Backyard Progress

I love that word, progress. Lately, we have been feeling a little frustrated with the lack of progress on the house, but not anymore. Our big project for the summer, phase one of the backyard, has begun. This basically includes putting in a big lawn, a pergola structure for some much needed shade, and hopefully some plants and ground cover. We are super excited to be able to finally enjoy our backyard. This is what it has been looking like since we first bought it almost a year ago...

A field of weeds and an oddly placed pole barn. Thankfully there was a nice patio installed by the previous owners, but that was it.

About a month ago we started researching, designing and doing all the little background projects that had to be done first. And then one day this just happened...

Someone got chainsaw happy. Goodbye eucalyptus tree! Apparently they aren't good for the lawn, so now we have firewood.

Last week was full of multiple tractors and dump trucks. Boy heaven! We needed to mix in a bunch of compost because our soil is literally beach sand.

Levi loved getting rides on the tractor.

Here they are taking me to the "Gun Show" and showing me their muscles.

And then what really made it look like progress, the weird pole barn is gone!!! Gotta love Craigslist for selling odd things. Now you see it.

Now you don't!

Here is another before shot.

And now...

You actually notice the trees. We hope to get the sod in by next week after a few more days of working on the sprinklers. I can't tell you how pumped we are to have a lawn to run around on!