Backyard shennanigans!

So it was a project that originally began mid June (with hopes of finishing it by mid-July for Button's second birthday party - ha! we know how that ended up - NOT in our new backyard!) and didn't receive the FINAL-FINAL step/process/finishing touch (grass seed!) until, oh I think last month...

DH faced pain-in-the-ass contractors, finished a lot of the work himself, and is still waiting for one contractor to come back and turn (back) on the gas line to our garage so we can get our heater going again...

but it's DONE! our beautiful backyard (the top half anyways!) is ready for lots of BBQs and playing in! (come Spring! lol)

Here's how it went (in a teeny tiny nutshell!)

Stage one we ripped out the old privacy lattice-work fence (you can see the base) and marked off where the "new level" would go...

Stage two was delivery of a LOT of materials: paving stones for patio, stones for retaining wall, gravel for (I forget what. lol) dirt for fill, etc... our yard looked like a supply/lumber yard for a long time!

Stage three involved some destruction of big railroad-tie flower beds that were against the side of our garage (see top left photo - far left pile of railroad ties!) they also left the big equipment for one night at our house, and DH brought Button out that afternoon and let him sit on it...

Stage four (which felt like it took a large chunk of time) was building the wall (the contractors left it where it ended here, the rest you see in later pictures is the handiwork of DH!) more fill was needed to level off, as well as the gravel (oh yea! that's what it was needed for!) to go beneath the patio blocks...

Stage five they completed the patio (so pretty!!!) and this is where DH started to pick up serious slack left by the contractors (the rest of the retaining wall, and the above border between driveway (which was eventually repaired and re-asphalted) and the new yard...

Stage six - we're getting there!!! DH had finished off the wall, had loaded stones around the base of our tree to protect it from moist dirt, and a fencing company came and put up our PVC picket fence (with two gates - one at left to get lawn mower down to rest of yard and one at far back right for an eventual flight of stairs to the rest of the yard - oh I guess pictures to eventually come of the back-back yard!)

Grass seed got planted, sprinkler heads and piping got relaid, and this is our new lovely backyard looks like!!!!
We had some decent sunny weather this past Sunday where we got to enjoy it with Button for a bit, but most of the play will have to wait til Spring time! Next up will be the bottom-back-yard (our property goes for YARDS past the retaining wall/fence... I'll have to take pictures to show you all!)

Now for some fun same-POV comparison shots!