New Playset in our Backyard

I had so much help from all of you over on Instagram with the decision of a new Playset! We wanted to get our kids a Playset for Easter. First I just want to say, I know a Playset it a pretty big Easter gift. But we really don’t do a lot of Christmas gifts, especially since we are typically in Utah. This was a big purchase that we saved up for and really put a lot of time and consideration into. It is more of a family purchase we were wanting to make anyways. With all that said, I did jut think of the idea about a week before Easter…a little late. Call it wishful thinking, being able to find something local and have it set-up in a couple of days. Not possible. First I asked the question to all of my readers by taking an Instagram Poll, with the question “If you have a Playset, do your kids actually play on it?”

The votes came in and below are the results….

I did say I would rather have a pool. But really I wouldn’t, well right now with Finn’s age. We have the beach. And if I am being honest, I want something that my kids can go out there and play with WITHOUT me. Is that too much to ask? It is healthy to have the active play- without a parent hovering over them. And love them being outside as much as they can. And of course Kevin and I will enjoy playing out there with them too.

These were the top tips I got from all of you before we bought our Playset-

• First check Craigs List and local selling pages 
• Not a plastic awning up top (some said it ripped easily)
• Large enough for kids to play on it for a long time (we couldn’t find a Lifetime set we loved as much, and I don’t mind having to seal it every year, the kids can help!)
• Dont go off of the photos, they can be deceiving on the scale. Check the measurement.
• Many recommended a Lifetime metal set, to avoid having to seal the wood every year
• Some advised against Monkey Bars for fear of broken arm (monkey bars were actually the thing I knew we had to have, my older kids love them)
• Map the Playset out  in your backyard before it is installed and BEFORE you buy it to make sure it will fit  (we used cones to get a visual of the size)
• Pay for an installer if you an afford too!

We took your advice and found the perfect one for our family AND paid to have it installed…

It took some time deciding on where we would put it. We thought about moving the trampoline and putting it back by the fence. But the grass under the trampoline is already ruined. And I personally like having the Play Set closer to the house, then I can see them right outside the kitchen! And hearing them play (nicely) is the best sound. A lot of you made the suggestion to consider where the sun will hit after school, that is a good thing to consider too!

We ended up going with one from Sams Club, so many of you kept telling me to check there and I am glad I did. We did THIS Playset. We paid the extra $500 for installation. I ordered it all online. We ended up paying about $2000. 

I did want the play set for Easter but that was not realistic. We ended up taking our time deciding, since we were not able to get anything in a week before Easter. I ordered it on March 30th and it ended up getting installed on April 23rd and 24th (it took one guy about a day and a half and I did tip him $100, I have no clue if that was too much or not enough, but he seemed happy!). We did tell the kids about it on Easter. I printed out a photo of the play set, glued it onto a thicker piece of paper and cut it up into a puzzle. They loved it!

The installer finished it on Finn’s birthday! We went and got some balloons to make it feel extra special for his birthday too. And surprised the girls and got them out of school a little early to see it and play. My mom was in town too so it was really fun.

And now with the monkey bars we have the perfect spot for a piñata! ha!

View from the deck! We are fortunate enough to have a big backyard so the Play Set doesn’t feel too overpowering. It was important to leave an area to play soccer too. (Notice the house behind us? It was there in the first photo, it got torn down that same day for a new build. Made me sad to watch. All that history and hardworking gone. But it was kind of run down, so a bigger newer house will increase our property value.)

We still have a few more things we want to get done to our yard-

#1- Add a fence to the side of the house, blocking Finn in from the front yard (that is coming soon!!)

#2- A garden over by the shed

#3- Paint the shed black and fix some damage

#4- New shingles on the house instead of the vinyl siding. We have some damage to the siding in several spots. And have set aside some money for this and plan on doing it in a few weeks

(*update- we got all of that done!!! See it HERE)

Finn also got THIS little roller coaster that he thinks he is cool when it rides on it sideways. 

Thank you for all of your tips! And we know we walk enjoy this play set for years!

• THIS is the one we ended up with from Sams Club
• We were considering THIS one but we picked the Sams Club one because the round rope swing. Overstock has great options and the same one was HERE on Wayfair.

We hope it becomes the neighborhood Play Set! We want friends over often enjoying it too!

You can see our Back Deck HERE–

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