backyard

When we moved into our house last summer, we were thrilled to have a backyard all to ourselves. Ryan and I have never lived in a house before, let alone one with real estate that is meant for just us. The flower beds were renter-proofed (filled with rocks) and the lawn had seen better days. The first day we went outside to relax in it, we rested in weeds, bugs and rough, pokey grass. 

The yard was a lot of work throughout the fall and winter what with our three large maple trees (and their leaves and roots), but the big hill in back proved to be perfect for sledding (those four days that there was sufficient snow and the temperatures weren't frost-bite worthy).

As spring arrived and the sun showed its face, we decided we really wanted to enjoy the yard this summer. So, we invested in some lawn care for the bugs, weeds and overall roughness (and it's working!). Ryan enjoys his weekly workout pushing the lawnmower up the uphills and trying to keep up with it on the downs (still wearing those incredible shoes!). 

We purchased a box from Target and turned it from this:

to this:

Then another box and turned it from this:

to this:

Then we dusted off the special needs swing seat we purchased on Amazon a few years ago (knowing we couldn't pass up the price and that we would have a swing set one day!). You should have heard the giggles.

Swinging sisters are the best. 

We removed the infested grill that previously protruded from the middle of the deck (and had since probably 1970), added a rug so we wouldn't contract any diseases from the splinters that would have inevitably lodged themselves in the bottoms of our feet, and were gifted some chairs, where Kate happily tested her first Popsicle (a bold move by mom as Kate was wearing white pants...but she did surprisingly well!). 

I think project enjoy-your-backyard is off to a good start.