Mr. Riley...

One year ago today, Mr. Riley joined our family.

Ron and I had been in Salt Lake for General Conference. We

Returned late Monday night. The next day, the moment school was out,

we went to pick up Mr, Riley....and life has never been the same

at our house....

I have decided that Andrew and Mr. Riley have similar

personalities...

It is true...Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers have a High Energy

Puppy attitude...they love being the center of attention and activity...

they love you deeply and expect that you love them with the same

intensity....they are protective of their family....and....you love them

no matter what they break or mess up....no matter what.

Wow...what a year. What a Dog!

"NO" Love Notes

"NO..."

"NO".... is what the note on my kitchen counter said a few weeks ago. This was the not the first "NO" note I have been greeted with. My ever romantic, ever efficient husband left me a love note...."NO". On super efficient days, he just calls up the stairs...."NO".

After twenty eight years of marriage, I know exactly what he means.

Written or verbal, the "NO" speaks volumes to me.

Our morning routine goes something like this....

6:30am Ron wake up, shower, and dress.

6:45am Ron stirs the girls (all of us) and then heads down the stairs to take

Mr Riley (the D*#% Dog) out for his morning routine.

Sounds simple...take the dog out, let him do his business, and be back in to meet the family for prayer by 7.

If Mr. Riley were a simple dog...the answer would be a YES, however,

Mr Riley will not do his #2 Business unless we (read, Ron) walk and walk and walk and walk him.

All the while we have to watch and watch and watch him.

So it goes...back and forth, back and forth, walk...watch...walk....watch.

Throw in a few words of encouragement along the watch/walk.

(I have done it enough to know the routine)

This dog will not "perform" unless all attention is on him.

Sometimes, Mr Riley is just not ready to get down to business,

and in the same breath, Ron has to get on to his Own Business...aka leave for work.

Hence the "NO" note on the counter....or the "NO" call up the stairs....it means "NO POO" from Mr Riley this morning...your turn to try.

The communication in our marriage amazes me. One word, one look is all it takes.

We can complete each other's sentences, we can read each other's minds.

That's what it's all about! What a team we make!

Mr Riley is darn lucky to have us as parents. Darn Lucky.

Impressive Communication Skills, huh?

Can't wait to see the depth we reach at our 35 year mark....

The Big News Got Bigger

I Thought Mr. Riley Would Be

The Focus of My Blog Post Today.....

He had surgery yesterday (yes, THAT surgery) and is now an

official CONEHEAD while his incision heals.

Without this lovely Conehead accessory, he would have chewed the stitches out by now.

Oh, the answer to the question you have not asked....

NO, Riley does NOT like being a Conehead or looking like he belongs on a lamp!!!!!

And NO...Riley is not the center of the

BIGGEST NEWS or DRAMA at our house.....Read on...Read on....

Now....

Here Is Why You Should Believe Your Children

When They Repeatedly Tell You They Are In Pain!!!!

This morning's "Quick Trip To The Doctor" was anything but quick!

The plan was simple.... go to the 8am Orthopaedic Doctor so he could tell Megan that nothing was wrong with her foot... perhaps "Growing Pains" or a sore muscle....NOT!!!!!!

I would check her in to school late and be on with my day....NOT!!!!!!

(Ooops, I forgot, I am a mom, my best planned days are usually un-planned by someone else's needs!)

She hurt her foot 4 weeks ago but there was no swelling or bruising and it seemed to get better after Grandpa Hogie wrapped it in an Ace bandage.

(just to distract and/or appease her, we thought).

Off and on, she would complain of it hurting,

but it did not seem to be bad and did not keep her from her activities.

In her gentle way, she kept coming to me last week to say the pain was getting worse.

OK.... I made an appointment with the Doctor just to make sure there was nothing wild going on and to let her know I really believed that she was in pain.

Thank goodness we went today....Thank goodness for Health Insurance!!!!!!

Here Is Why You Should ALWAYS

Have Your Camera With You....

When your daughter is having her first CAST put on because on the top of her left foot,

there are 3 definite stress fractures and 1 smaller stress fracture...you want to distract her by taking a photo. You also want this documented for posterity.

(Not to mention for the Blog World documentation!)

She chose PINK!!!!!

And what goes with a CAST on your FOOT?????

What else....CRUTCHES!!!!!!
She will be wearing a cast for at least 6 weeks. No pressure on the foot, no movement, etc.
That means, MAYBE her cast will be off for Jeff and Alison's wedding in 7 weeks. If not.... I am sure we can get a BLUE cast to match the wedding party!!!!
For the record...
While all 3 of my boys were little....NO BROKEN bones, NO CASTS, CRUTCHES,etc. Jeffrey had a cast when he was 19 years old.
For as wild as the boys were, we managed to stay clear of major medical drama and emergency rooms.
The girls have them beat on all counts and they are still very young! Girls...this is not a contest....I will be happy if we never go to the hospital or Doctor for anything other than a Well-Check Up at Back To School.....really!!!!!

Saying Good Bye

Jeff And Alison

We enjoyed a long weekend visit with Jeff and Alison. They were not able to be here for Christmas Day, so having them come home was exciting for us.

Ron took this entire week off ( a first in many years) and we have been in very low gear. Just as all good things end, so did this great visit and it was time to say Good Bye.....

Here are a few phases of the Good-Byes.....

Riley was giving the best Good-Bye loving to Jeffrey.

I think these are my two favorite photos of Riley so far. He is 5 months old tomorrow and still such a lover, as you can see. Generally, Wheaten Terriers are very hyper, but he is mellow and just loves to be loved and give love.
Katherine did not want Alison ("Alican" as her name is spelled on the Wii game) to leave.

A final photo on their way out of town.

Ron was on our front porch talking to Curt as Jeffrey and Alison were headed out.

Curt heads to Ann Arbor this week to start his new job and prepare for MBA work at University of Michigan. Trading snow for MORE snow!!!!

Dear Santa

A Request From Santa....

Megan has consistently asked Santa to please, please potty-train our 5 month old Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Puppy, Riley. I LOVE you, Megan!

Her reasoning..... she wants him to be able to sleep out of his crate at night in her bed! Megan is a such a thinker, I am always intrigued by her logic. Another request of Santa... Two Nintendo Wii Game Systems. When asked why 2... because there are so many people who cannot find them, I would like to have one for us and give one to someone who cannot find it at the store.

(To Riley's credit..... he is doing better every day!!!!! Yes, there is a Santa and this one is working hard to potty train!)

Mr Riley

Riley is 4 1/2 Months Old

Believe me, when I can get a photo of him holding still, it is blog-worthy. He is either a moving target or set on staying snuggled up with me any time I am near. I am his "alpha-male". He is getting a hair cut this week. When the fluff is gone, he will be so light in color.

Had I seen Riley up on his hind legs before he was named, he would have had to have a Star Wars name. He looks just like an Ewok when he is standing up on his hind legs. (No photo of that, yet)

For a Wheaton Terrier, Riley is relatively calm. This breed is known for being very energetic and mischievous, so far that has not been the case. He is such a lover and sweet as can be. I do not, however, say that when I am cleaning up piddle or poo! In some ways, it has still not sunk in that I have a dog.....

The Life of Riley

New Puppy Update

Our Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

Riley has been in our home for 2 weeks. Two weeks of not sleeping well at night (at least for Ron and me) Two weeks of cleaning up piddle and poo...Two weeks of getting so excited when the piddle and poo is outside...Two weeks of giving treats for his efforts. Two weeks of falling in love with this big ball of fluff. He has such a loving temperament. He seems to understand the potty business better and better each day (For my sanity, I have to believe he is).

He will be 12 weeks old this week.

Here he is before his first bath...

Riley decided to cuddle up to Alison's feet while she was napping on the sofa yesterday. He is such a lover.

The Wait Is Over

Riley Is Home...

As planned, Riley joined our family this evening as soon as Ron got home. The girls were counting the minutes after school was dismissed until we could finally pick up Riley.
Riley is 10 weeks old today. His Birthday is July 31. He is one of 6 puppies born to Roxie. Three males and three females. He was the runt of the litter and so far, according to Marrianne, he has been the calmest of the puppies.

Riley is so darn cute. He reminds me of a fluffy Koala that just needs to be hugged and hugged.

Photographing a moving target takes some skill. Here is a side view as he is ready to take of exploring the house some more.

This is one cute face to match such a sweet puppy.

Here we are saying good bye to Marrianne and her daughter, Reilly (she was so excited we named this little guy Riley) He was their favorite of the puppies and I know it was hard for them to say good bye. He came from such a loving home. No puppy mill here. It shows in his interaction with us already. He is used to being held and loved and cuddled. He is so soft and does not have that "dog" smell. He has hair, not fur, so it does not shed, and it has to be trimmed just like a human needs a haircut. He will eventually be a "wheat" light tan color when he loses his dark baby hair.

The newest little Hostetler boy. John Klemas always tells me I need 3 daughters to match the 3 older boys I raised, well I threw that balance off.... 2 daughters and one baby boy. Riley will have to count. Tonight will be a long one with a new baby and the 2 hour jet lag from Salt Lake. He realizes he is not in Kansas any more.