I've been asked a bunch of questions about this monstrosity, so I guess I might as well answer them?
The question I've been asked the most is for the plans, which ... HAHAHAHALOLZ.
I'm not good at plans.
The basic premise for the project came from this. It's a pretty simple concept, though I did complicate things further by embiggening the whole thing.
Like, a lot.
It's 8' x 10', which is another question that has come up. It was strategically sized that way so that we wouldnt' have to cut as much wood. Standard lengths are my friend. The thing is also REALLY high up off the ground, mostly because I didn't want to "give up" the yard below it. That has worked out super well because there is now a giant tent swing thing hanging from the bottom and there's space for Mila's sandbox. As a bonus, I can walk under it without smashing my head.
Not having any windows or doors did wonders for making the project go faster. All told, it was about two weeks from the time we broke ground until the last of the stain was applied. I worked at my "real job" during one of those weeks, so it really was a quick project. The biggest reason it went quick was that I planned everything out in advance. I mathed the exact number of boards I would need for the floor, for example, and had them separated out as I went. Also, Alexis is officially old enough to help, so she did. A lot. She had a vested interest in the whole thing as she helped select the design and had plans to conquer the whole thing as her own.
Which she has.
It may have been Mila's birthday present, but Alexis is the one who lives out there. She has been spending hours and hours sitting in the tent/swing thing and reading. It's where she is all day every day, really. So far Mila doesn't seem to mind, so we all win.
Basically, the idea that a play structure would be a much better way to celebrate Mila's birthday (as compared to a party) was exactly right. I'm just not sure that the right kid is celebrating daily.