Big project - phase one complete!

Ok, I can't say that it is completely done, but pretty darn close.

I was getting real tired of having a yucky front yard area. Our pond was always having problems and it was a total kid-magnet. I never really liked anything about this front bed. So last Friday we decided to do something about it.

first, we pulled out the gross pond

this is the demolition phase. Oscar had to be restrained because he couldn't sit still

here it is with the pond gone. we only one other obstacle......

this stinkin' tree was harder than we thought it was going to be. Ryan dug it out for about 4 hours and then our neighbor brought over his chainsaw and helped us get the rest of it out.

these roots did not want to give in, but we finally got it.

big hole

now we had to even out the ground

and where do you put extra dirt???

NOT HERE LIVY!!!!! that is dirt, I promise!

Oscar loved to dig

Ryan was working so hard to get it done. He would work on it from when he got home from work until it got too dark to work. what a trooper.

this is what I woke up to today, Ryan's dads truck about 3 feet away from the house.

Ryan put road mix on the bottom and now he is getting ready to put down the sand

now the weed barrier and the edging.

and now another truckload of sand to go on top

It may not look like I took any part in this project, BUT this was my job (besides making sure the kids didn't run off from the house) I moved all these pavers from here.......

to here. We bought over 200 of them.

See, I worked too!

Just getting started to lay down the pavers. It's going well.

I had to take a picture of this. The pavers were a perfect match from one end to the next. We didn't plan it completely, it just worked out perfectly.

Livy loved being outside with us.

Ryan's mom and dad came over part way through to help finish off the job.

almost......

DONE!!!!!!!!

Ryan worked so hard to get this done , especially today and he did such an amazing job. It looks so much better than I had imagined it would look. I can't wait to get a bench so we can sit out here and watch the kids ride their bikes. There are about 5 phases to this project that include the other side of the sidewalk, a pathway to the fence, a new tree and I'm sure we'll find more along the way. For now I am happy with this. Does anyone have a bench they want to donate????

Love it!!!!!!