Summer Time Fun in the Backyard!

 

It’s Summertime, y’all!

The first day of summer was last Thursday!  Woohoo!!  We haven’t had the time or money to go on any family vacations yet, but we have definitely been enjoying the outdoors. :)

We call it a “stay-cation.”  Does your family do that?   

Truth is, our backyards have everything we need to make a lot of great family memories!  Whether it is roasting marshmallows, having a picnic, playing games, reading books, or planting a garden…there is always so much we can do and enjoy together outside!

We kicked off the start of summer on Friday with some family time in our backyard.

Sania loves to read, so we spread out a little blanket in the grass to enjoy one of her favorite books. 

    

This girl is growing up so quickly!  She loves the outdoors and is always asking me to come outside and play with her. 

Pop, my father-in-law, made a swing for the kids a couple of years ago, and it is one of their favorite things to do in the summer.  

Well, maybe not Sania’s favorite thing to do!  haha!  Eli loves to try and push her in the swing, but she is still a little scared of it.  

  

But she LOVES roasting marshmallows!!  We have a small fire pit in the back yard that we use whenever we can.  Sania and Adam decided to light a small fire and roast some the other night. 

Don’t you love the smell of roasting marshmallows on the fire?!  There truly is nothing better!  I think I could sit by a campfire EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. of the summer.

What is your favorite thing to do with your friends and family on your lawn during the summer?

 

Need some help maintaining a lush lawn this summer?  

Here are some tips & tricks for ya!

  • Mow in the morning or evening: Lawns are highly tolerant of mowing, yet cutting still stresses the grass. You can reduce this stress by mowing in the early morning or evening (never during the heat of the day) and by making sure the grass is dry when you cut it.
  • Never cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blade height at a time: If you miss a mowing and the grass gets too long, raise the height on your mower. Recommended mowing heights are different for different types of grass, but an easy rule of thumb for the most common types of lawn grass is to mow to a 2-inch height when the grass blades reach 3 inches. Grass should generally be allowed to grow a bit taller in the summer (2 to 2 ½ inches) to shade the roots and ground, while the last mowing of the season (in areas subject to freezing) should be shorter to allow sunlight to reach the base of the grass plants.
  • Water during the cooler hours for best results: Always water your lawn during the cooler hours of the day. Early morning and evening are the ideal times to water. Cooler air and less wind mean water is absorbed directly into the grass, with less moisture lost to evaporation. Watering during the heat of the day can actually scald and burn grass.

 

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This post was sponsored by Grass Seed USA.  All opinions and ideas are 100% mine.

Grass Seed USA is a national coalition of grass seed farmers and academic turf specialists with a wealth of experience in studying, growing and harvesting grass and grass seed. The coalition seeks to inform and educate residential and commercial customers about the benefits of grass and best practices for responsibly growing and maintaining healthy turf. For more information, visit www.weseedamerica.com and follow @WeSeedAmerica on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

8 Comments

  1. Boy, your girl is definitely growing up! That’s awesome that she loves to read. I hope that she will keep reading over the summer. We don’t always have to go somewhere to have fun and make special memories.

  2. YOUR DAUGHTER IS SUCH A LITTLE CUTIE! BUT HOW ARE YOU PRONOUNCING HER NAME? EVERYTIME I READ IT I PONDER ON IT FOR AWHILE THEN DECIDED TO ASK. I LOVE YOU HOME AND YARD, A BIG YARD FOR THE CHILDEN TO PLAY GAMES ETC.

  3. I love being outside too but the mosquitoes are terrible, and we’ve tried EVERYTHING. Sprays, peppermint essential oil, big fans, lemongrass essential oil, lemongrass plants, rosemary and mint plants…see what I’m saying when I say everything…Suggestions?

    1. We have tried the “professional ” mosquito spray which is made from chrysanthemum oils. Kids and pets have to be out of area a few hrs for it to dry ..but we can be in our backyard now!

  4. Your girl is growing up right before our eyes! Savor every moment! We like to sit out in our backyard under our pergola and eat alfresco style. We recently inherited my inlaws picnic table….the one my husband and I shared meals with them while we were dating. It’s got a wonderful weathered, reclaimed look….because its vintage 😉. We changed the configuration, and used the wood from the benches to make a longer, thinner Italian style farm table. We added cafe chairs for a whole new look with all the old memories. Food always tastes better outside!

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