The Patio is Done!!

It's all finished up!  They came out yesterday and removed the forms, sealed the concrete and backfilled with dirt.  It looks awesome.

We are now able to walk on it, but we can't put any furniture or the basketball hoop on it till the 22nd (which will feel like an eternity).  That's why theres a big huge mess of stuff crowded on the old patio.  But, if you look past all the crap, you can see my new hanging baskets!  Aren't they purdy?  I got them yesterday and I love them.  The perfect addition to the patio! 

More Patio Pictures

I am sooo excited about this patio.  It felt like Christmas morning when I woke up today.  Something good has happened, but what is it, was my first thought as I woke up.  Oh yeah, the patio!!  So I took some more pictures of it today. 

They are supposed to come out today and remove the forms and seal it, and then I guess we just wait two loooonnnnggggg weeks until we can use it.  After that, everyone is invited over for ribs in the smoker on the patio!

Patio: Day Four

The shiny guys showed up today, and look what they brought with them!

The girls and I were beyond excited!!  We watched at the window while they wheelbarrowed concrete back to the back yard.  The girls couldn't stay inside and watch all day, so they went outside to get a closer look.

The patio was coming right along at this point.

It didn't take long at all to have the whole thing finished up!

We still can't walk on it, and the forms are still in, so it's not totally done yet.  But, I love, love, love how it turned out!!  It's big and roomy and I can't wait to decorate it with all kinds of flower pots.  And, something very special happened on this new patio. 

Isn't that the best!! 

Piano Recital!

Today was Sydney's very first piano recital!  She has been practicing so hard, and all her hard work paid off today.  She did a fantastic job!! 

And, without further ado, her recital!!

Yay!  She did a fantastic job!  I am sooo proud of her, but more importantly, she is sooo proud of herself!

Sydney and her teacher, Mrs. Vojtech

P.S.  In case anyone is wondering, the shiny guys didn't show up with the cement truck today.  Poopers!  They better be here tomorrow!

Patio: Day Three....And Counting.

The shiny guys showed up again yesterday!  It looks like the patio is all set for concrete now.  Mike said they are a little behind, so they won't be pouring the concrete until Monday or Tuesday.  But, seeing how the patio looks right now, I think I'm going to really, really like it!!

Look what else I discovered while admiring my patio dirt.

My peonies are blooming!  They look really good right now.  I'm sure we'll get a good hard rain any time now and they'll all fall, so I have to enjoy them while they last!

Patio day two!

The patio is still going!  The shiny guys, as the girls call them (because they are so sweaty!) came out again yesterday.  It looks like they did some more digging.  They are supposed to be laying the concrete today, but I'm not sure how it will all pan out since it still needs to be leveled and formed. 

We'll see, I guess!   While the guys were here working, Briana got to go on a Girl Scouts overnight campout at the Wildlife Safari Park.  She had a blast!!  They got to have a fire and make smores and see all the animals.

She came home this morning, told me about her night, and promptly fell asleep. 

While she was at her campout, Mike, Sydney and I went to Harvey Oaks night at the Stormchasers game. 

We got to see lots of her friends and even though we weren't able to stay till the end and see the fireworks, it was still a really fun time. 

Happenings

My new patio is being dug!!!  I know it's boring, but I took pictures anyways (just following my father's instructions).

I have been trying to talk Mike into this project for YEARS and he finally decided to do it.  Hooray!  It's about halfway dug right now, and the guys are coming back tomorrow to finish digging.  I'll post pictures tomorrow too.  Yay!
More importantly, Briana had her spring strings and choir concert today!  It was so, so good.  That girl can really play the viola!  Here's a sample of what we got to hear today.

She's really good at choir too. 

And, Briana had dance pictures this week too!  I only got a chance to snap a picture of one of her costumes.  The other ones will be a surprise, I guess!