The One with Kansas Connections

November (22) 24-27, 2017
Long holiday weekends mean there's plenty of time for memories and mayhem!  This year, Thanksgiving Break proved to be a perfect time for all of that!  We started out with a skeleton of a plan, and it turned into a fun few days filled with family, surprises, and family antics.

We had made plans to go to "Aunt" Brona's house in Montezuma, Kansas.  It was "her year," so that meant all of her kids and grand kids would be there.  She has 5 grand kids ages 9-1, and then add my 4 - it was a lot of kids and a lot of hilarity.  And NOISE!  ;)  We knew it would be a big time with this BIG family, and it was not disappointing!

We left out mid morning on Wednesday out of Stillwater.  First stop was Orlando, to pick up Emma and her gear for the trip.  Next, we made a lunch break in Wichita.  Spangles, of course, per Jake's request.  We made it all the way to Greensburg, Kansas before we had to stop and stretch our legs again.  We went to out favorite little park that we first found on our Road Trip in 2013.  We let off some steam, then it was full speed ahead to Montezuma!

Once we got to Montezuma, it was a night of catching up playing games (Ticket to Ride, Spoons, and the little guys played a cards and marble game), grilling out, and celebrating November birthdays.  Britt, the boys and I stayed in the basement at "Aunt" Brona's house (with 12 of our closest relatives), while the girls went down the street to "Aunt" Kamela's house.  So strange, to me, to be on vacation with them, but I never really saw them... Just another reflection on the teenage years I suppose!

Thursday was Turkey Day!  24 for dinner, and so much fun!  Great food, great company, fun, games, and new experiences.  Emma and my boys went shooting with the big boys.  She got to try her hand at some big guns, too!  The boys each got to shoot the .22, and are glad they did.  After shooting, Emma went out with her cousin Todd to do some pheasant hunting, while the rest of us went to the wind farm for some family pictures. Then, it was back to the house for leftovers, and more GAMES!

Lara's first time at SPOONS!

After another good night of sleep, we got up Friday morning ready to hit the road!  There were the obligatory pictures, lots of hugs goodbye, and promises to not wait 4 years before we do it again!  We left late morning, and after a stop in Dodge City for yummy Mexican food for lunch, we were Oklahoma bound!

All the cousins!  Ages 15 to 22 months

Twins holding TWINS! Lara and Alex then Emma and Isaac

Lara (OG) and Emma

Lara (OG) and Lil Lara

When we were about 1.5 hours out from home, we got 2 phone calls that changed out next few hours.  First, we got a call and were offered 6 free tickets to the OSU vs. Kansas football game that was set to kick off in Stillwater at 11:00am on Saturday.  We were headed back so that Britt could be there to Uber, but going to Senior Day at Boone Pickens Stadium sounded AWESOME!  So, we started figuring out what all we needed to do to make that happen for our family.  Then, Emma got a call that she needed to stop by her house in Orlando to check on the horses and the dog.  Our 4.5 hour trip home would now be a solid 7 hours! LOL!  But, we made lots of memories along the way!

So, Saturday morning we were up early, bundled against the wind and cold, and on campus by 8:45 am to see The Walk and participate in pre-game activities - which included Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Cheese Fries at Eskimo Joe's.  We got to the stadium just in time to see the Senior Day activities, then we watched the cowboys beat the Jayhawks in the last home game of a spectacular season.

It got warmer so we took off our sweaters!

Found an "OLD" friend!

After the game, we took the Tahoe back to Nana and Grandpa's house in Perkins and spent a few hours there just hanging out with them.  Once back at home in Stillwater, it was time to relax.  Britt was out driving for Uber, the boys were on their devices, I was doing laundry, and the girls invited me to watch a movie with them.  Such a sweet time!  We sat in the dark, wrapped up in blankets, ate left-over Thanksgiving treats, and watched a silly movie.  A great way to end the night!

Sunday we all slept in and had a lazy morning.  Mid-day, we took Emma back to Orlando so that she could get some laundry done before she had basketball practice that afternoon.  Emma drove us out to Orlando, and Lara drove back to Stillwater.  They are both getting really good at that route, but need to practice more in town!  We finished our restful Sunday night with church (Lara was our driver), dinner (Lara was our driver), and a family meeting.  Back to the grind on Monday!

It was a Happy Thanksgiving for ALL!

The One With Overtime

November 17-20, 2017
t's been a busy week with some crazy plot twists!  I think the biggest thing to happen, is the Twisters turned 15 AND A HALF, and were able to get their Oklahoma Driver's License permits!  That means, we have dedicated chauffeurs for the next 6 months!  Although, there is still a lot of correction and direction happening as they drive.  I've already had to grab the wheel once this week...

As for the weekend, it started off Friday night with Emma and her Lady Panthers taking on Agra in an away basketball game.  All of the rest of the Dream Weavers as well as Nana and Grandpa showed up to cheer them on.  The boys played first (PLOT TWIST!) since Agra was having the basketball homecoming this night, and the girls needed time to change from their fancy dresses into their game uniforms.  While the boys were fun to watch, for us the main event was the girls' game.  And it did not disappoint.  It was fast paced, emotional, and not without controversy.  Regulation game time ended with a tie, so we went to OVERTIME! (PLOT TWIST!).  After another few minutes of intense play, the Lady Panthers came out with the W and the place went wild!

Emma let me braid her hair

For the trip home (about 30 miles), Lara requested to drive.  Easy highway miles, plus some night time driving - good experience for her.  Her 10 year old brother was beside himself with nerves, but we all survived!  Nana and Grandpa were right behind us for the first half of the trip until they turned off to go home in Perkins.  She did great until about 300 yards before our driveway.  Out little street is notorious for cars parked on either side.  She had to squeeze between 2 that were directly across from each other.  After praying for Jesus to take the wheel, I took matters in to my own hands...

This was a weekend for the girls to be with their Dad, but Lara had a Pioneer wrestling commitment on Saturday.  An EARLY MORNING commitment.  There was an open tournament in Cushing, and she was set to attend as the student trainer.  She wanted to look nice, so she set her alarm for 4:45am.  I needed to get her to the high school between 5:45am and 6:00am, so my alarm was set for 5:30am.  We got to the back parking lot about 5:50am.  Only to be greeted by the coach, who told us the tournament had been CANCELLED!  (PLOT TWIST!)  Coach said he did not have Lara's email or phone number, so he had no way of telling her before that.  UGH!  Oh well - back home and back to bed!

Mid-morning, after getting a hold of her dad and her sister, Lara went out to Orlando.  Emma got to drive from Orlando in to Stillwater, and back.  Lara was the nervous one this time!  While I am not sure of many details about the rest of their weekend, I do know that Lara borrowed a hoodie, some jeans, and a pair of "sturdy" shoes from Emma.  Once she was dressed appropriately, Emma and Lara went to a bonfire at a friend of Emma's house.  I was sent this picture, and at first glace I didn't even recognize Lara! (PLOT TWIST!)

Emma's Instagram Caption:
"Lara, wearing wrangler jeans and twisted X... at a bonfire? Someone take a picture!"

The girls spent Sunday doing their usual Sunday things.  I know they went to church at 11:30.  The rest of us went at 4:00.  A great opener by the band with a cover of "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons, then a GREAT message called "Thunderstruck" by Levi Lusko.  So glad that even if we go with (PLOT TWIST!) different people at different time, we still get the same message!  We love our Life.Church!

After church, we picked Lara up, went to grab some dinner, had out family meeting, and finished up another 2020 Project weekend.  It truly is going so fast!  Next weekend - THANKSGIVING!

The Only Half Birthday Worth Celebrating

Emma and Lara.  Twins.  Sisters.  Twisters.  My first born babies.  The babies that made me a Momma.  Seems like a very short time ago when they were infants and I was begging them to sleep and to hold their own bottles.  And this week, they turned that magical age of Fifteen, AND A HALF!

In Oklahoma, it is a rite of passage at 15.5 years old to get your Oklahoma Driver’s Permit.  Both my girls took Driver’s Education this past summer (right after they turned 15) at their respective schools, so we didn’t have to take any tests or do any driving.  But the joy is in the journey, and we had fun and made memories along the way.

Emma came to Stillwater from Orlando Monday night and spent the night with us.  We got up a little extra early, because rumor had it the lines and wait can be VERY long at the Stillwater DMV!  Plus, Emma had a basketball game that night and to be eligible to play we had to get her to school as soon as possible.  A school 25 miles away.  We were in line on a chilly, drizzly, cloudy May 14.  We were about the 10-12^th people in line, but based on observations we thought we were probably the 5^th or 6^th actual customer.  We were very excited when the door opened at 8am and we got out of the elements, but we knew that was not the end of our wait.

Lara was “L03” and Emma was “L04”, but there were other people with other letters and numbers in front of us.  Lara was finally called back to an agent about 8:25.  She did her thing with all the paperwork we brought, checked her vision, take a picture taken, made her finger print and answered her 8 questions, and she was done in less than 10 minutes.  It was back out to the lobby until Emma was called in at 8:36. Back to the SAME AGENT!  Emma’s took a little longer.  For a dozen reasons – Emma just does things a little slower, plus she talks and asks lots of questions – but the MAIN reason was because the agent grew up in Orlando, Oklahoma!  So, they had old home week.  LOL!  Once Emma was finished with all her DMV steps, it was back in the car and off to the tag agency.

We arrived at the Stillwater Tag Agency at a few minutes before 9:00am.  We considered ourselves LUCKY because the place was basically empty.  Emma and Lara went in ahead of me because I was looking for my checkbook in the car.  By the time I got in the building, they were both filling out the “blue form” with an agent who was working them both at the same time.  She was so nice!  Congratulated them on this milestone, asked them fun questions, and when she took the pictures for their licenses, she let them see the images before the printed the cards!  So nice!  She also let me write just ONE check for the both of them.  WINNING! We were out the door by 9:05am!

Very different than when they were babies!

Time to get these Twisters to school.  Lara drove us from the tag agency to Stillwater high school.  3 miles in town with lots of stop lights, lane changes, traffic and stress.  Oh, did I mention it was lightly raining at this point?  But she got there safety by about 9:20 – only missed the first few minutes of her first class!

Emma and I enjoying Lara's driving!

Now it was Emma’s turn.  She drove from Stillwater High School to Mulhall-Orlando High School.  24 miles, mostly highway, very little traffic, high speeds.  Very different experience (Which is so typical of my opposite twins!).  She got to school about 10:05 – (after a quick stop at her house to drop off her overnight bag) and had missed 2 classes already! But she was there in time to be able to play basketball that evening with her Lady Panthers.

I am glad that is over for another 6 months! LOL!  While I am excited for them to expand their driving abilities and I am thankful for a couple of cute re-headed chauffer’s for the next few months, it will be a whole new world when they can drive off on their own… *sigh* 

The one with wins and losses

November 10 - 13, 2017
Hard to believe another weekend is already in the books!  There were a lot of sports contests, and some wins, and some losses.  Both girls seemed to have some illnesses along the way this weekend as well.  The weather was dreary and dark and a little bit more winter-y than we have had yet this year.  The seasons are truly changing - in so many ways!

Friday was a divide and conquer kind of night.  Lara and the Stillwater Pioneer football team were headed to Bixby for their first round playoff game.  Emma and the Lady Panthers were off to Carney for their first basketball contest of the season.  Since Finn has been struggling with his coughing and breathing a bit this week, he was off to Carney with Nana and Grandpa to see Emma and her team; while Jake, Dad and I went to Bixby for the football game.

It was a cool night, and a long drive over to Bixby.  The game was very one-sided right from the beginning, and after a lot of hard work, grit, and FIGHT, the Pioneers came up short, and *just like that* the football season was over.  So surreal.

Meanwhile, in Carney, the Mulhall-Orlando Lady Panthers were ready to open their season.  Although our Emma girl didn't get to see any court time, her team came out victorious after a close and hard fought game.  She got to hang out with Finn and and her grandparents and stayed in the gym to watch the M-O boys team play, but they did not come out with the win.  A late night for ALL involved!

Saturday, we all divided and conquered some more...  Nana had a meeting in Perry; Emma was home resting in Orlando, Lara was home in Stillwater with a friend over to binge watch TV, and we took Jake to basketball in Edmond - Grandpa and Finn met us there.  We got home after the OSU Cowboy game was already over (THEY WON!), so we watched the replay of that game and just hung out the rest of the day.  Emma was going to come to Stillwater with us for the rest of the weekend, but she had either some food poisoning or a virus, so she stayed home to keep the rest of us "well."  Lara's friend Erika was here for the whole day and well in to the evening.  She "taught" Lara to play chess, and the two of them had a fun time irritating Finn.

Sunday everyone slept in.  Finn had a rough night with his coughing, and Lara was starting the cold the rest of us had already passed around.  So Sunday was spent watching TV and resting.  We threw it back OLD SCHOOL and watched High School Musical and High School Musical 2 on Netflix.  Lara watched Camp Rock, too!  Thanks, Disney Movies!

This afternoon it was church, dinner, family meeting, errands, homework, showers, and bed!  SO thankful for these restful Sundays! Now, if everyone could just get well around here!

The one where we fell back

November 3 - 6, 2017
Ah, October.  You've been a good one!  Not without a few down turns, but over all, not too shabby!  We said Good Bye to you this week, and welcomed in November.  Leaves finally started to change, the weather cooled A LOT, and everyone in this house is sniffling and snorting.  Sounds about right...

Friday night the Stillwater Pioneers had a BIG game to play in Midwest City.  Winning this game clenched a home Playoff game.  Losing meant we would be on the road again for our first round playoff appearance.  Unfortunately, injuries abounded and a few botched plays, and we left Mid Del Schools a little disappointed - and a lot worried about our injuries!  It's going to be a tough week of recovery and resetting to get ready for Bixby this coming Friday night.

Favorite part of the game is when they come see me at halftime

Saturday morning, everyone was up and at 'em pretty early.  Lara was going to a ticketed sale at Belk with Nana that the proceeds help SMAC week.  They left about 7am to go get Emma in Orlando, then do some serious shopping.  (Of course, Jake had basketball in Edmond, so we were off to that not too much later).  The girls both got some new clothes, and new shoes.  Emma needed dresses to wear to upcoming events, and Lara got some new shirts.  They also got shoes at Ross, so a good shopping day with Nana for sure.  After dropping Emma back in Orlando, Nana, Grandpa and Lara came to Edmond to watch Jake's games and have some lunch.

Meanwhile, back in Stillwater, ESPN College Gameday had taken over the town and Bedlam mayhem was everywhere.  We got back to Stillwater just before the 2nd quarter started, and watched the craziest game on TV Saturday from the comfort of our living room.  Again, not the outcome we had wanted, and those crazy TV announcers were totally fangirl-ing over Baker Mayfield in the most ANNOYING way, but it was fun to watch.  Second half Pizza was a good dinner, too!

Sunday, after we changed our clocks and FELL BACK, was a lazy, relaxing Sunday.  Homework, Laundry, naps and Netflix.  We went to church at 4, did our usual dinner and family meeting after that, and then it was bed time!  Ready for a new week!

Some of us fared better with the time change than others.  Lara has a little trouble resetting her alarm clock, and somehow the alarm went of at 5:15am on Monday morning.  She thought it was time to get up and get going.  Until she checked her phone... Luckily (or not, however you want to look at it), Mom was the only other person who heard that 5:15 alarm and woke up.

And because the picture order came in over the weekend, here is Lara's official sophomore student trainer photo: