The Mound.

For the past year, our backyard has been in need of some serious LOVE. SERIOUS LOVE. Envision ginormous rocks ... dead plants ... brown ... dirt ... weeds. The only bit of beauty came in the pool ... but even that was tainted by the ugliness that surrounded it.

So ... we avoided the backyard. And spent LOADS of time in the front. And that's really what people in Mayberry do anyways ... we're front porch people. But ... eventually the mess of a backyard could not be avoided any longer.

So ... back in the fall ... the palm trees were cut down. And then the ginormous rocks were removed. All 12 tons of them! And then a new drip line was added ... and plants were ordered ... and then ... THIS ARRIVED!
TWELVE TONS OF NEW ... much smaller ... rock!
The boys LOVED it! They loved the dump truck that delivered it ... and the HUGE pile that was left behind ...
Even Miss "I Want To Be A Big Kid" ... couldn't stay out of the mess ...
There was climbing ...
And jumping ...
Attempts to stand ...
Brilliant ideas like taking the "roller" all the way to the top ...
Or flying into the mound at full speed ...
And shorts ... that reflect all the fun ... and will never be the same ... even after THREE rounds of soaking. But such is life. Sometimes it's worth sacrificing a good pair of shorts for all sorts of fun memories!

And as for the yard ... it is looking better. Well. It actually couldn't have looked much worse. I just need to find two trees ... and hang some fun lights ... and make some cute pillows ... and we'll be ready for all sorts of pool parties!!!! Do I have any takers??