First Blog

What is going on here at the Harrison household? I took April to college on Friday. Tomorrow is Labor Day. You know what that means! Labor all day! We have to get ready for preschool, which starts on Tuesday. Until I learn how to post pictures, all you will get is words. - Super Dad!

Foundation progress

This photo shows the size of the new child care facility compared to the size of our present building. Notice our building, gazebo, etc. in the background.
Here is the blueprint, again showing the size differences. This blueprint is drawn to scale.

They poured the first part of the foundation last week. They hooked the cement truck up to this big "pumper" which reached across the entire width of the foundation so they never had to move the cement truck.
This shows the long arm of the pumper as they pour the north foundation. The men are Phil Christopherson, who works for Idea Inc., who will actually own the building, and Monte Ellison, the owner of MidValley Construction company who is the general contractor.

The first part of the foundation all poured, with the forms removed. They then wired some more rebar supports and brought in the supports for the next part of the foundation.
It will take them nearly two weeks to get these supports ready to pour the next phase of the foundation which is scheduled to pour on Sept. 11. Quinton wanted to "pose" for the photo, showing the size of the foundation. Note that he is standing on the foundation base.
There is still a water issue on the north west corner. They don't think it will be a problem though. Quinton threw a rock in the water to have an "action shot".

Framing the foundation and solving water issues.

This foundation trench goes around the entire building sight. They finished framing the foundation and inserting rebar last week. They are supposed to pour the foundation this week. This shows the water work that they did to eliminate the water hole that we had on the north east corner of our lot. They knew they would have to design a way to fix that before we began as the hole would have interfered with the parking area. There were three water pipes emptying into this pit before they put in these manholes.
They inserted rebar in each of the sections of the foundation where the posts to support the big steel building will be. This shot shows that we still have a water problem. After rerouting a few water pipes, they were hoping that this water would all dry up. There were irrigation pipes, sump pumps and who knows what else draining in this area. This is the northwest corner of the building. They have a few options if the rerouting didn't work -of course for more $.
Notice the size of the foundation compared to our old preschool. The new building is going to make our present preschool look like the playhouse.

Quinton in Wyoming All-State Marching Band

After the Handcart Trek, we took Quinton to Rock Springs, Wyoming where he marched in their parade along with the 200 member Wyoming All-State Marching Band. They will go to Hawaii in November.

Water Fun Friday!!!

Mom ordered this Little Tykes Crashing Waves water slide. We got it out on Friday and the kids had a blast! They played on it for about 5 1/2 hours, only taking a quick break for lunch.

It is about 17 x 16 x 10 feet! They climb up the left side, they can aim the squirt gun at the kids below, and then slide down!

There was quite the line all day long! We had to limit one child on each area at a time for safety reasons. There were always at least two teachers watching.

Although the kids had the time of their lives, the new sod took quite a beating. There was still standing water on Saturday.

"HOLY CRACKAMOLEY!" - That is what one of the little boys said as he went down the slide. Even the toddlers enjoyed going down with a little help from soaked teachers. We will set it up again next Friday! We had the most kids there on a Friday yet!

Digging the Foundation

They finished digging the foundation this week for the new daycare. We thought you might enjoy some pictures of it!

Mom had me take a few pictures of the big equipment for Tayson. Big boy tonka toys!

The pipes in the background will be installed this week to replace an irrigation line.

Smart-Start Quality Childcare Groundbreaking

On Wednesday, July 23rd we had the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new day care. It was well attended by media and dignitaries as well as the daycare children who were in attendance that day. Here are a few pictures the Chamber of Commerce took for us.

A few last minute instructions for the children before the ceremony began.

This shows some of the people who attended with the balloons, gazebo, and new sod in the background. Things are starting to take shape in the playground.

The director of the Chamber of Commerce is speaking. That tan shed belongs to the construction company to house their tools. It will be removed upon completion of the center.

Here are some of the children decked out in their hard hats and shovels ready for the ground breaking. Notice the nice soft sand for the kids to dig into. The real dirt under was so hard that we didn't think the kids could dig it. The problem was, after the first shovel full, the kids wanted to keep digging and playing in the sand. We had to take the shovels to our own sandbox inside the fence for them to play with the rest of the day.

Let the dirt fly!

"You can stop any time now" The general contractor was about to hire some of these hard workers because they wouldn't stop digging.

The construction company ordered balloons and doughnuts to add to the celebration. It was a fun day for all.