Riley PICS of the day!

Yes, I know there have been many posts lately of Riley pics, but she's so freakin' cute sometimes that I just have to take them! Enjoy :-)

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! Today my mom, dad, grandma, and sister came up to celebrate Mother's Day. I made spinach and artichoke mac'n'cheese (a Rachael Ray special) and my mom made a Zebra cake (chocolate wafer cookies smushed together w/real whipped cream). Pictured above are the gifts to my mom and grandma.

It's done!!

This weekend the landscaping was completed. Richie's uncles, coworker, and Richie himself worked hard in the windy, cold weather to get the landscape completed. Irrigation System
New *purple* rhododendron

Japanese Maple

the house from the street

close up of the plants in the front with the Japanese Maple

School is over!

Well, Grad school is anyways! Last night was my final graduate class (until I decide I need to take more classes). We went into class, handed in our finals, and got out of class early. Grades should be posted by Friday, but one "A" has already been put on the record book for this semester, just awaiting one more grade. Keep your fingers crossed it's an "A" :-)!

Canine Good Citizen

Back in Novemeber, Riley had taken the Canine Good Citizenship test and actually passed! This means that she can visit nursing homes and schools because she is seen as a safe dog and a good citizen. Well...I never sent in the form until last week and today we received her certificate. I will post a picture of her with it once we get a good one. We have to take one to give to her obedience trainer at PetSmart.

Riley PICS of the day (from Sunday 4/2/10)

Riley in her new reflective vest so she can look like her dada! Riley enjoying some ice cream on a hot day!

Landscaping (Phase 1)

At the end of the day Sunday, this is what our landscaping looks like...

**right side of the house**

**new patio set**

**right side of the house again**

**planting bed Richie built**

**from the road**

**front of house**

**left side of house**

There are more plants coming that will be planted down the driveway, as well as on the left side of the house. A tree (Japanese Maple) will also be planted in the front of the house. More pictures are coming when it is completed this weekend! Also, the front yard was top soiled and seeded so hopefully we will have grass within a couple of weeks!

Riley PICS of the day!

No explanations needed...we all know how this blog entry works! So...scroll down and enjoy! :-)

The landscaping has begun!

...thanks to Richie's uncle, coworker, and of course Richie himself. Now, you are going to have to picture what our front yard looked like before (b/c I of course did NOT take a before picture) or you can go back to the very first post to see (I think). Anyways....here's some pictures from our adventures today! Richie practicing how to work the machine!
Our HUGE pile of dirt!

plants...

plants...

and more plants!

Thanks to Richie's uncle who brought all the plants to our house....and from what I understand, there are more! More work will be going on tomorrow, so check back for some more pictures!