MARK, my hard worker

Mark designed this stone path at the side of the house just this week. It is an area that tends to always be a muddy mess. We are going to try and move some more dirt in that area before we plant the grass to raise it up a bit. That's where the trash cans are, so it'll be nice to have a clean stone path to walk on when taking the garbage out.
This picture isn't the best and our garage is a bit cluttered, but these are the great wooden shelves Mark built and installed in the garage going down both sides. Towards the front he's built himself a workbench and shelf. It's nice to have a place to put all of our things. I love having these shelves because they make accessing our rubbermaids a lot easier than if they were piled on top of each other.

Mark put together this small, stone retaining wall. We're going to put perma bark (it's sitting in a big pile in our driveway waiting to be moved back there) in the area by the fence and plant some shrubs or something. The square box is going to be a planter for flowers, there's another square box just like it on the other side. Should be pretty!
The back fence he built (with some help from wonderful friends and family).

I thought this might be a special way to thank Mark for all of his hard work on our home. We are nearing the one year mark of being in our new house. Boy, has it been a lot of work (inside and outside)! We've had fun making things nice and the way we want them. We're far from done, but it does feel good to have accomplished what we have. Who knew it would take so much time, work, and money? Anyone who has ever moved into a new house I guess, but I never had until this point and and had no clue! Mark has been just incredible! He works early mornings at EDS, he starts work anywhere from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., and stays up really late at night working on things around the house. You should see him.... out there in the dark, with his head lamp on working away. He is very sleep deprived, but keeps plugging along and getting things done. He just finished putting in the sprinklers in the backyard and he's now getting ready to plant grass seed. Hopefully next Spring we'll have a green backyard. Projects he's already finished which I've included pictures of are: building the back fence (we still need to seal it), building and installing shelves and a bike rack in the garage, leveling out the backyard (it was shaped like a bowl), building a stone retaining wall in the backyard, and some landscaping out back. I don't think I'm forgetting anything. He has done all of this while being a very dedicated husband, dad, scout leader and employee. I have helped very little with the physical labor. My contributions have been by way of suggestions and ideas, and trying to manage the kids and their activities while he's working on these projects every chance he gets . Hopefully I've been some help, but hats off to Mark for working incredibly hard and doing so much for our home and family! He's learned a lot and I'm sure he'll be able to help others with their yard projects now. Anyway, thank you and we love you, dear!