Puttin' Down Roots

I am one very lucky girl. 

My husband is such a hard worker.  He is intelligent, strong, and capable. He is my best friend, a great dad, and a talented handyman! 

This season we have been puttin down roots by getting our back, and front yard in shape. We want a great place to hang out with the kids on the grass, to have BBQs in the warm evenings, and a place to let our little ones crawl and romp comfortably. 

Here's a picture of the backyard before. There was a black-widow ridden plank-deck and a sandy dirt patch to the right, where Ryan is standing.

I snuck a picture of Ryan working in the pouring rain. He worked at night, in the dark, and in all types of weather to get the patio and grass in before summer. 

Ryan hand-sifted the dirt for the entire patio (to save money). He took out 6 inches of the existing soil all over the backyard, sifted it, leveled it, and built the frame for the concrete patio.

The grass is in, the back yard is shaping up! We will have plants along the wall border, and, if you look to the right of the picture, you can see our soon-to-be outdoor shower!

              We had a bit of extra sod so we put it in the front yard where we often hang out in the mornings, drinking coffee, admiring the view and listening to the birds while the kids play.   This picture is of the front yard in full use, toys out, the chickens scratched up the mulch, my plants laying around...I just took the photo as the kids went down for a nap.

                    

I snapped this picture right after I took the one above of Ryan working in the rain. He came home from work that day, went outside and began shoveling dirt and gravel. Then, when it was time, he switched gears, came in to have dinner, gave the kids baths and did the bedtime snuggle routine with me. I admire him so much, I have an amazing husband. 

I am one very lucky girl.