I Wouldn't Mind Living There... As Long as I Didn't Run Out of Pine Cones

On Tuesdays, we go to our homeschool co-op, which we really love. The people are so nice and the kids all get along, regardless of their ages (not surprising to homeschoolers, I know). Last period, my girls are in exercise class. When the weather is... less than ideal, that means we play games like dodgeball and kickball in the gym. When the weather is nice we head outside, and "exercise class" morphs into something very different.

There is an area of trees toward the back of the property, to which the kids seem to be drawn, almost magnetically. The trees are planted in groups of three, in triangle formation, and there are about six or seven of these triangles. The kids have taken up residence in these tree shelters, and have begun to build their own civilization. There is a hotel (which was a private residence, until the occupants were evicted for not having enough pine cones to pay the rent) and a restaurant, in addition to a number of homes. Currency takes the form of the aforementioned pine cones, some sort of pods containing some sort of seeds (pictured above, held by Daughter #2), and other assorted items worth trading. This past Tuesday, there was a dispute about the ownership of some pine cones and the possibility that a theft had taken place.

I think they may need to set up a legal system soon.