Escapee!

Those of you that know me well know that I'm obsessed with saving money. On one grocery shopping trip alone, I took over $75 off of my total with coupons and rebate checks. I was on a natural high from that for 3 days. So when we found some used chain link fence for a mere $40 on craigslist, I was all over it. It had to be removed from the sellers yard but hey...I have a willing and able husband right? Ok able, maybe not so willing. Willing or not, he spent the next day tearing this fencing out of the ground and transporting it back to its new home in our yard. I have been reviling in the thought of a fenced in play area since the day Tank first walked his first steps outside. What a glory that would be to have an area that the boys could play in outside while I got some things done! After a little elbow grease and maybe a few profanities, we had a completed play area! Yippee!!!

Does anyone want to guess how many times Tank played in the play area before he figured out how to escape? Well...the first answer is 1 time. Obviously a simple swinging latch gate isn't too sophisticated for a 2 1/2 year old. So, we resorted to using a lynch pin in the latch of each gate. Ok, so our happy little play area was now a locked in cage. 2nd chance at guessing...how many times did it take Tank to figure another way out? Answer...3. He had to think a little harder this time. But give a young child a problem and some alone time and he'll figure it out faster than one might think. This particular evening, hubby put Tank in the play area so he could play while I prepared dinner. It wasn't long before I heard a little tapping at the front door and saw the top of a little head peering in the window. WHAT!?! Who let him out?! Uhhh, he did. Remember how I've mentioned in past posts that he can scale a flat wall with no assistance? Yeah, that means he can climb a 4 foot chain link fence in a heartbeat. Partner that with the complete lack of fear and you have a quick get-a-way. So...my blissfully sweet fenced in play area has proven to be less than sufficient in containing our little monster.

Does anyone know if DHS frowns upon the use of razor wire on play areas??? Our fun filled activity center is going to turn into Alcatraz real soon. I wonder if there are any zoning restrictions on moats?