One Year Later

I meant to post this on the anniversary day, but for some reason it was left as a Draft so here I go about a month late with the post:
Wow it has been one year since the fire. It has been a busy year, but a good year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support and kindness. We are better people because we have wonderful family, friends and community who have surrounded us and taken us into their hearts. Today, as I was being interviewed by one of the news stations, the word "whirlwind" (not tailwind as mistakenly is written in the artice)came to mind. We have a new house with new everything. Most importantly we have a cute new Sydney. Our kids have been amazing and very patient.  Idaho Power dedicated a monument near our home.  We didn't have much notice so Christopher wasn't able to make it.  It was a very nice ceremony.

The Arrest (no we weren't arrested)

So many people have wondered about the bike story. This is a quick description of what happened: Saturday morning, August 8th, we noticed that our Giant Mountain bike was missing. Christopher had ridden the bike last on Wednesday evening August 5th, so we knew that the bike had been stolen between late Wednesday and Early Saturday. On Thursday around 2:00pm we had blinds installed, they are custom blinds for our windows, they came in small boxes. The installers brought several small boxes through the front door, and used a hand drill to install (they didn’t need any large working space, and took nothing in and out of the garage). About the same time as the blind installers pulled up, my three boys left on their bikes for a bike ride leaving the garage open. On Saturday when we noticed the bike missing we immediately called the Boise Police department to file a report. We began thinking that we should check Craigslist, Ebay and Pawn Shops in Boise. I pulled up Craigslist (http://boise.craigslist.org/bik/1309552746.html) where I found a bike that perfectly matched the one that was stolen from us. It was posted on Thursday at 3:00 pm. I called the phone number on the listing and talked to the gentleman about seeing the bike. I asked where he had purchased the bike and he said that he had purchased it at REI. After hanging up, I called REI and asked if they sold the brand Giant. The salesman said, No that they did not. I then asked if they had ever sold the Giant brand and he said not to his knowledge. A few minutes later I called the Craigslist gentleman back to tell him that I was interested in the bike, I asked the color and if I could come see it. He said that the bike was in his girlfriend’s car and that she was at the Mall and he was headed to Ann Morrison Park for a Brewery Festival. He told me that he would call me later. In the meantime, I decided to do some snooping so I plugged his number into a reverse call look up site, paid the $15 and found out the name of who the cell phone was registered to and known addresses. One of the known addresses was a block away from our house. We began to be very suspicious and called the police back and gave him his name and the information that we had. The police told us that he had 3 warrants for his arrest and that we were should tell dispatch this if and when he called back to schedule a time for us to look at the bike. When the suspect called back around 6:30 we set up a meeting at Baggley Park for 7:20. At around 7:25 I called the suspect and told him that I was at the park. He said he was on the way. My husband was in the car talking to the police and I was sitting on the swings waiting for him. I had a friend with me. When he wheeled the bike up, I immediately recognized it as ours because it was the exact make, model, and color as ours . And because it had a water bottle attached to the handle bars, and I haven’t seen that very often on a bike. We made small talk for a few minutes. I asked about the bike and if it was a good bike. He said that his Dad had just pulled out the receipt from REI and that he had paid $798 or $758 ( I can’t remember the exact amount) for the bike less than a year ago. He told me that he recently had moved here from Wenatchee and that in Wenatchee everyone rides Mountain Bikes, but here in Boise to fit in, you need a road bike and that is why he was selling it. When the police surrounded us, I left and waited in the parking lot for the police to come and take our statement.

What were you thinking?

I was showing pictures of Adam with Ethan’s Hair glue to the family.(see below) (Note the word GLUE, it was used to make Ethan’s Mohawk look awesome). Spencer thought it was so hilarious that he promptly took Adam in the other room and put peanut butter in BOTH of their hair. I have no explanation as to why he did this, but he did. Spencer was then directed to take Adam with him and go hop in the bath and not to come out until all traces of Peanut Butter was out of their hair. Oh My, REALLY? Speechless on the blog…

Adam

Spencer and Adam

Father's and Son's Campout

The day after school got out it was the Father’s and Son’s campout. It was the first year that Adam went. It was rainy all around, but it didn’t rain on the Boys until the middle of the night. They had a blast and came home very muddy. Jordan , Sydney and I had a dry, relaxing evening out to dinner and then home to bed.

Mohawk

Christopher (note: it was Christopher) told Ethan a few months ago that if he grew his hair out he could have a Mohawk the last day of school. Ethan delighted in that idea and could hardly wait. He kept it for a few days, but was told he had to get it cut before Sunday Church.

Ethan's Talent Show

In Ethan’s class, they had an end of year talent show. Ethan loves to perform and was in a few skits. He played the Yellow Submarine and a few chords from some other ‘rock and roll’ songs. He did a great job, and is quite the little performer.

Apple Valley

End of school brought school programs, parties and finals. I think everyone is grateful to have it be summer. For the last couple of school weeks, Jordan’s class pretended it was 1854 and they all lived in a town called Apple Valley. They got new names (Jordan was Molly) and ages (Jordan was 5). They were put into families (the Smiths) and wrote on slates in a 1 room school house. Jordan had 4 brothers and 1 sister (go figure). At the end of school, they have Apple Valley Graduation where you must memorize a poem in order to move on to the next grade. Here is Jordan’s Poem.