Fort 2012!!!

On a fateful summer night, two Wednesdays ago, Sarah and I had a plan.  We were going to build a fort. 

We'd built many forts throughout our industrious childhood.  Pillow cushion forts. Blankets laid over chairs. Card tables with sheets. Ha.... child's play.

But on this evening, we began clearing the family room when our eyes met, and in that instant, we knew that we would sacrifice everything to make this the fort of a lifetime.  It was at this time that we realized that at one side of the room were curtain rods, and on the other, our entertainment center--with plenty of knobs and handles.  How had we never seen the potential???

Within a matter of minutes, sheets were collected from the linen closet, rope was pulled from the laundry room, binder clips pilfered from dad's home office.

No efforts were spared as we jimmy-rigged the ultimate blanket tent/fort for the modern American woman, offering spacious comfort and a feeling of shelter from the tumultuous storms of life.

I present to you.......... our fort.  You are looking at sacred memories.
 

  

in the following picture, I look like a leprosy patient, and Sarah had spit water on her shirt mere seconds earlier. NO SHAME. it's the power of the fort.

 

Our fort gave us the courage to walk boldly into Smiths that night to pick up Captain America from Redbox, even though we were wearing our pajamas and looked more than a little bit homeless.   #truebravery

We found that many enjoyable past-times were even more enjoyable in the fort. Such as:

reading conference talks! like this one!  (ashley always shares the BEST conference talks) (but really)

 spending literally hours laying in the fort with Sarah on pinterest.  TIME WELL SPENT. (our dad had a different opinion.)

Snuck a pic of my MAMA and POPS in the FORT watching a movie! Say whaaa?? yep, it happened. they had to ask our permission first.  #respectthefort

 Recupping from physical therapy in the fort!  Dang whacked-out knee.

Then, my parents and I decided to watch the (taped) closing ceremonies of the Olympics in the fort! But it was too small.....so we expanded the fort, and thus made it the best fort in the history of all time.

Our dog, Candy also enjoyed some naps in the fort.  She was technically banned from being in the fort, per the Fort 2012 Constitution that Sarah and I drafted, but how can you say no to this:

 

And then, when the Great Las Vegas Flood of August 2012 hit, we.... you guessed it... took refuge in our FORT!

 this rushing river of filth was across the street from our neighborhood.

not pictured:  My parents, Sarah, and I watched the entire Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie INSIDE THE FORT.  it was the best movie experience ever.

 Then one day, a full week later, the fort came down.

Why did our parents allow us to leave a fort in the family room for an entire week?

The only explanation I have come up with is that they love us more than we ever realized. And they secretly loved the fort too.

If you still don't grasp the sacred memories of FORT 2012, please glance at the post-it that Sarah left in my bathroom when she went back to college.




FORT 2012. You were good to us. We will always cherish your blessed memories. #NEVERFORGET