Modern Mama

I am so excited that we are starting to get closer to summer because summer means better weather which means we can get our little one out of the house and out enjoying some fresh air. While we aren’t quite there yet we wanted to mix up our typical weeknight routines and decided to pull our Jeep out back for a little backyard picnic. With our unpredictable Spring weather I am really glad we opted to do our main set up in the back of the Jeep because sure enough there were light spots of rain that decided to roll in about half way through though this idea could easily be done just out on the lawn if the weather cooperates.

And the best part is that it didn’t take any time to set up which is imperative when you only have a few hours with your little one before bedtime. Really all we needed was our fold out mattress (also doubles as a soft bench in our living room which is great to read stories on), blankets, pillows, a lot of snacks, and some outdoor toys. Since this was our little one’s first picnic her mind was blown. She loved being able to eat outside. She loved being able to run around the backyard and play with her toys and then jump back into the Jeep whenever she wanted to snuggle or get out of the rain. She loved getting to be outside until bedtime. It was so much fun for being a spur of the moment idea and is definitely one we will recycle frequently throughout the upcoming summer months.

If you aren’t quite sure where to start here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Potential Snacks
  • Grapes
  • Blueberries (this is one of our little one’s favorites)
  • Pre sliced cheese (we like to buy the variety pack)
  • Crackers
  • Meats
  • Leftovers (Yes, having a little one my fridge is often full of unfinished meals from earlier nights so why not clear some space and serve some nutritious options)
• Outdoor Toys
  • Anything bubbles. If you happen to be out of bubble juice I would recommend using some Dawn or other type of dish soap with a lot of water. Works great!
  • Soccer ball or really any type of ball. It makes a fun game that even as a Parent I like to jump in and play
  • If the weather is nice it might be worth busting out the sprinkler or a water table. The hope is that you get to play until its time for bed so nothing is better than playing hard in the water and then getting to change into nice warm jammies to wind down
• Picnic Setup
  • Highly recommend a Bluetooth speaker. In our case we blasted some Disney songs resulting in more than a few dance parties.
  • Lots of soft comfy things to sit on. Whether you are in the back of a vehicle or on the ground if you are going to be outside for a few hours you want to be comfortable so it never hurts to have a few blankets and pillows that you don’t mind washing after.
  • Extra credit if you set up some cool lighting. Since we’ve used the Jeep for camping we actually had some string lights that lit up the back of the Jeep making it feel even more magical. For those who are just hanging out outside what a good excuse to get some great backyard lighting that can be used all summer long.

No matter how you set it up or what you eat backyard picnics are an easy, affordable, amazingly fun way to mix up your usual weekday routine or if you really want to go out it would be even fun to do around lunch time on a weekend. The important part is just getting outside and enjoying each other’s company. No distractions, no technology, just good old fashioned family time. If you try this out or have any other great ideas going into summer I would love to hear from you.