Backyard Fun

We spend a lot of time on the farm over the summer since neither the kids or I have school. However, June is packed with swimming lessons, baseball games, and the summer reading program, which means we spend more time at home than at the farm. Even though we keep a fairly busy schedule in June, we still have downtime that I like to fill with fun backyard activities. Hopefully, you will be able to try some of them too.

Fairy Garden

This is our third year planting a fairy garden. The first year PICTURE it was a small, container garden, but last year we expanded so that there would be more room for plants and accessories. The girls enjoy taking care of it and playing in it, but last year Bubs especially enjoyed sitting in it and destroying it. I don’t think he will be as concerned with it this year, so we should be able to expand. Our area is just blocked off with leftover pavers from the patio. We have built up our accessories from my mom, grandma, and great aunt. Last year, we added three plants that seem to have come back this year. Additionally, we use gems, rocks, and twigs to form pools, rivers, and bridges. After I cleared out the weeds, the girls did most of the work this year and were excited that I bought them a few new pieces.

Fairy garden 2015

Fairy Garden 2016 - before

Fairy Garden 2016 - after

Checking out their new details

Building Fairy Garden 2017

Fairy Garden 2017

Close-up

Swimming Pool

Many of my favorite childhood memories include a backyard swimming pool, and we have had one in our family as well. Each year it got a little bigger, until last year when the girls got a full-size 12 foot pool from the Easter bunny. We set up an area in the sunniest part of the yard, and they used it almost every afternoon and evening that we were home. This year, (because of the pig/chicken pen) we moved it a little further east which was good because the ground is more level which keeps the pool more symmetrical.

Giant Bubbles

Bubbles are always a hit at our house, and even store bought bubbles can provide hours of fun, but since I knew we would have some downtime, I decided to follow the recipe here and create a homemade bubble solution for giant bubbles. The only downside is that you need a cloudy day for optimal bubbles, so we didn't get to make this for awhile. Luckily, I had all of the ingredients on hand and made it in the morning. When we got home from swimming lessons, we went out to play. Bubs wasn’t able to make any bubbles, but he had a blast chasing his sisters around gawking at (and popping) their giant bubbles.

Dipping their wands

Bah's awesome bubble!

Boo's awesome bubble before

Action shot of Bah popping Boo's bubble

Using their fingers as wands

A very fun activity!

Chalk Paint

This activity took place in the front yard because there is much more cement space in the front than in the back. Following the recipe here: http://www.simpleplayideas.com/make-sidewalk-chalk-paint

I made some sidewalk chalk paint. We did this activity on a cool morning, and the kids all enjoyed creating vivid pictures in the driveway. It was actually less-messy than traditional chalk because it didn't rub off as easily as crayon chalk.

Getting started - I used little containers to mix the "paint" colors and then just carried it out in a cake pan.

Bubs really had fun!

The girls carefully painting. 

Bah's pretty heart. The paint looks really nice when it dries. 

Hopefully, these activities add as much fun to your summer as they have ours. Next up on our "fun" list: moon sand, homemade bag ice cream, and Kool-aid hair dye!