Instant Grassification

Today, finally after 8 long months, our backyard is finished! We have been working on the landscaping so hard for so many weeks now that it is hard to believe we are done! For those of who are not from AZ--it's hard to appreciate just how difficult landscaping can be here. Our "yard" when we moved in was just dirt. When I say dirt, I mean dry, dusty, and solid as a rock (in fact our land is solid bedrock only 3 feet down--all digging requires a pick-axe.) Because everything is so dry here, anything green requires automatic watering. Chris (along with whoever was around to help) installed the sprinkler system (he dug hundreds of feet of trenching...by hand), I planted the trees and bushes (I dug 23 holes--I still have blisters), and today, we layed the sod, and finished shoveling the rock. We celebrated by taking a dip in the pool (that's why Chris and Anna are swimming in the pics.) I had a hard time tonight keeping Anna and Jaden off the grass--we aren't supposed to play on it for at least ten days! Anyway, we are sooooo excited to finally have a yard to enjoy!