GRACE'S Birthday!!

She only asked for the "Up" video. But of course I found some clothes, shoes and a scarf. What is she going to ask for for Christmas? She is so sweet. She is just content with her life. I love this girl!! I wish I looked that good, when I crawled out of bed!!

Playing UNO at grandma's

Birthday wishes!! Creative...

Her favorite symbol -Peace!

Carrie and Dru singing to her!! She loved it, it made her day!

Miss Grace turned 11!! In the mist of the chaos of the busy crazy life, and the death of grandma, Grace did have a birthday. As a family we did go to lunch at the Olive Garden, then that evening just she and I went to visit Grandma Ethel, which was the last time we talked to her,and then we went to "A Christmas Carol"3-D movie and then that night, Sara, Grace and I met some friends for a banana split at Warren's. Carrie and Dru danced for her while singing Happy Birthday to her with their pants down and their boxers showing, she loved it and laughed at the cute girls. Her banana split was on the house, thanks to Brad at Warren's who I see daily for my coke. Then next day we had cake at grandma & grandpa Fickett's. Grandpa and Grandma Anderson took her to dinner at the Pizza Factory but it seems that things were overlooked with the Larsen's. But we are going to celebrate, Grace's, Tate's, Stockton's and Bronson's all together soon. These cousins are all very close. Grace and Tate were only born 9 days a part, 4 years before Stockton and Bronson were 13 days a part. It was fun having kids together with Cathy and Bracken.

11 things about GRACE

1. She is smart. She doesn't have to work too hard to get FABULOUS grades.

2. She is obedient. I rarely have to tell her twice to do things.

3. She is a pleaser. She loves to make others happy. (not just her parents)

4. She is a great friend. She can get along with anyone. She is friends with kids nobody else with play with.

5. She is respectful to adults. Tonight a friend of mine, who just met Grace, said how respectful she was, and she is to everyone.

6. She is a peacemaker. When things aren't going well Grace can defuse any situation. She loves our home to be contention free.

7. She loves the color Lime Green. She is an amazing tumbler and dancer.

8. She has long hair but it is extremely thin, but the highlights seem to make her like her hair better.

9. She has one of the best laughs EVER. She ranks up there with Sandi and Katie Glauser.

10. She is one of my favorite people in the world, now I am not just saying that because she is my offspring. She is someone I would hang out with even if she wasn't my sweet child.

11. She is tender hearted. She cries easily, but its because she is so sweet.

This week in basketball...

At North Davis Jr High...

Brad trying on Ryker's sweater, what a dork...

Smiling like Ryker is famous for....really dorky.

At Sunset Jr High.

Party in the basement...

Lots of JUNK.....

Some of the guys, oohh yeah they invited some cheerleaders too

Yeah!!! The second week of basketball was GREAT! They won both games this week. Tuesdays game was at North Davis, this is where Brad went to jr high (its been rebuilt since then), and it was such a good game. Stockton did a great job. It was a tough game and Legacy barely won, but we will take it. The win gave them confidence. Stockton really takes charge on the court, he is every one's cheerleader and works hard for his team. It makes it much more fun to win!!

Then on Thursday, they played Sunset, this is where I went to school, it hasn't changed (what a dump) and it was such an exciting game, double overtime, lots of fouls, longest game in history and it went back and forth. But they finally won by two. At one point in the game they were down by 8 points and Stockton stole the ball on the in bounds play a few times in a row and scored lay ups and got them back in the game!! So 3 out of the 4 games have been a two point games! Now the record is 2-2. Hopefully, they will get better and work hard and win the rest of their games, ok maybe not West Point, but lets try, right? Then on Friday night, Stockton hosted a basketball team party. Everyone brought treats, they played ping pong, played video games, run-a-muck in the neighborhood, just hung out and talked. They had a great time.

TWLIGHT FANATICS...

DECORATIONS: Over the Top Tonia, the pictures don't do it justice...she is so talented!

I think she was explaining the rules, I was taking pictures, that's why we lost?!?

I was kissing EDWARD!

Sara and Brooklyn by the cake Lori Vest made..unreal.

We 'Fork'ed someone, the movie takes place in Forks, WA.

An old truck, like Bella drives in the movie.

Syd and the piano, the one that kept us from winning! DANG!

At Smith's with the food they ate...

Drug store and the apple product....

Wal-mart with baseball gear on...

By the movie poster.

And the Jeep...

Last year I went to the midnight premier of the movie 'Twilight', well this year, it's 'New Moon'. Tonia is so amazing!! She LOVES to throw a party, about 1 per week, now I am not talking about the Larsen party, bring a treat and hang out, NO its a production!! I was counting the other day, since Oct 1st, she has had 4 MAJOR parties, "(1. October birthdays, an 2. 'The Office' wedding party, 3. the Witch party and 4.'Twilight' party), and a WEDDING! NO BIG DEAL!! We've all bought our midnight premium ticket for Nov 20th.. but tonight was the party to get us all excited. It was a pajama, wear your Twilight stuff. We went all over town to find shirts, but we found some, the girls shirt said "Vamp it up" and my shirt said, "Only vampires will love you forever." She made us all count downs to the premium, she is seriously UNBELIEVABLE... She is so fun, we had a scavenger hunt, finding all things from the movie...we won, but was striped of the title due to a minor detail...I am SOOOO competitive! Damn, it hurt to lose. One rule was you couldn't go to any one's house who was at the party, Lori and her kids were invited but Lori was sick and the big kids had homework, so I took Brinley. But on the scavenger hunt I went to their house to have Syd play the song from the movie, (I can't remember) but I knew Syd could play it, so we went there...oh well I didn't follow the rule and was stripped! Sorry Team Sparkle!! We ate Italian food, like in the movie and we played a trivia game. She had prizes, it was so fun. My girls LOVED it!

Domestic Goddess'

Everyone loves to have their picture taken...they know they are going on the blog...

Ok..so the hat...I wear it when I'm too lazy to do my hair, which is waayyy to often...bowling is early, its the crack of 9:30 AM!?!

How beautiful is that?? and yummy!

Angie is extra little, Char and I are NOT extra BIG!!

NICE RACK LADIES!

For Tasha's wedding, Angie had to make 25 pumpkin rolls. I have always wanted to learn to make them...so Angie, Char and myself (after bowling) went to Char's and made them...Woot Woot!! They are so yummy. I am always happy to learn how to make something new and of course good..

Char's brother, Aaron came over to show his pictures of the buck? he shot. Then he showed us his rack and made us hold it...it was gross. There was still dried blood and hair on it...YUCK. It was heavy and huge. Pretty impressive rack he has, haha..

Giving up Things we Love and People we Love too.

Damn Poncho!

I haven't been able to talk about this next post. I know it is dumb, but truly it has been difficult. Poncho, Stockton's soccer coach, called me and was mad because Stockton wasn't playing futsol for the first session and wasn't coming to practice (because of basketball for his school, it lasts 1 whole month). He told me that Stockton was on his team but when tryouts came again that if Stockton wanted to play soccer, he needed to make other arrangements because he wasn't committed to the team like the rest of the team. I told him that I was grateful for all that he had done for Stockton, but he had already given up baseball and football and he wasn't willing to give up basketball too. Poncho said he was surprised by the reaction, (he thought we would be willing to quit EVERYthing for soccer). He was complimentary to Stockton, saying he was a great soccer player and a good boy. And he had a lot of good things in his life, and he would be missed.
I think it is time to move forward. Stockton probably will play soccer in high school, he has had some of the best training around. He has been with this team since he was 7. We have gone on 3 vacations per year, one in the summer, one at Thanksgiving and one in February to AZ. We have sat through 2 games per week and 2 practices per week, so we have been with these people a lot. We will miss them. Its the people not the sport. I wrote everyone an email:
Hey,
We just wanted to tell everyone how sad we are that we will no longer be a part of this team. We will truly miss you guys, some of you we have known for 9 + years and have become such a huge part of our family and lives. Stockton's commitment to the team is not what Poncho wants or expects, so we are going to say goodbye now, so that we don't hold anyone back. Stockton has many interests and loves to play basketball and football too, so we are going to pursue other interests as well. Hopefully, he will play soccer against you all in high school or elsewhere.
We are grateful for all the fond memories and fun trips we have had together. PLEASE cheer loud, I won't be there. Thanks to all that have helped the team, Brenda and Sue. And thank you all for being so kind and fun. We appreciate all that Poncho has done for Stockton and hope you all the best. Good luck in the future.
Sincerely
Kim, Brad and Stockton

Some of the replies:
The Koehlor's
We will miss you. Thanks for your friendship. The La Roca sidelines will miss you, and the team will miss Stockton. He is a great kid, you should be proud. This is sad news.

My favorite from Hoser (Bruce Hazen):
What the hell??? Call me.

Jodi and Cooper Hazen:

Hey Kim and Stockton, I printed off your email so I would remember to write you...My goodness, we were shocked and so sad to get this email...What the heck happened, gosh darn it?? Really, was Pancho that weird about Stockton missing some practices for basketball?? Or did you guys just decide to make the break? Either way, just know that we are so sad to not have Stockton on the team. Cooper was bummed and said it about 4 times after we heard. "Dang, Stockton is cool, that sucks.." 'It is so dumb Stockton can't play basketball and be on the team.."

I always appreciated Stockton as a friend for Cooper and the good example he was...that is more important to me for Cooper than anything and we will miss him. And you know the sidelines will not be the same without you..How boring we will be....No one can ever take your place!! I could yell, "Cmon baby, as loud as I could and it would not be the same." Please keep us posted on how Stock is and what he is doing..Good luck to him en everything he does..

Are you feeling mad or relieved and like you made the right decision?? I hope you know how missed you will be,,
Take care and tell your Dad and girls we will miss them too..

Jody and Cooper

The Dawood's:
I'm sorry to hear about Stockton, we will miss him. It has been nice to know you all. We wish Stockton the best, sometimes you have to believe that things happen for a reason. I'm sure we'll see you somewhere, take care and God bless.

The Albretsen's:
Sorry to be so late in replying. I think you may have heard that Cody had to have surgery. It has been crazy around here. We are so sorry to see Stockton go. We think he is a great kid and a great soccer player. We do understand though. We hope to see you guys around. We will certainly miss you!!! Good luck to Stock in all he does!

The Steed's:
HI,
We are going to miss Stockton, You, Brad, the Girls and your extended family! You are an awesome family and that is why Stockton excels in so many things. What a kid! I hope he knows how great we think he is and that he is always going to be part of this team and all of the memories of these young men. Please stay in touch whether at the soccer field or not, we think of you guys as family so let's try to make the effort to keep in touch if you don't mind. Tell Stockton we will be cheering for him.
Stay in touch

The Thiros':
Hi
I am sorry that Stockton is done playing with our team. He is one of our original players and is a very talented athlete and soccer player. He is still one of the guys. I think it is unfortunate that kids can't play on all of the teams that they want to, but at this level and time, I guess it is a reality. I can't even talk Nick into trying other sports because he does not have enough time to commit. But there are teams out there that would love to accommodate and share Stock with other sports. You might talk to Davis Seaman about his club soccer team because I think it allows him to do other sports.
I will miss seeing both of you often and hope to see you around. Kim, you kept things interesting and fun.
Take care.

The Wahlens:
Kim and Stockton,
We are so sad to hear you are not playing with us anymore, who else will understand what it's like being in the dog house? Really I appreciate your friendship and will miss your energy and fun. Stockton is a great player and a great young man. Good luck in basketball and everything else you pursue. Hopefully we will see you again. Keep in touch.

We will really miss the people, Stockton is fine, Brad is thrilled, (it cost about $6K/yr) and I cried for 5 days, I'm NOT KIDDING!! Life goes on...

Donna can do ANYTHING!

The other day at lunch, Donna mentioned that she had cut down the "sucker tree" from Jennifer's old backyard and every time she hit a nail from the tree house, she thought of Thayne. Their tree was 30 feet tall and dead. Well we have the same kind of tree in our backyard, we tried to cut it down last year but broke the chainsaw and it grew back this summer and we have never got the chain fixed. So I asked Donna if she could run the chain saw and she would come help me get our tree down. Of course, she said yes. And I forgot to be there when I arranged it, but today she came and thank goodness, Brad was off and he helped. I was more of the supervisor. The two of them, along with Al, did the work. I was the branch mover... I kept saying, "Donna, you are a Bad A." Now I used nice language because she IS the relief society president?!? She is the ultimate woman. She loves power tools and probably runs them better then most men, she is a maniac on a four wheeler, and motorcycles, she can do EVERYTHING, she is even a lumberjack. Thanks for being my friend and helping us out.
UPDATE: 11/10 Tuesday: I was coming home from my meeting just now and Donna is pulling her trailer carrying my BRANCHES!!! Brad was in the house and didn't know. He was waiting for me and now Donna did our WORK, Donna you are in trouble. Brad is in worse trouble, he procrastinates too much... and I just don't do it :)
LOVE DONNA...

Jazz Game

Proof we went to the game, the Jazz played the Spurs and actually WON!Brad and I used to go to the Jazz game quite often, but then my dad retired and we no longer had someone to hook us up. I LOVE to watch basketball, it is by far my favorite sport, because it works with my A.D.D. So when my Pole friend, Pleshette called and said she had scored us LOWER bowl, $144/each ticket, I was in...we really had plans to go check out a dodge ball league, that we may join, but we were easily swayed. We laughed from the second we got in the car until I was dropped off at midnight, yep I stayed out LATE, after dark because it was a late televised game. I actually may find my ab muscles if I continue to hang out with them, my stomach hurts from laughing!! Now that is fun!Theresa, KyAnn, Pleshette and I

We may be old, but some 20-ish boys behind us still offered us popcorn,

I text Brad to tell him we still had 'it'. His response:

"watch it cougar"

Gotta love Brad!!

Ok so we were a little ruthless, this was the couple that sat in front of us. And yes they brought us a lot of laughter. I am sure the man didn't see the game due to his eyebrows, I have never seen anything like it. Theresa took pictures from all angles.
People watching is a hobby, but making fun of them is an art..
Then this is the ladies showing me what they looked like...
Then KyAnn and Pleshette dancing at a break...
I know what you were really doing but I am not posting it on here!

This guy had one ear tucked in his hat?
Uncomfortable...

So during the game we laughed and talked. And either Theresa or Pleshette said something about their jr high and high school crushes...Theresa said hers was (proper grammar?)...Brett Monroe (yes Teresa Jones, your brother) and KyAnn said someone I didn't know Prows kid, Pleshette said Eric Stevenson, and then I said to Theresa...'mine was Chris Larsen and remember at Gia Merrills party (I wasn't invited to, I don't know why?) when you came to school on Monday and told me you made out with Chris?'

She was horrified...saying how sorry she was, I told her now I could finally get over it 25 + years later. We laughed about it the entire way home. I am not sure if she remembered for sure but how stupid that I do and I actually brought it up, PATHETIC! I will be seeking help/counseling for my issues.

I said to Pleshette, I am going to be on our lap soon,the man next to me kept snuggling up to me and he was just about as scary as the man in front of us. So KyAnn said just put your head on his shoulder and I will take your picture and I just couldn't do it, I laughed too hard, wow I have BIG teeth. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun and when is the next adventure? Thanks to KyAnn for the pictures I stole from her, my memory card was full!