Our new front yard

Since September of 2009, when we moved into our house, I've dreamed of the day we could landscape our front yard.  We built our house, so our front yard was just a bunch of grass...a clean slate, that's the best. :)  Other projects took precedence over our yard and this year we decided it was time.  I was excited and went back and forth with different ideas that wouldn't make us broke. :)  We finally decided on an idea and we went with it.

Braydon's happy face while working on the retaining wall

Sydney really wanted to help Daddy

"Good job, Dad." -Sydney

Then she started digging...such a good helper!

This is the side we started with.  I tackled this one on my own, therefore there are no pictures for evidence. :)

After we were finished and the plants were put in.

Front view of the house.  Please excuse the grass.  Right after we completed this project was when Mother Nature decided that it needed to be 100* everyday for about 3 weeks.  Our grass didn't like it very much and frankly, we gave up on watering it.  Water bills doubled that next month and we were glad we gave up. :)

Even after all this work, it's still a work in progress.  We will be adding in a small island for our third attempt at a tree in the front yard. :)  We haven't had much luck with our front yard tree, so if anyone has some good suggestions for a nice shade tree that's easy to grow, let me know.  Apparently we need help. :)  Since we face east, we need a good tree to block the morning sun.  It gets hot out there in the morning!!