The One With Christmas 2019

December 24 - 29, 2019

SANTA!  I know him!  Of course, we watched the obligatory "elf" movie with Will Ferrell, and we set out Sushi for Santa, and we spent time with family this holiday season.

The girls spent Christmas Eve in Orlando with their family but made it back to our house in Stillwater for our traditional Christmas Eve PJ pic and the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  This is a little different from our normal tradition, but change is inevitable.

Emma and Lara (17), Finn (8), Jake (12)

Our FIRST Christmas with Evie!

Traditional Sushi for Santa

Christmas day started with a flurry of stocking, presents, and wrapping paper!  The girls got fun stuff to start their dorm room collections, a few necessities, and some things they really wanted as well.  After we Ake a birthday cake for Jesus, it was off to Nana and Grandpa's house in Perkins for a Baked Potato Bar Lunch (thank you, Instant Pot!) which was a HUGE hit, and another round of presents!  Lara's favorites were the new Harry Styles LP and her weighted blanket.  Emma's were her new shirt for welding and the black VANS sneakers.  The whole family got Disney+ from Sants, so there was a lot of TV watching going on!

The day after Christmas is best spent exchanging presents and spending gift cards, so that's what we did.  Emma had a pair of shorts to exchange, and all the kids had gift cards burning holes in their pockets.  Because there are 6 of us and 4 drivers, we ended up in different cars going different directions at different times during the day, but it was fun!

Mom, Lara, and Emma out shopping - crammed in the cab of Emma's truck!

Emma went back to Orlando after our shopping day because she had basketball the next morning.  Friday and Saturday were relaxing days - finding places to keep all the new Christmas gifts!  Saturday, we watched a lot of college football.  Capped it off with the LSU vs OU playoff game.  It was the Chick-fil-A bowl from Atlnat (Lara's BFF Erika was at the game), and we told Jake if LSU won, we would take him to Chick-fil-A for dinner.  YOu be the judge of what happened;

LSU WINS!  Geaux Tigers!

One of the best things about being in Stillwater during Christmas break when the students have all gone home is that the OSU men's basketball team always has a game (or two), and to fill the arena, they sell the tickets really cheap. So, on Saturday, we headed up and headed to Gallagher-Iba Arena to watch some Cowboy Basketball!  Finn was Pistol Pete Partner of the Game and LARA!  Lara got to play the match game at one of the time outs in the second half, and she won $25 from MidFirst bank!  What a fun way to spend a cold afternoon.

Christmas Break Fun!

Pistol Pete!  I KNOW HIM!

LUCKY!

After the game, Uncle DW and Aunt Jackie Boyd were in town, so we had Hideaway Pizza at our house and got caught up with our family from North Carolina.  Just a few more days left in this month, this year, this DECADE!  The NEXT blog entry will be in 2020...

The One Where They Broke for the Break

December 20-22, 2019

School is OUT for the Winter Break!  Emma and Lara have only ONE semester left before they turn 18 and graduate high school.  This project is winding down MUCH quicker than I ever anticipated!  And maybe that is why the posts seem to be lagging behind so much.  I want to write them, I really do!  But the closer we get to May 2020, the more reluctant I am to write it all down.  Christmas is coming SO FAST - and it's kinda the  "last" Christmas at home.  Everything changes after this one...

Nothing much happened this weekend.  Everyone was happy pot be done with the semester, looking forward to some downtime, and gearing up for Christmas.  Last minute shopping, finalizing plans, and catching up on relaxation were on the agenda.

Other than a family friend mistaking Lara's best friend Erika for Emma at the Pioneer basketball game Friday night, the only other "exciting" thing we did this weekend happened when we took Evie to meet Santa at the local dog treat bakery.

Slightly Terrified, but still cute!

Santa Claus is coming to town!

The Where We Moved On

 

December 13-15, 2019

Football is over.  Basketball homecoming is over.  Now, we move on to the next things!  Lara is on to wrestling, and Emma is finishing out her basketball and cheer seasons.  Both girls finished out their first concurrent college classes (Emma got an A and a C, Lara got 2 A's), and we are ALL looking forward to Christmas break.

This weekend was relatively slow and simple.  Lara was at a wrestling tournament all day Friday, worked the donut shop Saturday and got her nails done in Guthrie, and spent Sunday babysitting Finn (Jake had a basketball tournament in OKC), finishing her Christmas shopping, and just hanging out.  Emma had a basketball tournament in Garber and played for the Lady Panthers while also being a water girl and fan for the boys' team Friday and Saturday.  Sunday was a catch-up day for her as well.

This next week brings certification tests, finals, and the last days of school for 2019.  Looking forward to having some downtime and finishing out 2019.  Even if it means 2020 is here and it is Graduation Year!

The One With All the Glitter

December 6 - 8, 2019

Sometimes, all that glitters isn't GOLD.  This Friday was one of the hardest I have had as a parent.  So many things to do and places to be, and I was unable to do all the ones I wanted to do.  I posted about it mid-day, through my tears.

This is what I said:

"I’ve only had one breakdown (so far) today. But the fact that I can’t be everywhere I want to be today is rough. And all the emotions about “lasts” today for the Twisters is weighing heavy.

Emma has a basketball homecoming tonight. She is on the court, performs at the pep rally with her cheer squad, and plays for the girls' basketball team. I am missing all of it.

Lara worked at the donut shop this morning and is back at school for the pep rally and team send-off. Then it’s off to Edmond for the State Championship game. I am missing all this afternoon’s festivities. But I’ll be at the game!

Jake and his 7th grade basketball team are playing in the Deer Creek Tournament this afternoon. I’m missing it.

Finn is celebrating Grinch day at school, then he has his piano lesson this evening. I have not even met his piano teacher. I won’t today either.

I am already on my way to Edmond and UCO for a work/grad school meeting this afternoon. Britt is going to Jake’s game, then we’re meeting up for the state football game. Nana is handling the piano lesson and then Mulhall-Orlando Homecoming.

This is the busiest day I think I have ever had as a parent. And I am so incredibly grateful for my family, my village, my extended and blended families for making each of my kids feel special and important as they reach for their dreams. I can’t be everywhere physically, but pieces of this Momma’s heart will be all over Oklahoma today! And I am sure there will be tears!"

So Friday I spent the whole day at the UCO campus in Edmond, and we went to the State Championship Football game  We lost the game, but we had a ton of fun in the process.  I have no words, but there are some fun pictures!

Mom's OOTD

Lara's biggest fan

WORK

Family

LAST.  Halftime.  Selfie.

FRIENDS

Then, the end of the game happened...

Lots of sadness, LOTS of tears, but still super proud of this team!

Meanwhile, back in Payne/Logan county, Emma did her homecoming thing. Again, more pictures than words.  

Cheer girls

Pep Rally

  

Saturday morning it was back to work at the Donut shop.  Saturday night Lara and the boys stayed home while I had a holiday party to attend.  And Sunday everyone caught up on sleep and laundry.

The girls are finishing up college classes and have a few more weeks of regular classes.  The end of the semester, and the start of 2020, is very, VERY near!

The One With All The Turkeys

November 27-December 1, 2019

This is a LONG one since we had so much time off and a lot of family time over the break!

We start on Wednesday night since that's when the holiday really began.  All of the kids were out of all schooling on Wednesday, even though I had to work.  And since we are close to the BOG football game, so practice was happening that morning.  My girl Lara and her girls were gathering up to have a fun breakfast before they went to practice, so I bummed a ride to campus with them early in the morning.

In the meantime, my parents had picked up cousin Kayleigh to spend the holiday with us and she was staying in Perkins for the Holiday.  So, but the time I got home that night, there was already restlessness setting in.  So, Lara took Jake to the movies to see Frozen 2 at the 9:15pm showing.  They got home WAY past my bedtime, but I know they loved the movie and really enjoyed spending some time together.  We are all very aware of how many big changes are coming very quickly in just a few short months...

I also spent a moment at work to make my State Championship letter board:

We woke up Thursday morning and didn't have to cook a thing.  We had decided as a family we would attend the Community Dinner at the Methodist church, as we spend as much quality time together as we could without worrying about cooking and cleaning.  It was a GREAT decision.

Happy Thanksgiving from Evie Pearl

These Two!  So cute!

YUM!  Great food and even GREATER COMPANY!

At Nana's, we played board games and card games - SPOONS!

And some people took naps on the floor

Then it was off to Aunt Shelley's for COUSIN time!
Faith 7, Emma 17, Jake 12, Lara 17, Izabella 11, Rocco 9, Finn 8, Gabrien 9

After all that food, family, and Fun, we got back to our house and were exhausted!  Plus, we had a busy day planned for Saturday, so we all went to bed with full hearts and full tummies.

Saturday, Lara was up and at 'em very early as she had to go to work at the donut shop!  Emma doesn't usually work on Fridays, so she chose not to work this Friday other,  Instead, she was accompanying Nana and me as we took Kayleigh back to her Mom so she could get home to Texas.  But it would have been bad form to skip stopping at Missy's to say HI to Lara and grab a quick treat!

Girls' Road Trip

Lara working, Emma as a customer

We meet Kayleigh's Mom in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.  We got there about 45 minutes early (allowed too much time for our donut stop), so we went and explored the town for a little bit.  We even found a store that was having a 50% clearance sale, so we took in some Christmas shopping.  It was cold, and grey, and wet, and VERY TRAFFIKY on our trip.  By the time Emma and I got back to Stillwater and Nana got back to Perkins, we were all exhausted!

Saturday morning, the girls were up VERY early to head back to Guthrie.  They needed 2 cars for the end of the day, but only one at work, so they took Emma's truck home to Orlando before heading to work.  They closed up early (ran out of donuts), so the girls went to Edmond to get Lara's car washed, then back in to Guthrie for some girl glam time!  Emma wanted a manicure and pedicure in preparation for Homecoming, so Lara went along and got a manicure as well.

Sunday, the Weaver crew got up and worked on Christmas decorations for the house.  Earlier over the break, we all worked together to get everything out of the attic.  So now it was time to put up the tree and a few other things.  While we decorated, Dad made us another Thanksgiving feast!  INCLUDING DEVILED EGGS!  We missed those from our adventure earlier in the week.  After we were fully stuffed, we went to afternoon church.  Ended the evening with a family meeting, some relaxing, and Hallmark Christmas movies.

Next week, is CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK!

The One With Cheers

November 22-24, 2019

Another fall weekend in Oklahoma with ALL THE SPORTS!  Jake had a basketball game on Thursday night, Emma on Friday night, and Lara and her Pioneer Football team traveled to Yukon, OK to take on Choctaw in the State 6A-II Semi-Final game.  We had beaten Choctaw earlier in the season, and we expected nothing less this time around.  The players were ready, the trainers were ready, we were on neutral ground, and we were ready to go (even if it was a very cold fall night in central Oklahoma).

Molly and Lara in the tent w/heaters to stay warm pre-game

Keeping WARM!

ALL the managers in the heated tent!  

 My favorite moment of the game was during the first quarter.  Just a few moments into the game, Choctaw scored a touchdown.  They were the "visitor" team in this matchup, and their stands were PACKED.  Their band was there, spirit squads, and tons of fans.  When they scored first, the place went WILD1  I don't think I have seen celebrating like that in a very long time.  Alas, it was too much, too soon, and they didn't score again until the 3rd quarter - and by then the fans base had dwindled tremendously.  And they missed BOTH PAT's along the way.  None of it mattered, and Stillwater DOMINATED and the final score was 62.12.

Halftime

Halftime Selfie

Final Score

WINNING smile 

In the meantime, Emma had played in her basketball game and cheered for the boys, and was home at our house for the weekend.  We got home so late I didn't get to see her.  Both girls were up early Saturday morning to work at the donut shop!  As I was working around the house Saturday morning, I peeked into Finn's room (where Emma stays while she is here) and saw this:

I don't think I will ever get used to seeing pom poms in my house!  So glad she has another outlet to express herself!

As the semester winds down, we ALL had lots of homework to attend to on Sunday, so that's how the day went.  Next week is Thanksgiving, so everyone can take a little breath, finish up college classes, then work towards finishing the rest of the semester strong.  In 2 weeks, Emma is on Homecoming court for M-O Basketball, and Lara will be with her Pioneers at the State Game in Edmond.  WHEW!  I wish I could be in 2 places at once...  Thank goodness for Nana and Grandpa!