I'm hoping for some ideas and especially pictures of other people's backyards that are kid friendly.

Here is a picture of the side yard, on the west side of the house...

It is 7 feet wide and maybe 15 feet deep along the house. The dirt area/unfinished area, extends to where it meets the lawn, probably another 8 feet or so. It gets only afternoon sun. This is the spot I thought might be ideal for the kids area. We have the portable sandbox there now, and would like to build a wooden one in that area somewhere. Also would like to move playhouse to that area, instead of having it on the cluttered patio. Maybe have pea gravel or something on that area for both the playhouse and sandbox. Then do grass all the way along the side of the house extending to the gate? That's our latest idea. What do you think?

This picture is just to the left of the previous picture, showing our cluttered back patio, just to give an idea of our need!

Now turning around, this is the northwest corner of our yard...

This is the biggest eyesore to me. This is where the blackberry bushes and raspberry bushes are. This is also where I'd love to plant a tree or move an existing one so that we can have a semblence of privacy from the neighbors two-story house in that corner. Oh how I'd love a waterfall or something, but that is probably 20 years out before we could afford that.

And now the northeast corner...

Hubby built the raised beds last year and it is sure an improvement over everything planted haphazard but I'm still not happy. It just doesn't look finished.

Other notes: none of the three trees are planted anywhere that help provide shade or privacy. We would be very open to moving them to better spots. Also, since the blackberries and raspberries are really attracting the wasps or yellowjackets, whatever they are, I would really rather have them all in one area somewhere. We could build more beds along the east side if needed.
Oh the overall size of the main part of our backyard is 60 feet wide and 46 feet deep (deep meaning from house to back fence where the blackberries are planted)

I don't know if anyone will be able to help me specifically with our yard, but even in you can point me to some pictures that might give us ideas, it would be much appreciated. I've been scouring the web for over a year, and still haven't found much.
I did put a call into a landscape designer who specializes in designs for the do-it-yourself installer, which is what we would do. I'm hoping he'll be able to come up with a good design but I'd love to show him some ideas.
Thank you so much for your time reading my message and giving me any input.

Take accurate measurements of your back yard and the locations of anything that has to stay, like the patio. Play with the bubbles to figure out where each area with a different use would work. Veggies need sun, and kids need to play where you can easily watch them from the kitchen window. Place your pretty stuff like a flower border where you can enjoy them from the patio and see them from the windows you are likely to look out of, like the kitchen, dining nook, etc.

I think you could use a shade tree to block the afternoon sun, probably in the area where the play area is now. Can you relocate the play area to the east end? Will the veggies get enough sun on the west end, or is the location where it is now the sunniest spot? Don't forget to include an area for things like compost pile, trash cans, outdoor storage, etc. that is screened from view. A shrub border makes a good screen.

Once you have the best location for each area pinned down, you can start thinking about the size and shape of each area. How much space do the kids need? Measure their stuff and see how it will fit with the sandbox. You want to be able to cover it if there are cats wandering the neighborhood so they don't use it for a litterbox.

How big a veggie garden do you need? Be realistic about how much time you have to water and weed. Same goes for any flower plantings. If you're busy with the kids, stick to shrubs and a couple of large clumps of easy care perennials, or you'll end up with an eyesore instead of an asset.

Observe how much shade your house casts when siting the veggies and berries. I didn't indicate it on my doodle, but include a simple border of mixed shrubs around the patio to create a sense of enclosure. Keep them short if you want to look out over the yard, taller if you want it to feel like a private area. Remember you'll be sitting on the patio, so they don't need to be very tall.

Plan the shapes of any plantings with mowing in mind. You don't want to be left with any odd shaped or skinny bits that are difficult to access with a mower.

Don't even think about plant selection until all of the above is done.

Right now, the little beds along the fenceline are skimpy, and the outline of stones is more of a distraction than anything else. I bet they're a pain to trim around too. I'd remove them altogether.

The trees could possibly be relocated to the back lot line to add some privacy, but determine how tall a tree or shrub will need to be first to block your neighbors' view of your backyard. Does the whole yard need screening, or only the patio?

I'm sure I've left something out that will come to me later.

Then continue your landscaping around the perimeter of your fence, with the majority of your efforts at the far end of your yard.

I should have mentioned, note the locations of anything like septic system and leaching field, buried or overhead utilities, etc. that will affect where you can plant or how tall things can be (in the case of overhead wires).

melanie

My kids are now 7, 8, and 9 (yours appear much younger, maybe 1-3?).

I can tell you as the kids grow older open space is increasingly important. They need a place to throw a ball with their friends or do a string of cartwheels. It would be good to preserve that if you can.