Backyard Overhaul

We had the backyard on our radar for our next big project.

The pool was so old and corroded, rebar was started to poke through

the bottom and sides which was leaving rust streaks.

We couldn't even get a pH reading on the water because it was stagnant. 

We had to chop down the lemon tree because it dying.

We knew it needed to be done soon, but little did poor Casey know HOW soon!

I was going to host a bridal shower for Alison, who is basically a member of the

family and is our kids favorite babysitter.

My house isn't huge inside so I was thinking of how I could make it work.

The weather is ideal during the winter in AZ, but I couldn't fathom making

everyone go out back to the trenches. 

There was no way possible to cover up the eye sore of that hideous pizza oven. 

I was doing the math on how many weeks until the shower.

Six.

That is totally enough time! 

I happily skipped over to Casey to tell him my genius plan.

Guess what? Lets start the remodel! 

Oh, but I need it done it 6 weeks.

He looked at me like I was crazy.

Which he rightfully should have.

He was trying to explain that it takes weeks

to even get on workers schedules.

This is a 3 month project and you want to do it in 1?

I don't know if I batted my eyelashes super hard, or if

he was done dealing with me, much like a 2 year old.

But he said ok!

No promises, but he would try his hardest to get it done.

So there we were on Christmas Eve, trading in shopping and baking for demolition. 

I was NOT sad to see this thing go bye-bye.

Pizza oven that never worked, see ya later!

Casey was trying to do as much of it himself as he could.

Cutest little helper girl.

She loved looking out the window to all the excitement each day.

Since it was during Christmas break, all the neighbor kids

 loved coming over to "help"

We made a lot of progress until Casey's tractor oil hose busted...
all over my driveway (crying face).

After Christmas was over, they started on the pool.

You would have thought WW4 was going on out there!

Jackhammers so loud you could have heard them miles away.
SO much dust you couldn't see past your hand.

Insane. How do these guys not have lung cancer? 

Then came the pool deck guys.

Please meet Fernando and Jesus.
The guy waving is Fernando and boy was he a friendly fellow!

Jesus, no habla ingles. 

Or at least he pretended to not speak it, lol!

Those 2 worked and worked for 2 weeks out there.

I guess the coping I picked was pretty darn tedious to cut and lay. 

That alone took a whole week.

Love that sweet bystander .

While they were doing the decking, Casey was doing the stucco
 on the block wall that was slowly disintegrating.

I could cry with gratitude for how hard he worked each day, way late into the nights.

He would literally come home after a long day, straight to more work.

I wish I could have done it for him, but I'm not so good with a skip trowel. 

He tried to teach me, how hard could it be.
Wax on, wax off, right?

  It was pretty comical how bad I was!

I would have just created more work for him in the long run.

Spraying the inside with the new Pebble Tec!

We had concrete trucks and pumps early in the morning for the new sidewalks and sitting wall.

Artificial grass guys ready for installation.

After all the blood, sweat and tears, 

missed holiday parties and sleep for Casey... we finished in time!!

It turned out better than I hoped for.

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If I wasn't crazy enough, I also decided to re decorate

 the inside of my house at the same time!

I hung my Grandmothers chandelier I inherited in the laundry room.

I love it so much.

When I was little I remember taking the crystals off and putting them

on my ears like dangly earrings. 

We also had the electrician add more canned lighting in the kitchen.

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Bad before pictures, but I forgot to take some before I gave the couches away!

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I definitely had a thing for black furniture!

It was sad to see them go.

 They were our first big purchases as poor newly-weds. 

They served us well for 15 years!

We have already hosted many parties

and it makes me so happy! 

My favorite is the black and white artistic pavers on the pool deck

and the turquoise glass tile lining the edge.

My tall Ficus plants and wood beams on the sitting wall are another favorite.

The smooth, white stucco wall.

The vinyl fence and turf... shoot, I'm pretty much in love with it all!!