The Concrete is Here! The Concrete is Here!

Phase two of our backyard reno was to rip up our crappy, ridiculously small, un-even, death trap of a concrete pad and replace it with a pad that was more than three times it's size.  Chris was the master behind this one, and was busy drawing everything out (to scale of course), planning, and interviewing contractors.

Well the day finally came when the concrete guys came to rip out the old pad and prepare the ground for the new pad.  Quinn was fascinated watching the digger pull up the concrete:

This picture cracks me up.  All four kids were pressed to the glass watching while the guys poured the steps:

And here is the finished product (we haven't done any landscaping and the fence isn't in yet, but patience is a virtue - at least that's what the infamous 'they' say!)

I believe there is roughly 1600 square feet of concrete now, and man is it a crap-load of concrete!  We went with a stained and stamped border around the outside, with matching crescent moon stairs out the patio and mudroom doors.  I can't tell you how much I love, love, LOVE the new stairs, as the kids can now exit the house without me freaking out that they were going to fall and crack their heads.

Now there is PLENTY of room for them to ride their ride on toys, play 'patio' hockey and basketball.  We're going to sink a basketball net just outside of the concrete, and there is enough space for a full key and regulation three point line (Chris made damn sure about that one!)

And of course, the darn wildlife thought it would be cool to leave their dirty paw prints on our brand-spankin new concrete!!

The third and final phase of our backyard is to build the retaining wall and level the yard so we can put in a swing set for the kids.  Yesterday Chris was busy building the wall, and the boys were right in there helping him.

I can't wait for everything to be done - but for now we are just so happy to have a patio that looks great and functions even better!  Who knew concrete could be so exciting?!?