Back Yard Project - Phase 1

Our back yard has been in need of some serious overhauling since we bought the house 3 years ago. We have a bad drainage problem and Kris has been itching to get it fixed for a long time. Back around the first week of April, he decided it was time to begin.

So before he got started, I took some BEFORE shots of the back yard.

The first thing he did was take down the gate.

He had to take down the gate to get this thing in the back yard. This was a HUGE help and was absolutely free due to Kris' connections at work. This saved a TON of money!!! He was able to keep it for a couple of weeks too. He really needed a bobcat, but the rental place only had this thing available. It was free, so he didn't complain. It took him a bit to get the hang of it, but soon he was digging away. The kids kept telling everyone he was tearing up our back yard. Ha!

All the dirt that he dug up made for a little boy's heaven!

The reason he was digging it like this was to make a retaining wall along the back of the yard and then to also put in somewhat of a French drain to help with the drainage issues.

The kids have spent hours and hours out in the yard playing in the dirt. I have washed so many filthy clothes and muddy shoes it is ridiculous.

Lincoln atop a dirt mountain.

Slide!!!

The drain.

Jeff came over one Saturday to help.

The drain connects to the ditch that runs across our neighbor's yard. It all ends up in a big drain a couple of houses down.

The drain was in. I'm calling that Phase 1. Next comes the retaining wall. Kris was absolutely exhausted one night while putting Hannah to bed. This is how I found them. Bless their hearts!!!