Seeking Shelter

I've been on the PTA board for the past three years and have been an officer for the past two. The best thing about being on the PTA is the amazing friends I have made. The moms I work with have truly become my greatest friends and support. Most of my life, my friends were guys. Having women friends has been so rewarding.

Esther, Michelle and me

This year, I haven't been as involved as in the past because I'm working at other schools, but the PTA this year has done remarkable things. Earlier in the year, we paid $16,000 to erect a huge playground cover so the kids would have shade at recess. We also wanted to build a picnic shelter. We bought it at Costco, hired a contractor, but decided to do most of the manpower ourselves.

Yesterday was the day. It was supposed to rain, but instead was just the right amount of cloudy to keep us in the shade.

We started out by laying out all the boards...

...and sorting all the hardware. 

The men did the heavy lifting. They built the posts first.

Then we stood the four corners to set the frame.

Greg and Esther Courtney

Frank (the contractor), Esther, David, Greg, Mark and Michelle Burgess

I had to leave for a couple of hours to take Baylie to a birthday party. When I came back, it was mostly done.

April and Matt Alsup

Our principal, Tina McCaskill, and her husband Greg

PTA President Michelle

Mr. McCaskill

The crew: David, Me, Esther, Greg, Michelle, Mark, Tina, Greg, April, Matt
(You can see the large playground cover in the background.)

Somebody put this little bee in the concrete. It's perfect!

We arrived to start the shelter at 9:00 a.m. and  finished at about 4:30 p.m. It was a full days' work!