Anna and I......and Riley Summer 2011

This picture cracks me up because of Riley peeking around us in the background!  I don't know why I think it is so funny looking, but I do!

Anna's Photos

I was going through pictures on my camera the other day and this one was the first one that came up.  I guess Annalise was snapping pictures again!  I thought this one was funny.

Riley Loves To Give Kisses

I guess she gave too many kisses this time!

Our New Renter

For someone who strongly dislikes and fears birds, I certainly do have my share of run-ins with them!  My newest bird interaction started a few weeks ago when a Robin decided to build a nest in one of my Fuschia baskets underneath the deck.  I was watering one night after dark when Momma and I met.  I started to water the plant and I am certain she was startled to have the cold water splash on her head.  She swooped out of the basket and I immediately had a heart attack on the spot.  Okay, not really, but I did scream and take off running with my heart pounding a million times a minute.  The next day when she was not around I ventured to peer in the nest and there was an egg in it.  Great.  This meant that the nest had to stay.  Since then Momma and I have come to an agreement that she is welcome to use the basket to hatch her babe as long as she doesn't try to peck the top of my head or my eyes (which is my irrational fear of what birds are going to do to me =)).  So far we have both held up on our agreement and the little bird hatched from the egg on July 4th.  Annalise loves to check on it each day.  Riley on the other hand loves to check on it each day too, much to Momma bird's dismay.

 If you look closely you can see the egg.  I just kind of held the camera up in the air to take it since Momma was staying close in the yard.

 Riley stands and points at the nest for LONG periods of time and whines.  It is driving her nuts.  Short drive though, I realize.

 If she is not standing below the deck she is trying to get at it from above.

 The bird hunter

  Anna getting some Riley love

A Girl and Her Dog

Oh, how this dog tries my patience daily.  I have to admit there is a big difference in her craziness though as she gets older and her seizures become more frequent = (.  Annalise loves her though and I do too, even though she can be completely wild!

Finally!

I am so happy that the weather had started to get warmer on most days.  We have been able to spend some time outside after work which Annalise and I have both enjoyed greatly!  Here are some pictures of one recent evening.

A little bit of mowing..... 

 And some sweeping.

 Followed by swinging......

 Some time with the sandbox....

 A climb to the slide....

 And down the slide.....

 And finally some loud singing in a lawn chair!

Yup, I'm a Dog!

Annalise has a toy where you push the dog and in a really dopey voice it says "Yup, I'm a dog.  I'm a dog. I'm a good dog, good dog!"  If only you could hear the dopey sounding voice that goes with it.  I really think that if Riley could talk, she would sound just like that voice!

The "Biiiiiiig Bug"!

This morning Anna and I found this biiiiiiiiiig bug (what she calls it) with a missing wing.  It was flopping and spinning around the driveway and Annalise kept saying "get it, Mommy".  I put it on a tray thingy so that she could take a closer look at it.  She didn't want to get too close to it but she was definately intested in it.  That's my girl!

"Over there!  A Biiiiig Bug!"

You can't really tell from this picture, but it is big.

Checking it out, but staying back.

She continued with her usual summer morning routine of opening any junk mail and perusing the flyers in the newspaper.

Anna had enough of that and decided to play with Riley.

She then took the papers to the front porch to "read".

All done "reading".  I can tell that she is trying to pick the flowers on the sly.  I guess I caught her in the act!

Wiley

Even though our dog Riley (who Annalise calls Wiley, actually it is more like Wileyyyyyyyyy) is not up for the dog of the year award, one thing I am thankful for the fact that she is good with Anna.  If she is really wound up and because she doesn't know her own size, she does sometimes knock Anna down or sometimes grabs a stray toy or two both of which Annalise doesn't like but for the most part she has been a good dog when it comes to her.

Throw the ball? Puh-leeeese...

Maybe if I stare at it long enough someone with throw it......

See, I'm a good dog!

(It is a safe bet that following this shot she was doing something she was not supposed to).

Here, Wileyyyyyyy

Take it!

We hear this phrase from Anna often when it comes to both the cat and dog.  Usually it is our cue to go check exactly what she wants either animal to take.

Riley is 4!

Our dog Riley turned 4 on July 20th!  I can't believe that we have had her for 4 years already....4 looooooong years.  Oh how this dog tries my patience every single day of her existance! But I admit, she could be worse (but not much).  Last month I read the book Marley and Me and I honestly have to say that Marley didn't have much over Riley.  Other than the fact that Riley does not have the saliva issue that was depicted of Marley in the book, they pretty much have equally horrid behavior.  Anyway, Happy 4th Birthday to America's 2nd Worst Dog (since the jacket cover of Marley and Me claims Marley to be America's Worst Dog)! 

Bubbles!

Last night after we got home from the Lightstreet Carnival and a few quick errands, Annalise wanted to chase bubbles, so bubbles she got!  Both  Anna and Riley like to chase after them.  The only problem is, is that neither of them pay any attention to where they are going so there were a few minor collisions along the way, but each of them had fun. 

After awhile she wanted to play and her sandbox and we did.  Even though it was really getting dark.  Even though it was after 9:00 and after her bedtime.  We had a good time scooping the stand, making towers and looking at fireflies in the dark.  That's what summer is for anyway, right?