Our life with dogs

When our renter moved out he left a broken futon but the cushion was still in good shape. So I suggested to Rillz to put it outside for the dogs. They were going to be left outside for hours that day so I thought they would like something soft and fluffy to lay on. Rillz said they were going to just tear it up. I said... no they won't. They will be happy to have a bed outside. We got home and I was proud to say... See Rillz, they didn't tear it up. They were so happy to lay on it, because they were! So the next day the dogs were left outside and loved their bed again but in a very different way. Needless to say, Rillz got to do a HA! I told you so!

The dogs peeking through the window when I went to take a picture of their masterpiece
And their wonderful work they created in the backyard. Used to be a nice cushion for them. I guess they had better ideas for it. It has been raining the last couple days so we haven't even cleaned it up yet. We are the ghetto yard of the neighborhood!
Other dog news...
Simon got a haircut today. We are to cheap to go take him in for a professional haircut so today he got a DIY cut. Haha! When his hair is long, I think it looks cute and hippie-ish. But because his hair is like human hair, it gets really matted and super dirty. So Rillz thinks he is just the grossest thing. Therefore, time for a cut.

This is Simon before his cut.


Hahaha!!! This is after.
His haircut makes me laugh! It was really fun cutting it all though. I like the feel of the scissors as it cuts through hair. But I better not quit my day job to become a dog groomer. Not the cutest look but Rillz will be happy to have a cleaner dog!
Our dogs keep us entertained!

Busy, Busy and well...BUSY!!!!

The last month has been crazy busy! I often feel like I don't have time to sit and breath. Rillz and I wake up every morning at 5:15 and go to bed at 9:30. And work in between. Leaves us with little time left in our day.

Our amazing renter moved out of Rillz's house last month. We are so sad. But the whole process has taken a lot of our time! 10 hours of cleaning the place, countless hours traveling back and forth to show it to people, many hours looking up the applicants to see if they are good candidates... and on and on. What an exhausting process. I don't remember it being this drawn out 2 years ago. We just want someone as good as who we had before!

Also, I am taking an online college course. Communications 101. It is only 3 credits. But when I am working an average of 50 hours a week plus all the other crap going on, it is difficult to find time to do the homework.

One exciting thing that Rillz and I signed up for is a Dave Ramsey financial course every Sunday for 13 weeks (11 weeks left). We LOVE it! This class has really helped Rillz and I get a plan for the future with finances. We are SO excited every Sunday to go... no joke! Just educating ourselves in the money aspect of our lives gives us reasurance that we can plan for the future and live debt free!

Alright, that was a very quick update of what we have been doing this last month... now back to feeding the child at work!

Signs I am turning into a full blown adult...

I just turned 26 and I think I lost my adult virginity. This is why...
* I wore knee high tights for the first time (I only think of old church going ladies wearing those, no offence).
*I enjoy listening to NPR (national public radio). NPR screams nerd and business people to me.
*Went pants shopping in the junior department and they only covered half my ass. (Unfortunetely I am no longer into feeling the breeze from behind) :)
*I made myself a dentist appointment with a dentist I chose.
*I actually feel excited to go to school to expand my knowledge in my career. (A career has not been in my thoughts before)
*The worst, this morning I ran out into the driveway with my robe on as Rillz was leaving for work just to give him a Multi vitamin. Yep, just for a freaking multi vitamin.

I, Melinda Jean Rivera, am becoming an adult.

year 2011

I started writing another post and my computer crashed on me. It has been over 4 weeks since I have had my laptop working correctly. It is fixed, thanks dad, but I wont get it back until Saturday. So, therefore, I am doing another kindle post (which is much harder than a laptop to type on). I decided to write on events and prices of 2011. So in the future I will have it for my kids to look at and compare (that is if the world continues after 2012). Haha.
Prices (based on national averages)
Gas: $3.89
House rent: $955.00
New house to buy: $202,100
Bread: $1.98
Gallon of milk: $3.39
Dozen eggs: $1.25
Wages: $40,925
Unemployment: 9.2 %
Movie ticket: $8.20
First class stamp: 44 ¢
College tuition: $7,605

Also, I have already 1/2 way completed one of my new years resolutions. The dentist. As fate has it, 2 days ago a bottom tooth chipped. So it helped kick my butt in gear and find a dentist. My appointment is next Thursday (the 19th). I may pee my pants a little that day out of nervousness! Wish me luck!

1st Birthdays

Rillz and I had 2 nieces and 1 nephew who had their first birthdays in 2011.
Brecken Miller turned one. Happy Birthday! We celebrated it on the 4th of July. Hence the awesome firworks cake! This little dude popped out having a strong personality. He loves making people laugh. Brecken is the toughest and most prone accident baby I have known. He went through a phase of hitting his head against people/walls/floor. Gunnar better watch out because this kid is a brick! But on the other spectrum... Brecken is also a HUGE cuddle bug! I love that when Rillz and I see him he wants hugs and kisses and just to snuggle. We love this sweet boy!


Before fireworks. The mosquitos attacked us all that night.

These two are so cute together.

Gracey Noone - The week before our wedding our niece turned 1. In the hawaiian culture the 1st birthday is the biggest! Gracey had a party in hawaii with 300 people! Wow. Can't wait for my baby to turn 1. Yikes. For whatever reason I didn't get any pictures. They live in Florida so we don't get to see her often. She is a very loved little girl!

Camden Tracy - In her first year this little girl has racked up the frequent flyer miles! This girl just melts our hearts. She really transformed into a little character. She was a difficult little thing with not much emotions for a while. But then one day Camden just became this little bundle of joy. She had so much personality just sprout over night! There is just something about her that has the sweetest little spirit that is so calming when your with her. We just can't get enough of her. Rillz named her Lani Girl! We love little Camden!

Can you tell from the pictures someones mommy loves Zebra pattern!?!

Camden ate her cupcake with a spoon. Didn't want to get her hands dirty. Silly girl.

When the party started... she wasn't to happy

Love her cake!

We also added a new little baby in 2011!

Brent and Noelle had new addition...

Iris Kathryn Hollingsworth Born October 19.

Welcome to the world sweet Iris!

We first met her on Thanksgiving

Her first holiday... Halloween
Sideways picture (oops) on Thanksgiving

Happy birthday to all the babies in our family!

Dog Toys

Our dogs got toys for christmas.

Fun for dogs...

Not fun for humans...

Happy New Year 2012

I have really been wanting to catch up on this years blot posts but working 15 hour days for the last couple weeks has really left me no time for anything. So I will post this for now from my kindle.
I was looking at my new years resolutions from last year and was pretty proud that all but one had been accomplished. We got engaged, married, worked out more and Rillz moved up in his job. It was a very successful year. Of course the highlight being the wedding. For this year Rillz's goal is to do his absolute best at work and eventually get promoted again. My goals are to continue my education (this is what I didn't accomplish in 2011), establish a family doctor and dentist (I am freaked out by the dentist so this is a big one for me), continue to save with couponing, take care of my little garden, and the biggest one for Rillz and me is to have no credit card or motorcycle debt, and have a baby (obviously we cant totaly control this one, but still a goal). We are excited to see what 2012 has in store for us.