swingset/fort. But I think Caleb is most excited about what will probably be the 2nd addition which will be the monkey bars. He sure is a monkey!

Originally Kim and I thought that this whole "do it yourself" approach to building this swingset/fort would save us some money versus going out and buying a kit. It looks as if we will be applying for a 2nd mortgage, so Chris can you e-mail me some info please. Just kidding. It was a little more expensive, but it sure has been fun working out in the yard with Kim and Caleb. Plus everytime I do some project I try and find some reason to buy some new tools. HaHa

Here are a couple more pictures of Calebs 3rd birthday. We had a blast watching him open presents and tell which ones were "boring" and which ones were "not boring". Obviously the dinasour and trucks were big winners and were "not boring"!

We can't believe Caleb is already 3 years old. He is getting big so fast. We had a little family birthday party for Caleb on the 12th with just Kim, Jason and Austin and of course the birthday boy. Then on Saturday we had a big birthday party with some of Caleb's friends from church and Will, Caleb's friend that lives next door. They all had fun playing with toys and eating pizza, cake and ice cream. Caleb wanted a dinasour cake, so Kim went ahead and made the biggest cake she could, so she could have plenty of leftovers! I think one of Calebs favorite presents was talking to you all on his birthday. He especially enjoyed Tanner, Braeley and Ashlyn singing happy birthday. It sounded so good, Caleb joined in by playing along with his new little piano. Papa was the last to call, so of course before we went to bed that night, Caleb had to remind us that Papa and Gram were coming to see him in 2 weeks. Everything happens in 2 weeks for Caleb. So well see you in a couple days Papa and Gram. We love you all.

Well, we are moving right along on the swing-set. So far we are on schedule to have this all ready for Santa to put on the slide.

As you can see, Austin is starting to laugh and smile much more. Caleb loves to see his little brother smiling.

Cindy inspired us to get elfed as well, except Kim wouldn't let me do it to her, so Paws volunteered

Caleb has wanted a big slide for so long. Well we have been looking around and don't have the money to go out and buy a super nice swing-set/slide/playground, so of course we have decided to make our own. The story is, we have to build the tower and swing-set, so Santa can put on the slide on Christmas. So we have about 10-12 days when I'm not working to get this all built.
Yesterday I went to Lowes and bought 9 4x4x16ft posts and strapped them to the top of our Explorer. Those are some long and heavy posts. I told Kim I probably looked like a weirdo trying to lift these things to the top of the Explorer. My arms were shaking like crazy. Then people were starring at me the whole way home, because I had posts hanging longer than the Explorer off the front and back. It was pretty funny!
Then today we spent most of the day getting the 4x4x16 posts leveled and set in concrete. Right now it makes me think of the tower King Benjamin had built to speak to his people. I'm sure his tower was bigger, but it just looks funny with 9 4x4x16ft post sticking up in my backyard.
Anyway, Caleb was a great helper using his shovel and wheelbarrel to move dirt and sand that we had from the holes we dug. He loves to go outside and try all of Daddies tools. He is getting pretty excited about Santa bringing this slide!
Well, we will try to keep you all updated on the progress. After yesterday and today, I almost wish we would have spent the money and just bought one. I feel like a jelly-fish. I guess I got my workout for the weekend!