Little Fuckers

 Josh and I have been talking about re-doing the backyard for a long time. Its on the smaller side and an awkward shape so we had some ideas on how to better utilize every square inch. After much discussion (and debate) we decided now was a good time to start the project. It initially started slowly with us taking the awning down and replacing the fence and then we jumped right in tearing the whole yard apart! Owen thought it was great to watch and there were only a few annoying days when it was too loud to work/do school in our normal locations. 

Ripping up the grass came at a perfect time because we had to been dealing with a gopher issue. Our good friends John and Michelle have also been dealing with gophers so they've been giving us advice since they've tried everything from flooding the holes with water and fire (John is a firefighter) but so far nothing has worked for them. Feeling a bit cocky, we opted for the easy route and spent $500 to lay down a screen before they lay the sod. Damn we are so smart. 

The backyard became (more than) a pet project for Josh. I swear he is going to be a professional landscaper in his next life. He would spend hours out there doing god knows what but it kept him happy and he loves the yard! He is very particular about where the patio furniture goes (I have learned not to touch anything!) and was so proud that he insisted on getting the gutters cleaned and fixed before anyone arrived for the Christmas holiday. He was able to get two guys to come out the same day he checked! They flooded the gutters, spilling heaps of dirt of grime on the new patio pavers. And then left it. I thought Josh was going to have a heart attach! He spent hours out there, looking very miserable, hosing it off and down the drain. 

A few days later he looked out the window and yelled " What the hell is that dirt?!". Those little gophers actually dug up through the new rocks we had placed around the trees! Smart little things. We thought we had that handled until we saw the little fucker poking his head out from next to the fence! Over the past few weeks there are more and more holes and it is as though the little fuckers are just tantalizing Josh each and every day! It is hard not to laugh because... Ha! :) So our gopher issue continues....

Before!

We sure enjoyed this swing set over the past 7 years! I can't believe it lasted that long. 

Owie stayed home for the big demo day!

Pretending his is driving a bobcat

Josh put the boys to work!

Ta da!

Owen even has a beach to play in :) 

Goddamn gopher hole!

Little fucker!

Hopefully we can keep the holes at least next to the fence (since we learned apparently they didn't place the screen all the way to the fence) because otherwise the backyard looks beautiful! Josh did such a great job planning and coordinating and we've already enjoyed it so much :)