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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sunday Sweetness: Backyard Living

Like most homes with children, we have crap toys everywhere.  They are in the bedrooms, the living room, the bathroom (of all places…who plays in there…unless they are bath toys, which these are most definitely not) and especially in the playroom. 

But do you know what gets the most use?  The toys that are in the backyard!

Here in our house we are in the backyard as much as we can be.  I have three boys, I need, really really NEED to get their energy out and it’s not always possible to leave the house and go to a park, or the beach or someplace that will help my older boys expel energy because the baby is still napping, or I have laundry to do, or, or, or. 

So we’ve turned our backyard into kids central!  And do you know what?  Everything gets used!  From the play structure, to the sand box, from the sidewalk chalk, to the construction trucks….everything gets used!  <insert big deep satisfied mommy sigh here>

The boys are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves outside.  But on the weekends, if we are all home together, whenever possible we go outside and have a grand time!

We do bubbles, or draw each others shadows with chalk (my personal favorite). 

In the summer time we swim in the $10 inflatable pool, run through the sprinkler, or slide on the slip n’ slide (okay, the boys do that one while the adults watch…..because running full speed only to flop down on a piece of plastic on the grass is not an adults idea of fun).  There are water balloons, and squirt gun fights.  There are games that mommy and daddy make up just so we can soak the kids so much they look like a wet rat.  We set up a tent in the backyard and do backyard camping. 

We play superheroes and bad guys!  Watch out!

We investigate bugs nature and look at the weeds flowers blooming.

We play sports…boy oh boy do we play sports.  We have mini games of soccer, basketball, and baseball going on all year round if it is dry outside.  Then there is Frisbee, and tag, and whatever random sports the boys make up at that moment! 

There are swinging, monkey bars, and sliding competitions.

There is sandcastle building, construction sites managing, and tree climbing.

The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.  If the weather is dry, there is fire pit sitting, marshmallow roasting, constellation learning, and star gazing. 

So although our house is our home, it’s where we sleep, eat and find comfort.  We do all our living outside! 

What activities take place in your backyard?

25 comments:

Corine (@ComplicatedMama) said...

I'm going to miss playing outside when the weather gets colder here. Its nice to let the kids outside running around- burning off some of that never ending energy.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Corine,

Thank you so much for visiting my little space! It really means a lot to me.

I will miss playing outside as well when the weather turns bad here. But at least 2 out of my 3 boys will be in sports so that will help burn off some of their energy. I hope!

I hope you come and visit again soon!

Alison said...

We live in an apartment so no back yard :( I wish we do!

Sandra said...

Ooo eeeem gee girl! You are the mother that makes me look bad! If you lived close by, I'd be sending my kids to your house!

Galit Breen said...

Love that! We spend a lot of time playing in our backyard, too!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Alison,

Awww, but I bet you get out a lot with Monkey! I feel like I've been house bound for well over a year because Buggy will only sleep in his crib. So we have to plan our outings around naps, which doesn't give us much time. The backyard is a great place for the older boys to go when Buggy is trying to nap!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Sandra,

Please! You give me too much credit. I send them out there in order to stay sane! The stuff that is out there is from about 8 years worth of Birthday and Christmas presents! But it all works...it keeps them busy and out of my hair!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Galit,

One of the biggest selling points of this house is the backyard. It's just perfect for our family of boys! It has been a life saver for me on more than one...make that one-hundred occasions.

Jessica said...

We just got grass in our backyard this summer so we are starting to spend more time outside. We also love hanging out in the garden and exploring everything that is growing.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Jessica,

My whole family would love to have a garden. But I haven't figured out how to plant one that doesn't take away from our grass and one that my black lab won't disturb.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Jessica,

My whole family would love to have a garden. But I haven't figured out how to plant one that doesn't take away from our grass and one that my black lab won't disturb.

Kimberly said...

I love being outside. I'm sad that the weather is going to start getting cooler soon and limit our time outdoors.

Bridget said...

Can I come live with you? We have a great yard, that not much happens in. The boys play out there a little, but not nearly enough. Of course, this is AK so it's only available a few months of the year anyway.

mamamash said...

Your backyard sounds like a great place!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Kim,

ME TOO!! I try to let the kids go as long as it's not pouring down rain. Even if it is snowing outside the kids have a blast going down the slide on the playset!!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Bridget,

Come on over! I'm in WA so I understand having weather that prohibits going outside. Which is why we are out there all the time in the summer months. Sometimes I have to drag them out there, but once they are out, they are having a great time!

Thanks so much for coming back for a visit!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

mamamash,

We love it! The kids run off some of their energy and it saves my sanity. Win-Win!

deb duty said...

Wow! Your backyard sound like the place to be. Sounds like they are going to have wonderful memories.

Anonymous said...

Right now we don't have much of a backyard, but we find places such as parks for bike riding and other adventures. Being outside is fun and I am not looking forward to summer ending. When I really think about it, we have had tons of fun in a back yard, whether it was ours or visiting others.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Deb,

Thank you so very much for coming by! I truly appreciate that you have taken the time to comment!

Yes, the boys are making great memories in the backyard! I try to sit and soak it up as much as possible.

Hope you come and visit again soon!

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Optimistic Mom,

I think being outdoors anywhere is fantastic. New adventures are always waiting with each brand new day outside!!

Rach (DonutsMama) said...

I am all for the outdoors. We spend so much time indoors that it's nice to be out when the weather is nice. Plus? It wears the kids out, lol!

Kate F. said...

I love our outdoor space! Both the front and back yard. We live in a cul-du-sac with lots of kids... so many times our front yard looks as messy as our back yard.

Our backyard is the best though. We live on a small pond (which I often refer to as a puddle LOL) But it provides HOURS of entertainment. Between fishing, paddle boating, skipping rocks or just exploring! Even in the cold and crazy Ohio winters we play outside in it via ice skating!

Really, we built our home about 5 years ago and I feel so fortunate that we picked a lot with so much usable and fun outside space.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Rach,

Right? Wearing the boys out is my first priority these days.

Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

Kate,

Sounds like you have a wonderful area to raise a family!! I love it!

My backyard has saved my sanity on more than one occasion!