This is what my truck looks like - still. Thanks to thieves that only break a few things that are not noticeable to the naked eye.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
OK - I only think my truck is as cool as the one in the last post.
This is what my truck looks like - still. Thanks to thieves that only break a few things that are not noticeable to the naked eye.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Well...
Truck's back. Final cost: $850. No signs of damage. I have aged a lifetime in the week that this ordeal has taken from me. Oh well. The family is safe. We're healthy. We're warm this Christmas and there is food in the pantry.
Merry Christmas to you all (including all you random web stalkers out there). We your family (thanks for reading, Mom) and your friends wish you a wonderful day commemorating our Savior's birth.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
EUREKA!
Just a quick update. North Las Vegas Police found my truck near Craig and Clayton. It was out of gas and the battery was dead (the punks didn't shut it off after they ran it out of gas). NLVPD had it towed to a yard. This all happened on SUNDAY evening! I first found out on Monday afternoon from my insurance. They called to get some information and mentioned that it was good news that my car had been recovered. I said that was the first I had heard that. I still have never received a call from Metro or any other police on my car. You know, it only cost me an extra $100 since I didn't get my car until Tues. Had I gone down on Sunday or Monday, it would have been a lot cheaper.
I have since gone to the tow yard twice (apparently everyone should carry wads of cash just in case you have to get your car out of impound). So $245 later and some effort of my brother-in-law, Derek, and me, my truck is now at the dealership. It didn't look too bad. The door lock is busted and so is the ignition. Other than that and all my stuff in the glove box and console being strewn all over the place, it was pretty clean.
So it is back. We'll find out how much it will cost to fix. Hopefully I don't have to make a claim, because in the long run, that will cost me more money. Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers!
I have since gone to the tow yard twice (apparently everyone should carry wads of cash just in case you have to get your car out of impound). So $245 later and some effort of my brother-in-law, Derek, and me, my truck is now at the dealership. It didn't look too bad. The door lock is busted and so is the ignition. Other than that and all my stuff in the glove box and console being strewn all over the place, it was pretty clean.
So it is back. We'll find out how much it will cost to fix. Hopefully I don't have to make a claim, because in the long run, that will cost me more money. Thanks for all the good thoughts and prayers!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Have you seen me?
This is a picture of a 2007 Chevy Silverado. No it is not a picture of my 2007 Chevy Silverado. I can't take a picture of my 2007 Chevy Silverado. Do you want to know why?
That's because when I walked out of my house on Sunday morning to go to meetings, I couldn't find my 2007 Chevy Silverado. How do you misplace a half-ton pick you ask? Exactly. That's when it dawned on me that someone else must have decided they wanted my 2007 Chevy Silverado for their own. That's right, it took exactly 4.5 seconds to go through all the questions in my head - Did I leave it at work and have Kim pick me up? Did my brothers borrow it? NOPE, NOPE, NOPE!!!
Some jerkface didn't care that I waited for years to get a truck. That we patiently paid off the mini-van before I ventured out to even look at trucks. That I am a solitary man that works very hard to support his wife and five almost six kids, and that I don't have 2007 Chevy Silverados growing on trees to just hand out (unlike my mom's lemon tree that has quite the abundance).
So if you are cruising the town and spot a Blue Granite (yup you guessed it) 2007 Chevy Silverado with Nevada plates 030 TTX - pummel whomever you see driving it into a pulp and then call me. We'll ask questions later.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Santa Claus
The 2008 Santa Ordeal
Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Jolly Old Saint Nick...
As one reads this list of names, most people typically think of a jolly man who spreads love and selfless giving to boys and girls throughout the world. If you are between the ages of 1 and 3, however, this man undoubtedly fills one's eyes with tears and an anxiety attack literally bubbles to the surface as one's parents stand from afar and repeatedly say, "It's OK. It's Santa."
Along with these phrases that are intended to bring comfort, parents make a reference to something on Santa's person or talk about how he will bring you presents to your house in the middle of the night while you sleep. Like that's supposed to work! When is a large, strange man in a red suit and unnatural beard ever going to bring comfort to a small child? And sneaking into your house to bring you "presents"-- sounds criminal for sure. We tell our children repeatedly to not talk to strangers or accept gifts from people we do not know, and here we are again, contradicting ourselves.
I bring this commentary up because we just had Santa pictures done again at Mitch's work. This year, we had two in tears. At first, Jace was fine and sidled up next to Santa, but as I sat Cooper on Santa's lap, Cooper instantly broke out into a chorus of tears; I laughed. This sparked insecurity in Jace as well; the tears began to fall silently as he sat there with a frown firmly frozen on his cute little face. And, furthermore, Grey (who incidentally is in Kindergarten) spoke with some hesitation prior to arriving at Mitch's work. Even in the parking lot he informed me that he was not sure if he wanted to talk to him and knew for sure he would not sit on his lap.
As the photographer was taking the picture, she said to me, you may sit with the boys if you would like. Oh, I laughed literally and said, "No way. This is funny." She looked back at me and her expression said, "You thoughtless, uncaring mother. How could you laugh at your children's discomfort." That lady either has no children or just a few--certainly not 5 with one on the way. Over the years Mitch and I reflected on how all of the children cried when they saw Santa. I thought too that the "Santas" must hate being Santa for that very reason.
To all I say- Happy getting pictures with Santa!
Mitch (Santa), Kim and Aiden - we had to keep the bink in and not let Aiden see Mitch to keep him from crying
Bishop Boys 2006
Christmastyme 2005
2004
2002 - Asher Belanger with Aiden
2001 - This is not a Santa photo, but it is Aiden dressed as a baby girl for a Christmas program. He loved the hair bow.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Giving Thanks
November 24, 2008
Greetings!
Well 2008 is nearly over and I have yet to actually write as many updates as I would like. There is always 2009- right? I am trying to appreciate the everyday occurrences in my life so I have decided to sit down and compile the top ten things which I am grateful for during this Thanksgiving season!
10. I am grateful that the Bubs (aka Jace, Jaceroo, Jelly Bean, Bubby) is not the man of destruction any longer. He truly is growing up, and I can actually hop in the shower and not fear that my house will be covered in Kool-aid, that the Windex bottle will be empty and sprayed on every surface in the house (except for glass), and that he may have managed to climb on the top shelf of the laundry room (which incidentally is 6 feet, 2 inches tall) and scream at the top of his lungs for the rescue party to attend him.
9. I am grateful that my husband sits with me at church and has only a few meetings on Sunday morning.
8. I am grateful that Nursery begins in 7 weeks for Coops (and one of those weeks is stake conference), and Mitch will no longer need to drive him home to Backyard Grandma. Actually he has only done that on a handful of occasions, but it is funny, so I wanted to record it and remember it for posterity’s sake. Mitch too will soon be able to enjoy the last two hours of church, and Grandma may actually get to watch her football games rather than wrestle with an overly tired Cooperoo!
7. I am grateful for dark chocolate!
6. I am grateful for a backyard with hours of potential entertainment: a killer play structure that will soon be outfitted with antique radios compliments of Grandpa John, a patio with plenty of room to ride scooters and the like, and a gorgeous pool that I want to dive into as soon as it is HOT! The boys, of course, will swim in it now even though the temperature lingers around 70 degrees. I, on the other hand, need the temperature to linger near the 90’s. We may not be able to afford any landscaping, but we have goals for next year!
5. I am grateful for three boys who love school, who love to learn, and who literally pick up everything that I present to them. For now, I will revel in the easiness of learning, for I know that it will not last forever. It also makes me think of the students I once had who struggled with everything that I presented to them. It also makes me grateful that my former students tried as hard as they tried those many years ago. I do not think I rewarded their effort near as much as I should have.
4. I am grateful that Aiden and Greyson love to ride their bikes and that they literally taught themselves how to do it. They both hate to fail (I wonder where they got that from, Mitch? or should I say, self?), but since it was sweet success for them both instantly, I had no tears to wipe away, nor knees to bandage! Now, of course, not all of our journeys are this easy, but since I had two other little ones at my feet during both of these bike training dedicated days, I say THANK YOU!
3. I am grateful that I only have one in diapers. I once had all of my children in diapers (I had three at the time.). Amazing! I also have no babies on a bottle or the binki, and Bubby can dress himself, get a glass of water from the fridge, and put on a Diego movie if necessary. Even Coops is so much easier as he is able to answer my yes and no questions with a nod, he signs eat and drink independently, and he is beginning to stop crying when I ask him to use his words!
2. I am grateful for Backyard Grandma who literally helps with everything that I need. She helps with Halloween costumes, popcorn goody bags, mending, organizing, picking up toys, my endless chores, and watching the boys as I run to school, go to appointments, go to school, and even have a date with my husband! And best of all, she actually enjoys it! And I am sooooo grateful that my boys adore her too. Cooper seriously loves Grandma more than myself, however, it is due to the fact that she picks him up at even the slightest whimper. At least when she is away, he does not require the same attention from me. For this, I am grateful too!
1. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who literally helps me as soon as he walks in the door and actually says thank you for the many things that I do each day for the family. He expects the boys to treat me with respect and demands an apology from them if they deviate at all from this expectation. As he says the prayer during family prayer, he models appreciation for me, and, as a result, the boys offer me the same gratitude. He is considerate, caring, and faithful! He literally loves and cherishes me despite my follies, and truly I think he wants to live with me forever. Lucky for him, he gets to.
My list could go on indefinitely as I think about my easy pregnancy, the countless people in my world who love me- both family and friends alike, the countless blessings I receive from a loving Father in Heaven, and the countless times my Savior forgives me for all the times I require forgiveness. For this list today I say, to be continued because the boys want to play Club Penguin on the Internet!
Love to you all and Happy Thanksgiving!
Kim and her sensational six boys
Greetings!
Well 2008 is nearly over and I have yet to actually write as many updates as I would like. There is always 2009- right? I am trying to appreciate the everyday occurrences in my life so I have decided to sit down and compile the top ten things which I am grateful for during this Thanksgiving season!
10. I am grateful that the Bubs (aka Jace, Jaceroo, Jelly Bean, Bubby) is not the man of destruction any longer. He truly is growing up, and I can actually hop in the shower and not fear that my house will be covered in Kool-aid, that the Windex bottle will be empty and sprayed on every surface in the house (except for glass), and that he may have managed to climb on the top shelf of the laundry room (which incidentally is 6 feet, 2 inches tall) and scream at the top of his lungs for the rescue party to attend him.
9. I am grateful that my husband sits with me at church and has only a few meetings on Sunday morning.
8. I am grateful that Nursery begins in 7 weeks for Coops (and one of those weeks is stake conference), and Mitch will no longer need to drive him home to Backyard Grandma. Actually he has only done that on a handful of occasions, but it is funny, so I wanted to record it and remember it for posterity’s sake. Mitch too will soon be able to enjoy the last two hours of church, and Grandma may actually get to watch her football games rather than wrestle with an overly tired Cooperoo!
7. I am grateful for dark chocolate!
6. I am grateful for a backyard with hours of potential entertainment: a killer play structure that will soon be outfitted with antique radios compliments of Grandpa John, a patio with plenty of room to ride scooters and the like, and a gorgeous pool that I want to dive into as soon as it is HOT! The boys, of course, will swim in it now even though the temperature lingers around 70 degrees. I, on the other hand, need the temperature to linger near the 90’s. We may not be able to afford any landscaping, but we have goals for next year!
5. I am grateful for three boys who love school, who love to learn, and who literally pick up everything that I present to them. For now, I will revel in the easiness of learning, for I know that it will not last forever. It also makes me think of the students I once had who struggled with everything that I presented to them. It also makes me grateful that my former students tried as hard as they tried those many years ago. I do not think I rewarded their effort near as much as I should have.
4. I am grateful that Aiden and Greyson love to ride their bikes and that they literally taught themselves how to do it. They both hate to fail (I wonder where they got that from, Mitch? or should I say, self?), but since it was sweet success for them both instantly, I had no tears to wipe away, nor knees to bandage! Now, of course, not all of our journeys are this easy, but since I had two other little ones at my feet during both of these bike training dedicated days, I say THANK YOU!
3. I am grateful that I only have one in diapers. I once had all of my children in diapers (I had three at the time.). Amazing! I also have no babies on a bottle or the binki, and Bubby can dress himself, get a glass of water from the fridge, and put on a Diego movie if necessary. Even Coops is so much easier as he is able to answer my yes and no questions with a nod, he signs eat and drink independently, and he is beginning to stop crying when I ask him to use his words!
2. I am grateful for Backyard Grandma who literally helps with everything that I need. She helps with Halloween costumes, popcorn goody bags, mending, organizing, picking up toys, my endless chores, and watching the boys as I run to school, go to appointments, go to school, and even have a date with my husband! And best of all, she actually enjoys it! And I am sooooo grateful that my boys adore her too. Cooper seriously loves Grandma more than myself, however, it is due to the fact that she picks him up at even the slightest whimper. At least when she is away, he does not require the same attention from me. For this, I am grateful too!
1. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who literally helps me as soon as he walks in the door and actually says thank you for the many things that I do each day for the family. He expects the boys to treat me with respect and demands an apology from them if they deviate at all from this expectation. As he says the prayer during family prayer, he models appreciation for me, and, as a result, the boys offer me the same gratitude. He is considerate, caring, and faithful! He literally loves and cherishes me despite my follies, and truly I think he wants to live with me forever. Lucky for him, he gets to.
My list could go on indefinitely as I think about my easy pregnancy, the countless people in my world who love me- both family and friends alike, the countless blessings I receive from a loving Father in Heaven, and the countless times my Savior forgives me for all the times I require forgiveness. For this list today I say, to be continued because the boys want to play Club Penguin on the Internet!
Love to you all and Happy Thanksgiving!
Kim and her sensational six boys
Friday, November 21, 2008
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