Getting ready to do our back yard !

Our back yard is soooo sad. When we bought our house we had the front landscapeing done and we didn't have the back done. (mistake). If you are ever going to buy a brand new house. Get the yards done before you move in. It is such a headache to try and decide what to do. We have a much smaller back yard than we did in our California house. That yard alone was a half acre. I like a more tailored clean look to keep the yard looking that way took a miracle. It was hard to keep the weeds out. It was a great back yard for the girls when they were little. We had a slab of cement that went around the back yard. They girls could ride thier bikes around and around. It was thier own little park. Now they are getting older they just want to lounge around and listen to music and jump on the trampoline.

This yard is way smaller. I love that we have allot of privacy because we live by a huge farm field. In the mornings it is neat to open up my big windows in my room and see the cows in the fields with the beautiful sunrise behind them. SO PRETTY !. I feel like we live in the country. I will take pictures next time. I love to lay in my bed and look out the window into the field.

Ok, so back to our yard. We have all dirt.. Just a clean canvas. What to do? gravel, grass, We thought about a pool but we don't want the expense and time needed to clean in. Also, its not in the budget. Our cooling bill in the summer is outrageous, can you imagine with a pool. We know we want to do a patio area with a fire pit. (we love outdoor fires) and also a speaker system for music... Living in Arizona, your grass dies in the summer and you have to reseed it all the time. I have heard of people painting their grass green in the winter.. Now, that is weird... So send me some ideas.. ? I can decorate a house, but not a yard...