The new man in our life...

I've been debating about doing this for a long time...

I've checked their website every day looking for the right one...

Well, I finally found him...

He has golden amber colored eyes...

Soft brown hair...

And a cute little button nose...

Welcome the new man in our life...

BUDDY!!!!!!!!

That's right...we got a puppy!!! I needed another pet (especially a dog) like I needed a hole in my head. But Riley, bless her little heart, has been trying so hard to help out around the house so we could get another dog. She feeds the cats and Elvis every morning and lets Elvis outside to go to the bathroom every morning and night. She even helps clean the litter box sometimes. Plus she bought (with her own money) a book at the neighbors yard sale on "How to Raise a Puppy." How could I say no to her after her hard work for the past several months?? I really wanted to wait until Christmas, but after searching the Idaho Humane Society website for months, I knew I had to check out this puppy as soon as I saw him. Boy did we get lucky!!!

So, on Saturday, after a fundraiser for my work and Riley's soccer game were canceled, due to the pouring rain, we made a spur of the moment trip to the pound to check out this little cutie. After playing with him for nearly 30 miunutes we knew we wanted this puppy AND we knew he would be a great dog. Since then, in the short three days we have had him, Riley has fallen in love with this dog and he has fallen in love with her...

A little about Buddy: Buddy, a border collie mix, is only 10 weeks old but he has a great demeanor and is super smart! He has only been on a leash a couple times and he all ready follows right next me and Riley. He has only had a couple accidents in the house and that was the first day we got him. When I went to work this week I was SO worried that he would tear up the house and go to the bathroom all over the place. So, I put him in Riley's room hoping I could isolate the damage to one area of the house. Much to my delight, when I got home last night and tonight he did not have any accidents and he didn't tear up anything in Riley's room!! What a good boy!! He all ready comes to his name when called AND he has started to fetch. I can't believe it! I am telling you...this is one smart dog!

But Buddy is not the only dog we have. Some of you may be wondering, what about Elvis?? Yes we still have Elvis. For those of you who don't know, Elvis is my 12 year old long haired dachshund. Elvis is slowly getting used to the puppy, but he is still a little unsure of him. Bless little Buddy's heart, he wants to play with Elvis SO bad and poor little Elvis is just not up for it. Can you blame him?? He's only 84 years old in human years!!

With a little puppy comes lots of responsibilities...such as training him. So, starting the second week in October, we will be going to puppy training classes. We are SO excited. I know he will excel.



Stay tuned for further updates as this story developes!!!

Quick Update!!!

So, nothing too exciting or crazy going on around here...kinda. Just a quick update!!

*There is some family drama but I guess it wouldn't be my family if there wasn't any. Don't ask unless you want to feel better about your own family and have 20 minutes you're dying to kill.

*We went to McCall this last weekend for a conference for NASW. It was ok...Riley and my mom went and had a blast, but I was stuck inside inside all day. On the plus side, I learned a lot and had lots of great FREE food...can't beat that.

*Work is going great as well...although I am SWAMPED!!! And it's only gonna get worse over the next few weeks...at least the time flies by fast and I LOVE my job! As much as I love my job though, I hope I don't end up like this poor guy (read the cartoon below...)

*Riley is doing awesome in school - she is in the top reading and math group - YEAH! Plus she loves first grade and everything about it. She has yet to have a bad day at school. Can't beat that!

*Riley is also in soccer again (no pics up yet because my photo software isn't working) and doing GREAT!! She finally scored a goal at their first game. She has dramatically improved this year. I am so proud of her and how hard she is working. So far they have had three games; the first two they won and the third one was a tie. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it the third game because we were in McCall. Hopefully they'll win the next game. Let me tell you though, these girls play hard!! I cannot beleive how hard they kick the ball and how many times each and every girl has been hit in the gut or face with the ball and yet they keep on going. It is really something. They're jerseys are white, so fittingly they are the Snow Leopards. Riley would love to see some people at her games so if you would like to come let me know and I will send you a list of her games. GO SNOW LEOPARDS!!

*Comments...don't forget, you can leave comments even if you don't have a blog. All you have to do is select "leave a comment" at the bottom of my blog, mark "anonymous" in the comment box and then you can leave your name at the end of the message. We would love to see who else visits our blog.

*Quite following me!!! Just kidding! Actually, I would love to know who is following my blog. There is a neat feature on the side bar of my blog where you can add yourself as one of my followers. Please...someone add themselves...just kidding...kinda

*No Smoking!! That's right...I quite smoking. I feel so much better. I have only smoked once in the past 16 days...go me!!!

*Now that I passed that hurdle I can focus on cutting back on my Pepsi intake (which I have cut in half but I want to cut back more) and exercising more; thus losing weight. Speaking of losing weight...I think the Biggest Loser starts tonight...gotta go and watch it!

First Day of First Grade

That's right...today was Riley's first day of First Grade...
Good Grief Charlie Brown...where did the time go??




Did you know Riley wears school uniforms?? Doesn't she look nice??



Woo Hoo!!! She was so excited this morning!



It is SO important to have the perfect backpack...you have no idea the deliberation that went into picking the right one!



This is Riley and her friend Dakota...



Doesn't she look precious??



Riley and Mama



Riley and her teacher Ms. Beckley...(I thought I looked young)



Riley and Joanna...another great friend



Here's her desk...she SO big!!



Gotta love the school supplies!!



Here she is at the end of the day...it was a great day, but a LOOOONG day!!

"I'm begging you for Mercy"

So, here I go again with a new job. I can finally say though that I love it and am truly happy there! In just the short two weeks I have been there I have fallen in love with it and am very excited!

So, where am I at?? I am at Mercy Medical Center working for their Hospice Department!!! Who would have thunk it?? HA!



With all my experience with children and families I was determined to get a job working with children and families. But then I was offered this job and I am SO thankful I took it because I love it...everything about it!

I love my co-workers (believe it or not, there is actually a gal there who laughs just as much and nearly as loud as I do...and she's my supervisor - SWEET), I love the clients, and the help I can offer them. I really LOVE it and everything about it!!

What is Hospice exactly and what do I do as a Hospice Medical Social Worker?? Well, Hospice is a program which is offered at hospitals and local private agencies. Hospice is usually put into place for clients when they have a terminal illness and are expected to pass away within 6 months (or so). Hospice offers care through a variety of professions, such as social work and nursing, in order to make a persons end of life about QUALITY.

Comfort care is put into place and my role as the social worker is to help clients access services in order to increase or maintain a high quality towards the end of their life. I offer assistance in helping families through the grieving process through a variety of methods. That in a nutshell, in the simplest way, is what I do.

I can't even begin to explain how special and important it is to be involved in such an emotional time in the client's life. It is a privilege and an honor to help them and their families through such a challenging time.

With all this being said, I have to send out a HUGE thank you to the person who opened me up to this field...Jennifer Randolph. Jenny was my supervisor when I did my practicum at Senior Solutions. Doing my practicum at Senior Solutions allowed me the opportunity to work within the gerontology field and exposed me to agencies such as home health and hospice. I firmly believe without this experience I would not have gotten this job. So, THANK YOU JENNY! I know I may not have been the easiest or the best intern, but I did love the work there and I greatly appreciate your teachings, your guidance, and perhaps most importantly, your patience.


Speaking of Jenny...congrats on your new job! You will be a great teacher because, as I eluded to in the previous paragraph, you taught me volumes! Those children are SO lucky to have you! Good luck!

So much to do...so little time!

Update: I tried to post this a few weeks ago, but I couldn't get the pics posted...so here it is with the pictures!!

There is SO much I love about living in Boise and since I am finally done with school I am able to do some of these things with Riley!

This past week is a PERFECT example! It has been one of the best weeks we have had in a long time. And we deserved it if I don't say so myself!

We started off the weekend with an afternoon at Sandy Point (I forgot my camera unfortunatly) with our friends from soccer - Rainy and Angelo. It was a blast! I had almost forgotten how much fun it was out there. I haven't been out there in almost 10 years!!

Afterwards we went to my friend Selena's house for a BBQ to welcome her fiance to Boise; he's moving here from Washington! Welcome Steve! Then we went home and watched Willy Wanka and had a camp out!

But that's not all, this was just Friday!! On Saturday we did a lot of yard work and put out the slip and slide (or slick and slide as Riley likes to call it) and played lots of games with our friends Eric, Sara, Nathan, Eli, Will, Mya and Star! Whew! What a day!

Sunday was great as well...after we cleaned the house and the car we watched Nanny McPhee and saw the neighbors set off some fireworks!

Unfortunately I didn't get pictures of any of these great things we did this weekend. But tonight we went to Kathryn Albertson's Park and took LOTS of pics there. K.A. Park is so great (another great things I love about Boise), the wildlife there is beautiful and so is the landscape! We had such a great time. We were a little disappointed though because the last time we went we saw a turtle and a deer!! But we didn't see those this time. We still had fun though! Enjoy the pics!

Kindergarten Graduation

I really never thought this day would come...at least not so fast...

Riley has graduated from Kindergarten!!!!!!!!!!!

I have always found it interesting how life comes full circle in one way or another. Many of you may or may not know this, but Riley and I live one street over almost directly across from the house that me and my mom lived in when I was Riley's age! Being as such, Riley goes to the same grade school I did! Some of the same teachers are even there!

I am proud to say the school has made some great changes in a variety of ways much to my delight. Although her school isn't the fanciest or brand new, there is so much I love about it! I love her teachers, the principal, the diverse population of students and the fact that they switched to uniforms this past year (their colors are yellow and blue)!

But back to the real reason why I am writing this blog. I can't believe Riley graduated from Kindergarten this year. It's really unbelievable. I knew she could do it; that's not what is unbelievable...what's unbelievable is the fact that time has gone by so fast! In just a few short months she will start the First Grade and I'm afraid before I know it, she'll be graduating from 6th grade, then junior high, then high school, and eventually college.

*Excuse me while I wipe away the tear from my eye*

Well, here are some fun pictures from her graduation. I wish more people could have come...no worries, there are more down the road...and they'll be here before we know it!!



Here is Riley's entire morning kindergarten class...she is in the bottom row, second from the end, on the left, in the yellow shirt...



Here is Riley with her Kindergarten Graduation Diploma. She was so excited to have one just like mama!



And last, but certainly not least, one last picture with Riley and her teacher - Mrs. MacKenzie...the BEST Kindergarten teacher ever!!!

I don't know if Mrs. MacKenzie will ever get to read this, but if she ever does I want to send out a HUGE thank you! Thank you for making this the best first year of school for Riley. It was everything I hoped for her!

And to Riley...Great Job Baby Girl!! I knew you could do it. I can't wait to see what else you will accomplish!!

Six years later...

My, my, my...how time flies...
Everyone told me it would...
I had no idea how right they were...

Six years ago today, I was the new proud mama of a one week old baby girl. Being a new parent is scary enough...to be a single parent on top of it was even scarier.

As hard as it has been I haven't regretted one thing. Well, I take that back. Although I have done my best for Riley, I wish I would have been at a better place in my life when I had her...for her sake. There are so many things that I want to do for her, but I can't always do them. However, I've come to learn, it's this way for nearly every parent, no matter what the situation; not just me, not just single parents.

The past 6 years have been amazing. It has been amazing watching her grow from a tiny, helpless, fragile infant to a precocious toddler, to the "spicy" six year old she is today. No one can even imagine how lucky I am. I am truly blessed in more ways than I can count simply because of Riley.

This sixth birthday came at a time when we were experiencing MANY changes. I just graduated with my MSW and Riley just graduated from Kindergarten. I just started a new job and FINALLY we have more time to spend together. Although not as much as I would like, I wish I could just stay home with her.

So, this is for you Riley. I may not always do everything perfect, but I sure am trying...and it's all for you kiddo. I don't know where I would be without you or what I would do without you. My life has changed for the better since I gave birth to you six
years ago. You are the MOST important person in my life.

With all that being said, I cannot WAIT to see what the next year brings...and what the next six years bring. However, I wish time would slow down just a bit so I could enjoy you even more. You are so special and amazing.

I LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!