Porch

So, I don't know why it is even an option for home builders Arizona to not include a porch covering. Our backyard also has no big trees, so when we first moved in 2.5 years ago up until a couple months ago, we had no shade! If you count a 7ft wide umbrella for two summers then I guess we had about that much shade, but it was not much, and we had no patio furniture because we wanted to wait until after we built a porch. The sun goes across the back of the house for most of the day until late afternoon, and then it's shaded by our neighbors house. And it gets hot. My dad is a super handy DIY kind of guy and he put the idea in our heads that we could do it ourselves. So, we did! It was actually a super fun project and although we were burnt out by the end, I would definitely do it all over again! We did most of it ourselves, just Nate and I, but had a TON of help from Nate's family too. We couldn't have done it without them. Here are all of our progress pictures. 

I found this awesome patio set on craigslist for $75!!! I was ecstatic! It's a big long table, 4 chairs, and then two chairs that swivel and rock that are not in the pictures. We also put up two fans, and I have yet to put up the pretty lights that we'll string across the porch. But we are done! And have been enjoying the shade like every day.