st augustine often does not do well in shade. I think in play areas you might want to go with the new soft tiles that they use for making patios, they are about $5 for 2x2 or the shredded rubber tires, just use a surround that keeps it in. They were using it as mulch, but not only does it stop it from drying out or getting weeds, it also stops water from getting in. Easy to hose off, if there is an accident and it is soft. i would let weed or plant low plants in other areas, with maybe little walkways inbetween. You know weeds are just native plants that grow well in that spot, keep them trimmed low enough, you will have a very green lawn, no extra water or fertilizer. Mint and Mother of thyme are two other great ones and they smell so good and noone gets sick. mint escapes a lot on DE and Eastern shore of MD. you just mow, it grows back and you can walk right on it. remember, keep a close on eye on what does well, don't replant what doesn't and the secret of a green thumb, the plants pick where they want to grow, and they may grow in this spot but not 5 inches away so try something else til you really have it going.

I'd like more than just grass. I want it to look inviting and welcoming. Would love to do more with the patio, even extend if possible and other easy ideas.

ok, that would be great. I am a great believer in perennials, I am not sure of your area, but it looks like much shade in your yard, I would plant all along edges to help hide the fence, azaleas, rhodendrons, both love shade, you can start small they will be nice size within 5 years. i think camelia would do well too. All of these bloom. Plant inbetween the big plants 2-3 ferns, hostas, astilbe, or bleeding hearts. if you have the energy, and I am sure your children would love to help, buy a few flats of impatients and/or begonias every year. i had better luck with impatients, but I have heard others do well with begonias. These are annuals if you live above zone 9 or 10, at least as far as I know. They bloom and grow all year. I had a 20 foot border in my one house of azaleas hostas, and every year at least one flat of impatients, Shade was dense, never needed to water, blooms from may to october.

You have a planter, not doing much, looks like it gets plenty of sun. Use it for an herb garden. Herbs need very little water most of the time. They smell and taste delicious and many are perennials. Plant thyme, oregano and mint near the edges they like to grow low, wide and drape. Basil, French Tarragon - it must be french not russian, dill, and rosemary further back. mix them together, you will need to replace basil, and dill every year, and I think some of the oregano. There are many others, these are basic and easy to grow. Basil will have to have the flowers removed or it won;t last the year. You might even want to put a tomato or two on one side. Now they do need water. but get the children some cute watering cans and teach them how to do it. try the little pear shaped yellow tomatos, they are sweet and excellent in flavor.

Where you have pockets of sunshine along fence etc. plant roses, altheas, and dinner plate hibiscus. hibiscus cut to ground every year it will grow back. look for free seeds for hibiscus online gardening sites or very reasonable altheas in local ads. Bare root roses you see at Walmart and everywhere else, get them early and plant immediately, they will grow. Both Altheas and hibiscus will spread. Also, bulbs need thining every several years, unless you have room for spread, which you do. So you can often get irises and daffodils for free or next to nothing in your want ads. they like sun too. Secret forget all you read about roses, most of the beautiful roses i have seen were practically abandoned. Give them a can of regular coke a couple weeks before you want more blooms, never put diet in your yard, will kill plants.

Ok, clean up the porch, maybe paint the cement or stain, something where it does not show a billion muddy foot prints. next screen it in . put prettier patio stones outside of porch for a lovely patio. decorate as desired or ask specifics. might want a smaller second patio under trees for bbq man. umbrellas often hold down smoke. just remind him, do create a large plume of fire or he might burn the backyard down. lol

I am tired. let me know if you need more. have fun.

Check with your local nursery for ideas about plants and their care because it looks like you have a lot of shade. I love to garden, but when my kids were little, I chose easy care plants that did not need a lot of pruning. Three dogs and three children means you have a lot of foot traffic. I would be looking for something to put down to keep the patio near the door clean like extending the patio. With the foot traffic and lack of shade, very little will survive next to the patio. Native plants will practically take care of themselves and require very little extra water and would be ideal along the fence. With kids and dogs, get a list of poisonous plants to avoid in your area. You might also want to consider a few large pots for planting to protect your flowers and limit the watering.