Maybe Matilda: Sunday Fire Pit BBQ

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Sunday Fire Pit BBQ

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Fruttare, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

When we were house-hunting, it was really important to us to have a spacious yard. I loved (and continue to love) the idea of having plenty of room to let the kids run around outside, and if I were the party-throwing type (which, sadly, I am not—a topic for another day, but I am trying to be more friendly and outgoing lately, although I’m not entirely sure it’s working . . . I ought to get “introvert 4ever” tattooed across my forehead) (but I did have a conversation with a fellow mom in line at the post office today, so if you need me I’ll just be over here patting myself on the back for making contact with another human) (will I ever learn to keep my parentheticals shorter than the paragraph they are hiding inside of?) (my money’s on ‘no’), wouldn’t it be fun to have outdoor parties in the backyard? We passed over quite a few houses that fit many or even all of our requirements except for having a decent yard. And although our house was a bit of a disaster when we bought it, the yard was a major selling point. Now that we’ve made some good progress updating the interior, we’re starting to turn some attention to our somewhat neglected great outdoors.

Last summer, we spent a Saturday afternoon building a fire pit in the backyard. I was pregnant at the time and basically never blogged (so tired, so huge, so grouchy = no blogging), so I can’t link you back to a how-to post. I don’t remember how much we spent (I’m going to guess somewhere in the $50-75 range), and it took all of an hour or so to ‘build.’ It was inexpensive, it was easy, and it brings us into the backyard more often to roast hot dogs and marshmallows and sit around a fire on chilly summer evenings.

Backyard BBQ with our DIY fire pit

This past Sunday, we had our first fire of the season and threw ourselves a little BBQ. We had kind of procrastinated using the fire pit after our neighbor complained about the smoke after our last fire. But, hello!, he tore up 2 feet of grass on our property and broke one of our sprinkler heads a week ago, so I don’t feel particularly obligated to try and keep him happy anymore. Fires galore!!! (Remember that thing I said earlier about trying to be more friendly? Disregard. I clearly have.)

It was so nice to spend time outdoors together as a family, and to watch Forrest be equal parts mesmerized and terrified of the fire. And since he is being particularly horrific today (I told him he couldn’t watch TV because he had spent all morning playing on the iPad—imagine the nerve! really, it’s hard to believe CPS hasn’t dragged him away from his terrible mother yet—and he’s been screaming about the injustice of a screen-free existence for the past 30 minutes), I’m looking fondly back at these pictures of a happy evening and trying to ignore the sound of him tantrumming in his room.

(Just now, he finally decided to stop screaming and asked, “If I hug you and say I’m sorry, can I have the iPad and TV again?” Nice try. No. You’re lucky I didn’t abandon you at a bus station today.)

Backyard BBQ with our DIY fire pit

“Do you want to get a little closer to the fire so your marshmallow will roast?”
“NO. No I do not.”

Backyard BBQ with our DIY fire pit

My favorite thing basically ever is when Princess Smiles-a-Lot here gets so overcome with the giggles that she cannot physically contain them and squirms with every laugh. Also, please take note of the thunderous thighs. So chunky and delicious.

Backyard BBQ with our DIY fire pit

Since it gets warm by that fire (imagine that! scientists everywhere scratch their heads, befuddled by this revelation), we ventured away from our typical fire pit treat of s’mores and enjoyed some Fruttare Fruit and Juice Bars instead. Forrest went for the strawberry and milk flavor, but there are not enough words to describe how hard I fell for the mango. So refreshing and delicious. (And if you’re wondering about his outfit change from the above pictures, quite the mess was made while gobbling up his popsicle. All part of the fun of popsicles, I suppose.)

Fruttare Fruit Bars for dessert after a BBQ

Fruttare Fruit Bars for dessert after a BBQ

Fruttare Fruit Bars for dessert after a BBQ

Before you chastise me about the dangers of children and sparklers, I know, I know. Maybe he might have burned his finger just the teeniest, tiniest little bit right after I took these photos. 3-year olds don’t totally understand the concept of “do not touch the fire, it is hot.” Lesson learned. Now I know: no more sparklers. (He’s fine.)

Fruttare Fruit Bars for dessert after a BBQ

If you’re in the mood for a refreshing summertime treat, use this coupon and head to Kroger—when you buy 1 Fruttare item, you’ll receive a $4 music award while supplies last. (I recommend the mango.)

What’s your favorite warm-weather treat? And what do you and your family like to do together outside?

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Fruttare, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

5 comments :

  1. I really just want to know how you look so stinking adorable all.the.time. Your kids are pretty cute, too.

    We finally built a patio last fall, and while it was NOT a quick and easy project, it has been completely worth it! So many long evenings on the patio...getting bit by bugs. It's magical. ; )

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  2. How come the chunky rolls are cutest on babies? Not fair. And you forget, we've met. I did not spot any jiggliness, arms or elsewhere.

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  3. It's called camouflage. Why do you think I don't buy clothes? There aren't many things out there that'll cover all the sketchy bits at once. ;-)

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  4. What an adorable family and such a fun way to spend a Sunday!!

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