Motocross Racin'

So.  Karlee, Aiden, and I went to watch Haskin motocross race in Ogden.  Of course I was thrilled to take some pix!  (Going through withdrawals with no drill teamers to chase.)  I've never seen any motocross before, and it was really quite fun to watch.  And Haskin's pretty dang good at it too.  Aiden and I only stayed for the first race because we didn't want to wait for hours and hours in 100 degree temperatures for Haskin's next two races, but these crazy kids are die hards and stayed all day.  They have the sunburns to prove it, too.

Pre-race pic of Karlee & Haskin.

The following pix are of Haskin killin' it in his first race.

Race completed.  Sweaty and dirty.  Haskin thought he came in fourth, but he actually came in 3rd.

AND the final results of his three races...  HASKIN CAME IN 2ND PLACE OVERALL!!!

A few Aiden-isms from the day:  (Feel bad I didn't get any pix of him.  We had planned to go back for the other two races, but it was miserably hot, so we didn't make it.)

"When I get a big bike I'm going to race too so I can get dirty!"

"I might get a girlfriend so when I race she will say, 'Wahoo!!'"

"I want to bring my dirt bike and race Haskin because I'm fast!"

"I want to take my dirt bike and take a picture with Haskin." 

Baby Robin

As Jeff was trimming one of our trees, this little fella plopped down right in front of Jeff.

I LOVE that Jeff has a soft heart.  He truly is a good man.

Sweet Sixteen

Seriously this kid is Sweet Sixteen.  It isn't that he's terribly "sweet", it's that he hasn't been kissed yet.  At least I don't think he has anyway ;)  It's just so hard to believe that he is already sixteen.  Craziness!

You're an awesome kid, Garet, and Dad & I love you dearly!

Looks like we're in Paradise

We don't always get a sunset like this!

She's a Gonner!

She's all moved out!!!  AND she took all her friends and family with her (via the pix on her wall)!!!  So, just warning you, UofU, she's all yours now!!!  And she's THRILLED to be there.  She's so blessed to have been accepted into the ACCESS program.  It is quite the prestigious program and includes a generous scholarship too.  They only accept approximately 40 freshmen females, but this year they only took 38.  These girls are the cream of the crop, the smartest, most amazing girls around!  And of course our dear Karlee is among them!

Take a close look, because you're probably there!

And of course she couldn't leave Rodney behind!

Remember our Karlee in your prayers as she ventures out in the big bad world!!!  She is a light and will shine for all, we're all sure, BUT she can always use your love and prayers too!!

And thank you, Haskin, for help me move her in!  I'm just not too sure we could have done it without you there to carry all her pillows!!!  ;)

Twas the Night Before Lift-Off

Karlee and I finished all the last minute errands, and packing, and she was ready to head off to school in the morning.  I think she was REALLY quite nervous to actually move out to start her own life.  Karlee said she just wanted it to be the two of us tonight, snuggling in front of a movie.  We are pretty close for a mother and daughter, and I have LOVED every second of that.  I am definitely going to miss those good snuggles.  Anyways, she and I were snuggled up for about 10 minutes when the next thing we know a herd of girls (and Kyle tagged along too) came down the stairs.  

What awesome friends Karlee has.  I love each and every one of them so very much.  I love (in no particular order) Mikaela, Meg, Morgan, and Tori.  They will always, always have a special spot in my heart!!!  And I guess they had all been asking Karlee to come to them tonight, but she told them no.  I believe her excuse was because she had too much to do and had to get up early in the morning.  I think Karlee even turned down a few boys for me too.  Probably the last time that will ever happen, but I'll take it :)  Your friends love you, Karlee, so VERY much!  You remember that and remember they are there for you!

I know I'm going to miss Karlee.  So very much.  But I have to honestly say that I am so very proud of the young woman she has become.  She is virtuous, intelligent, fun, beautiful (inside and out) and strong.  She has overcome so many hardships, sadness, and difficult situations thus far in her life - some of which she has actually brought on herself with her hardheaded drive for excellence, but other difficult situations of which she had no control over - but regardless, she has overcome them all and is a stronger person for it!  She is amazing and she will excel and surprise us all with what she is going to do in her life.  I love you, Boo, and miss you already!!!

Operation Graduation

Just a few group pix from Operation Graduation

She's a Graduated!

Great group of kids!

Just the Ladies

Karl & Haskin

Haskin wanted pix in front of the truck.  No.  It isn't his truck.  We have no idea whose truck it is.  But yes, we have pix in front of it.

Me and my Baby Girl!

I really do love her!  Really lotz!

Haskin singing his solo.  Yikes.  Scariness.  But he really did an amazing job!

No caption necessary.  Other than I have no clue how my kids got so stinkin' good looking fighting genes like these!!!

Cheri.  This woman is priceless.  Cheri has so many times been there for Karlee (as well as the other girls too).  Cheri works in the high school office, and more than once she has stepped in and buoyed Karlee just when she's needed it.  Whether it's drill team issues, drill team coach issues, substitute teacher issues, sterling scholar issues, friend drama issues, seriously, whatever the issue is Cheri is there for the girlz.  Honestly she is Karlee's second mom, and she truly, dearly loves Karlee probably even more than I do.  Thank you, Cheri, for being there for Karlee and I.  I love you and I am indebted to you for life.  I am positive that Karlee would not have survived Morgan High or the drill team without you!!!  

Cheri unexpectedly lost her husband over Thanksgiving.  All the girls were so heartbroken.  They have all done cute little things to help buoy her through this hard time.  Nothing like what she's done for the girls over the years, but still enough to show their love and friendship, including even having sleep-overs at her home.  They all love her dearly.  And so do us Mamas.  We take Cheri on lunch dates, dinner dates, pedicure dates.  

Karl & Haskin.  De-hat & gowned.

Da Girlz!

Seminary Graduation

Seminary Graduation was phenomenal.  It was so spiritual and wonderful seeing these snot-nosed kids graduate from Seminary.  For the closing song, the kids all turned around and sang to all of us.  Wow!  What  a tear-jerker.  And the very best place to be!

Da group.

Da Girlz

Colton & Karlee.  Good friends!

Colton heads to Ghana, Africa, in August.  He's going to be a great missionary.  We sure do love him and his family!  

Karlee & Duane.  These two kids have grown up together.  They've been through so much.  They've been best friends, been in fights, kissed and made up and are now back to being friends again.  Hope they can stay that way.  Duane is in the process of completing his mission paperwork now, with plans of heading out this fall.

These are the AP Biology whizzes!  Great classmates and great friends!

Karl, Morgue, and the Walkers.  Love them!  Both these siblings leave on their missions in July - Michael to Chihuahua, Mexico, and Amanda to Jackson, Mississippi.  Their poor Mama!

The Girlz have always taken a foreign exchange student under their wings.  Last year was Aline from Brazil.  This year is it Minji from Korea.

And actually, Karlee was a bit concerned that she may not graduate Seminary.  With Senioritis and a few too many trips out of class to meet a boy -Haskin - at the drinking fountain during third trimester, she was concerned the numbers may not add up.  Thank goodness they did!

Science Experiments

Karlee & Colton Cowan (aka nerds) doing a huge-mess-making chemistry experiment in my kitchen.  Oh well.  It's all worth the extra credit, right?

Colton is Karlee's really good friend.  They've done homework together, been on dates together, and gone to dances together.  Go to http://stokesfolksfour.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html to see the two of them at Homecoming - remember the pretty pink dress??  Anyways, Colton has received his mission call to Ghana, Africa, (the same mission as Ty's) and he leaves in August.  

There have been a few times where Colton has been in the right place at the right time and he has really blessed Karlee's life.  Including, but not limited to, driving Karlee to the Dee Events Center so she could dance at the State Basketball Playoffs when she missed the bus and the whole drill team left her behind.  (GRRR!)  Then calling her on her cell phone the next day so she didn't miss the bus the next day too.  But especially the time when she was having a really, really bad day at school.  She was near tears, and the next thing she knows Colton is giving her a big hug and asking her what's wrong.  What a wonderful kid.  We love you, Colton, and are grateful for you being such a great friend to Karlee.

Prom 2013

 How lucky Karlee is to get to go to Junior Prom this year.  It's not uncommon for Senior girls to not get asked to Prom, but Karlee and all of her friends were lucky enough to get asked.

 

Here's the group.  A buncha GREAT kids!

The goofy kids!

The Gorgeous Girls!

 

Aren't they totes adorbs!?!

 

The Handsome Gents

So debonair!

Besties - BEST besties ever, actually!

 

Here's the besties with their dates!

 

Karlee & her date Darrin Nielson. He's a super great kid and they had a BLAST!