Spring Break Project

Yea, yea, Spring Break was in March.  That's when our project began: constructing bunk beds for Charlotte's American Girl dolls.  David was perpetually too busy and frankly, not interested, so I told Charlotte we (the kids and I) could make a bed and make one we did.  We started with a few supplies and lots of enthusiasm on the first day of Spring Break.  Four trips for additional supplies to Home Depot and many hours later, we finally finished the rough bed.  It then sat on our screened porch until I had the interest, time and energy to sand it all down and purchase spray paint (roughly 6 weeks).  We finally sanded it and painted it and wha la - a beautiful American Girl doll bed.  Charlotte, who faithfully stayed by my side through the entire project, long after the other three kids abandoned us, then went with me to purchase material and watched as I made the mattresses.  Thank goodness Aunt Lisa had already made the quilts or the bed would still be incomplete!

We're quite proud of our accomplishment even if it did take us 8 weeks to complete and even if it ended up costing just as much as if we'd purchased a bed at the AG store.  But who blogs about purchasing an American Girl doll bed at the store :).  After I calculated the total project cost, I told Charlotte we should have just bought a bed and saved ourselves all the work.  She wisely pointed out that while I'm very willing to spend money on a project in the middle of the year, I would NEVER just buy a bed for her because she wanted it unless it was Christmas or her birthday.  Smart girl . . . and observant too :).

P.S. And if you're worried about Kaya having some place to sleep - remember (like I told Charlotte), she's a Native American who lived in the 1700's and therefore, accustomed to sleeping on the ground (THANK GOODNESS!).