The Finished Product

 Three months and countless hours of noise, dust, and overall chaos took us from this:

 

 

 and then finally to this.  This is the front yard. 

 

 

 The trampoline sunken (sorry about the blurry picture)

The covered patio.  Although we lost areas of grass, we actually gained more usable flat yard.  We also gained a substantial amount of shade, and we love, love, love having a covered patio.  I particularly love the French doors we added.  Mostly we just love being done!!  :)