So you need some ideas to get the kids or adults outside more? Well here are a few ideas that may be just what you need to get everyone outside and playing together! Here are our top 5 things to do in the backyard!

5. Scavenger Hunt
This is a fun activity that should help get everyone outside and playing. There are tons of printable lists you can get online for your hunt, or you can simply make your own! This can even be turned into a Pokemon themed hunt with all the hype for the series. Have they hunting for “Pokemon” that are in your yard whether you get figures or just printouts, this is sure to be a fun game for the kids!

4. DIY Obstacle Course 
This is an easy and fun activity you can create using everyday items in your house. You can make it really detailed in some areas to make a challenge for the adults and some simpler challenges for the kids. This can be altered too and rebuilt so that the fun never ends. Use ladders, and pool noodles, or whatever you can find around the house to make a fun and crazy course.

3. Tug of War
This is an activity that will never get old. There are a lot of ways to make this game fun. Have the kids stand on a stump and as the pull one will fall, if you have a kiddie pool this is another way to make it fun. They can tug each other into the pool! Adults can have just as much fun as the kids on this one in soaking the other players.

2. Create a fairy garden
This is something I did as a kid and loved it. You can make the garden with things already in the backyard, or you can go out and get some things you feel would work better. A fairy garden is made to look like a home for the magical and mythical creatures that live among us. Uses rocks as a pathway, and you can use sticks and pieces of wood to create the house. Flowers are also a great decoration and this is a good way to help start a garden at home that kids will want to take care of.

1. Make a DIY slip and slide!
This is a fun activity for all ages and always will be. I have always enjoyed sliding down a slip and slide and we are sure that you and yours will have a blast too! You can also make a PVC pipe that is “raining” down on the slide adding another element of fun to this activity. It is great outdoor fun and perfect for those hot days.

If you are visiting Waxahachie Texas rest assured that there are plenty of things to do. The city is just outside of Dallas so you’ll find it has a lot of exciting adventures. Its summers are hot and humid and it has mild winters. This makes for the perfect location to enjoy outdoor activities year-round. Here are some fantastic things to do when you're visiting the city!

1. Ellis County Courthouse and Museum. One of the things you’ll immediately notice about Waxahachie is its ornate buildings. The courthouse is no exception. Italian stone carvers were brought in to work on the pink granite and pink sandstone. Its façade is a definite work of art in itself and if you visit, you definitely should see the structure. There also is the equally impressive museum. It is small but holds a rich history of the area. If you're a Civil War buff or looking to learn more about history, the Museum of Ellis County is a perfect starting place. 

2. Chautauqua Auditorium. This is a premier auditorium that hosts everything from high school graduations to shows to big band concerts. If you are looking for something to do, definitely check the schedule. Likely you’ll have some entertaining activity at the location every weekend. It’s also a great way to truly get involved in the culture of Waxahachie first-hand.

3. Gingerbread Antiques. What better way to see the culture than to go antiquing? At Gingerbread you’ll find a quaint little shop that offers some unique and beautiful pieces. Whether you're looking for old toys or clothing, you’ll likely be able to track it down here. It’s the perfect shop to check back with often because of the new arrivals it consistently works into its shelves. Any antiquer should definitely make time for a visit or two to Gingerbread Antiquest.

4. Waxahachie Ghost Tours. What visit would be complete without a ghost tour? The old buildings are always discussed with a reverence due to the possible specters invading the hallways. You can participate in the tours to see first-hand if you can see any ghostly figures peering out windows or handing out in stairwells. Even if you don’t see ghosts though, you’ll get a fantastic tour of the city and learn something about its history. 

5. Texas Musicians’ Museum. This is a place for fun on Friday and Saturday nights. They have some great museum pieces along with great food at Smokin’ Joe’s Place. Plus, you can stay for the entertainment and enjoy the signature beer, margarita, wine or bellini’s. Check out the calendar to see exactly what is happening and then enjoy!

6. Webb Gallery. This is another fantastic attraction in Waxahachie. You’ll love browsing through the artwork here—some is modern, some is outrageous and some is plain bazaar. If you like diversity and self-expression, this is the place to see it!
​Regardless of what you're looking for, when you visit Waxahachie you'll find something to love. Venture through the city and take in the sights. Explore and be adventurous. You likely will want to return once you see all this town has to offer. 

Everything is bigger in Texas! This includes steak, burgers and ribs. If you’re visiting the Midlothian TX area, in Ellis County, check out any one of these places to eat to get the most out of your trip, from burgers and sirloins to tilapia and sushi, these eateries have your pallet covered!

1. Branded Burger Co. Located at 100 N. 8th St. in Downtown Midlothian, Branded Burger Co is hands down the best place to grab a burger in the area. Serving up giant burgers with any toppings you can imagine, there is a burger to suit every taste and fill up everyone in the family! Everything on their menu is fresh cooked to order, so you know it will be good! Not a burger person? No worries, they also serve up some great vegetarian options, like the Shroom’ burger, and some chicken sandwiches. Be sure to taste one of their hand dipped milkshakes with your lunch!

2. Caroline’s Country Café. Caroline Flath is the owner of this Country Café, as well as a local, so she knows just how people like their food in Texas. Caroline’s Country Café serves up some delicious sandwiches for lunch, like Reuben’s and Tuna Melts, as well as burgers. For dinner, head to Caroline’s for some down south comfort food, like the open faced Roast beef and gravy dinner. The café is located at 1000 E. Main St, suite 304.

3. Campuzano’s Mexican Grill. If you’re craving some southern below the border style food, head to Campuzano’s, the best place to grab some Mexican cuisine in Midlothian. Campuzano’s is located Downtown, at 108 N. 8th St and serves up some of the best fajitas, quesadillas and burritos that you can imagine. Head to Campuzano’s for brunch and enjoy some frittatas, omelettes and bottomless Mimosa’s. 

4. Rising Sun Hibachi Grill. Craving something a little bit different? If you’re burnt out on burgers and steaks, opt for some sushi or hibachi chicken or shrimp. Rising Sun cooks up some of the best Japanese food in the area. Specialties include hibachi tilapia and teriyaki sea bay scallops. After all, who doesn’t want a little sushi every once in a while, or every day? Rising Sun Hibachi Grill is located at 402 E. Main St.

5. Creations Baking Company. So, you’ve had your fill of dinner and you’re ready to get some awesome dessert. Creations prides themselves on delivering such amazing baked goods they say they offer ‘little slices of heaven on earth’. Located at 412 W. Avenue F in Midlothian, this is the place to go to get your fill of cookies, candies, pies and cupcakes. As they say at creations, ‘happiness is only a cupcake away.’

Having a pool is a huge asset to any home! Not only does it help increase the resale value, but it also offers you a great gathering location for friends and family during the hot summer months. Imagine having a fantastic pool party where you grill, serve drinks and take a luxurious dip. Having your own pool isn’t farfetched. You can easily plan on pool building by following some simple and straightforward steps. 


1. Choose your in-ground pool. In general there are three types: fiberglass, vinyl-lined and concrete. A concrete pool can be customized to any size or shape you want. It starts with steel-reinforced walls and concrete is shot into them. Then, either a tiled or plaster surface is installed for the finish. Usually a concrete pool takes longer to install because of its structure. It is however considered to be the sturdiest of options. Vinyl pools are made from flexible liners that fit into the hole dug for the pool. Usually these are rectangles, but you can customize them with L-shapes or freeform shapes also. Remember though that with these are not safe against punctures. You have to be careful with them. You can get liners that are thicker though to help, but care still needs to be taken with their handling. Fiberglass pools are another option. These are factory-molded and dropped carefully by a large crane into the hole. These are installed much quicker than other options because of how simple they are constructed. They have a gel finish that is very durable, stain resistant and smooth. They also are nonporous so they won’t harbor as much algae as other styles.

2. Compare the pricing of your pools. The cost of an in-ground pool can vary greatly because of the many sizes and shapes available. In general concrete is most expensive, followed by vinyl. But this can easily change due to size. 
​
3. Be sure to check zoning laws with your municipality. The good news is that usually your town hall will have a “pool packet” with all the documentation you need to get your in-ground pool going. They will ask for the size and shape of your pool, where it will be located and give you their general guidelines for installation.

4. Choose your filtration and sanitization systems. They both come down to the pump you choose. This is what will draw water from the drains, sends water on the surface through an auto-skimmer and then filters it before it is returned to the pool. 

5. Be aware that the extras can push the price up quickly. Things like lights, landscaping, decks, fencing, privacy walls, whirlpools, water test kits and additional electric outlets can all drive your pricing up. Be sure to factor them into your overall plan for your pool. 

​Building a swimming pool can definitely be a lot of work, but not if you have experts that know what they are doing and have experience in the industry. Fortunately, there are plenty of people in the Texas area that are vying for your business and can give you a top quality pool for a fraction of the cost it would take you. All along the Midlothian TX, Waxahachie TX, Ovilla TX, and even Red Oak TX areas are swimming pool construction companies that can help you get the ball rolling for the ultimate pool of your choice. No matter the size or depth you are looking for, they will be able to get the job done in little time.
One of the main things that pool builders have to keep in mind is the kind of pool that someone is looking for. There is a different in an indoor pool, and outdoor pool, and even a pool that contains items like beach entries, spas, bubblers, and diving boards. There are a lot of different variety of swimming pools that you may not even know existed. The point of a pool is not just to help you swim or provide entertainment but also add to the décor of the home. Many of the swimming pool builders in the Texas area understand this mindset and can give you just that. 
Swimming pool construction involves excavation, steel, plumbing, gunite, electrical, decking, tile & coping, surface finishes, and even checking for things like gas and electrical lines. So much goes into swimming pool construction that it can sometimes even take months to get it completely built. This is why no one person should take time in building a pool with the risk of making a mistake. There is a lot of study, surveying, and designing that goes into making not just the perfect pool but the most efficient pool for the amount of land available. This is why it is very important in only enlisting the top notch in quality of pool builders when looking for a pool in your home.