Grown up, kid at heart, lincoln logs, tinker toys, and Tonka trucks . . .

What do grown up little boys like to play with?? Things to build, put together, dig in, and machinery to operate . . . There is nothing to help Jon's mood more than getting out into the sunshine and having fun plowing and leveling the backyard with a Bobcat, building and setting up a sprinkler system (tinker toys and lincoln logs!). Though it is a lot of work, I am grateful Jon enjoys these very productive projects!

We are using our decent sized tax return this year to fix up our back yard. We are putting in a sprinkler system in both the front and back yards, and grass in the back. This is the MAIN set of projects, but we also have a few side ones such as the new in-ground trampoline, gutters, and a few landscaping details. It is a lot of work, but will be totally worth it! Jon took some time off to work on some of the projects, and it has definitely been a great thing for his mood. Currently we have left to finish the sprinkler system, lay sod, and some other landscaping detials, along with the gutters. It is definitely an ongoing process, but I am so excited to have a nice backyard!! Thanks to Jon for his hard work!

We started with two cement patios in the back, done by a contractor (while I was gone for spring break). Here is the framework:


Next Jon rented a Bobcat for the weekend to level and till the yard. Just look at that huge grin - - what kid at heard doesn't just love to operate something like this!



Here is part of the leveled yard- you can see the finished cement patio by the house (with all the stuff on it)


Since we were digging up the yard anyway, we decided to dig a huge hole to set our new trampline down in - - to make it a little safer and easier for kids to get on and off of it. He built wooden sides for the hole and it turned out great! Now even Lillian can get on an off the trampoline without help! Eventually there will be grass surrounding it . . .




Working on the sprinkler system - - Jon had fun enhancing the sprinkler box to be deeper and really secure - - see the lincoln logs?? Well- in reality the wood is leftover landscaping timbers from a couple of horrible planter boxes we took out of the backyard.