They One Where They Were Admitted

February 21-23, 2020

Friday didn't go exactly as we had originally planned, and on Thursday the exact layout of the day changed a dozen times, but it turned out to be the BEST day!  Earlier in the semester, both girls had registered for Admitted Student Days at Oklahoma State.  Lara had canceled because she was traveling with he wrestling team to district contests, and Emma was about to cancel on Thursday because her basketball team had made it to regionals.  I think I called and/or emailed Admissions 5-6 times asking to change or update or cancel parts or all of each girls registration.  In the end, we did have to cancel one appointment Emma had made after she decided to skip out on basketball to come to the college day.  And Lara ended up not traveling for wrestling so that meat I got to spend ALL DAY with them!

We learned so much, saw so much, had a fun lunch at Fuzzy's, toured the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority house, and got a lot of swag along the way.  Here are some pictures of our adventures:

We always enjoy having Emma at the house, but I think Finn enjoys it most of all.  Here is a picture of him telling the girls good night on Thursday night.

Saturday, everyone recovered from Friday.  There was some homework, some naps, a little bit Netflix, and all the other usual activities.  Lara had a baseball game to work, and Finn had an early morning basketball game.  Lara, Emma, and Jake came to Finn's game together - that's so weird.  But so fun!  Lara had to leave at halftime, but we were all there to cheer Finn on for a while! 

Sunday morning we got up early and went to 8:30 services at Life.Church.  Everyone had something going on later in the day, so we went early to make sure we didn't miss it.  Lara was supposed to go to a baseball game with Erika, but they ended up not going.  Emma went on a lunch date with a friend.  Then the rest of the afternoon and evening was pretty relaxed.  TV, phones, and family time.  Emma stayed Sunday night, too!  She was with u for 4 nights - that hasn't happened in a LONG time!

Here's to another week of the 2020 Project!  I can't believe we are so close to being dome with this!  LOTS of things to pack into the next 12 weeks...

The One With ALL the Sports

February 14-17, 2020

It is the end of an era, so to speak.  As of this weekend, neither one of my daughters works at Missy's Donuts in Guthrie anymore.  They are both missing so much work for the end of winter and start of spring sports, they both ended up quitting.  They will miss it, but it was a good first job.

Due to the President's Day Holiday and a professional day for the Stillwater Schools, this was a long weekend for the kids.  And, we were blessed with cousin Kayleigh coming up from Texas to spend the weekend with Nana and Grandpa.  We got to include her in some of our chaos, which is always fun.  Also, Aunt Shelley and Mac moved back into their house on the corner of 10th and McFarland this weekend. Jane and Al and the kids were here from New York to help as well.  We got a lot of family time as we went from Valentine's Day to President's Day!

All-day Friday, Lara was in Enid for Dual State Wrestling.  Her goal was to be back in Stillwater in time for the Lip Sync Battle during the Pioneer Baseball retreat.  The wrestlers lost out early, so she made it in plenty of time.  Plus, the Lady Pioneer basketball game went into overtime, which delayed the start of the boys' game, which made it run long, and they couldn't start the dance battle until the pom girls who coached the boys got to the indoor facility.  WHEW!  The show the boys put on was pretty spectacular.  And Lara was surrounded by some of her closest friends, and we were there, too, so it was a fun time!  That's how we do Valentine's Day!  (All the SPORTS!)

Emma played district basketball Friday and Saturday and spent the weekend with her neighbors.  They took her to Texas Roadhouse for dinner on Saturday night.

Saturday, Lara went to Finn's Upward Basketball game, hung out at home with her dog, went to the High School to work on SMAC decorations, then went to the Cowgirl basketball game with me, Dad and cousin Kayleigh.  This was Kayleigh's first trip to the Rowdy Confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena!  And, we made her participate in the obligatory Pistol Pete photo op.

Sunday, Lara hung out with Finn and Kayleigh at Nana and Grandpa's house.  Much needed downtime as the baseball season is about to kick off in full SWING!  Monday was a day off for the public school kids.  HOWEVER!  Emma had class at Meridian due to the snow day a week back.  They had to go to"make up" the snow day.  Unfortunately, Emma forgot that she and her classmates had planned a skip day since they didn't have public school - she forgot and showed up to class.  LOL!  Typical "Emma Move!"  And Lara worked her first baseball scrimmage Monday evening.  It was SUPER COLD after the sun went down...

Since baseball is here, that means the school year is racing to the end.  My Momma heart is so tender...

The One With the Third of Four Senior Nights

February 7 - 9, 2020

This was the third of four senior Nights we will attend before the Class of 2020 crosses the stage, but it was the first one where Emma was the honoree.  Senior Night for Mulhall-Orlando Lady Panther Basketball was Friday night.  She played 3 of her 4 high school years, and this year she was also a cheerleader.  She had THE BIGGEST cheering section in the stands!  4 parents, 5 (of 8) grandparents, 1 twin, 2 half-brothers, and 3 step-siblings.  It was a fun night to watch her warm the bench, play the game, lead wee cheer at halftime of the girls' game, and cheer on the boys for their senior night game.  Gotta love small town athletics!  So glad we could all make it out to Mulhall to celebrate our Senior!

Leading Wee Cheer at halftime of the girls' game

got her last play in at the end of the game

took a brave shot

Emma - Class of 2020

Emma and us

M-O Class of 2020 Basketball

Proud of our girl!

Time to cheer on the boys

My 4 kids

Proud Dad

 

Nana and Grandpa

Six Dream Weavers

Such a fun night!  Saturday, Lara worked 1/2 a day at the donut shop and Emma had school commitments.  Sunday, Lara went with us to OKC to watch Jake play basketball, and we had a fun family lunch at S&B Burgers in Downtown OKC.  We had our family meeting in the car on the way back to town, and later in the evening went to Slim Chicken's for dinner.  While there, someone asked the group "Who would you like to have dinner with - anyone dead or alive.  Then, we narrowed it down to different categories such as musicians,s actors, athletes, and TV characters (as their character, not the actor).  Such a fun day!

Basketball schedules are winding down, Wrestling has one big meet left, and the baseball retreat is this coming weekend.  This week begins the transition for Lara from Wrestling to Baseball, and for Emma from BAsketball to Softball.  WHEW!

The One Where they Applied for the Dorms

January 31 - February 2, 2020

Every Cowboy Needs a Home.  And this weekend, we moved another step closer to Emma and Lara having dorm rooms on the OSU campus for the next year.  Both girls have been accepted to their LLP's (Living Learning Program) associated with their Colleges, so we know WHERE they will live.  And we have registered.  Now we need roommates, then in March, we can select actual rooms.  The roommate selection process is kind of funny and a whole lot awkward.  People keep likening it to Tinder.  They filled out a short questionnaire with a scale for each answer about their living and studying habits.  Then they had a 1000 character free form box to write a little bio.  Then the computer shows you matches based on some or all of those criteria.  Some girls included their Instagram handles, so the girls were looking up (creeping on) potential roommates.  No one is sold, yet, though...

Friday night, Emma had a basketball game, and Lara was around to help with all the Weaver family activities.  Emma worked at the donut shop in Guthrie all day on Saturday, while Lara worked an SHS Wrestling tournament in Ponca City.  On Saturday night, Lara spent the night at Erika's house.  And we woke up Sunday morning to the news that Lara was Stillwater High School Senior of the week.

It was 30 Second Theology at Life.Church this weekend, and the 5 Dream Weavers went as a family to the 10:00 service.  It was PACKED!  I love the commercials and the message they bring. The rest of Sunday was spent doing laundry, and watching the Super Bowl!  Congrats to the Kansas City Chiefs and MVP Patrick Mahomes!

Monday night. Emma came to Stillwater to spend the night and for a quick visit.  Evie has missed her!  The rest of us did, too!

Lara and Emma made an ice cream run Monday night.  And they talked about how they need to be each other's "emergency contact" on their OSU Residential Life applications.  It is getting so real.

Also, please note: this is #16.  I only have 15 more weekends with my babies...

Thirteen

Jacob Alan Weaver is FINALLY Thirteen!  And, in true Jake Weaver fashion, he seemed to figure out a way to make the celebration last weeks!  We happened to be in OKC a few days before his birthday (I am sure it was basketball related), and he ended up getting a birthday dinner from us at Red Robin.  And I know he got a couple more in the two weeks that followed.  He loves celebrations - and to be celebrated - and it is contagious!

He is kind, funny, a wonderful friend, son, and brother.  I wrote this post for social media on his actual birthday: "6’1” of joy, wit, fun, and smarts. All around great kid. The consummate middle child; loves to hang with his older sisters and be an example for his little brother. And he teases them all relentlessly. When he was a little guy, I used to tell people that everyone needed a little Jake Weaver in their lives. Nothing has changed. Dream Big. Change the World."  He has a big body and even bigger dreams, but biggest of all is his tender heart.  He is a joy to be around and lights up a room with his presence.

So, because it took so long to get from this birthday on January 25th to his party on February 1, there is a lot to pack into this birthday post.  This is his last photo as a 12-year-old - cuddling our puppy who celebrated her 1 year Gotcha Day on the 27th:

On his birthday, we balled.  All day.  Little Brother Finn had a game early, then we were off to Norman to play with his new team, Buddy Buckets 2025.  We had a lot of game success, Jake played a lot of minutes, and go this first 3 in a game!  He was a defensive force, and the Buckets won their division on Sunday:

At Finn's Game

CHAMPION!

Buddy Buckets 2025

Also on Sunday, we lost a basketball HERO and his 13-year-old daughter.  This one hit hard.  Moments before the tip-off of the championship game on Sunday, everyone's phones started alerting with the news from TMZ that LA Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash.  The memories we shared as a family and as a basketball family helped heal the shock that filled our hearts.  Kobe's daughter, Giana (Gigi) was also on that flight and died.  These boys are 13.  And just doing what they love.  Heartbreaking!

On Monday, Jake had a 7th Grade Stillwater Pioneers game in Edmond.  (It was also Everest Pearl (Evie)'s Gotcha day!)  Jake played against Edmond Central - a team filled with old teammates from Solid Rock and AET.  We caught this fun picture with his recent AET teammate, Brady Hancuff.  We miss playing WITH him, and playing against him is tough!  To know what they were saying to each other in this moment...

At the end of the week, as we inched towards Jake's party with his friends, we had to find him his first suit.  He is playing Mr. Salt in the 7th-grade musical production of Willy Wonka later this semester.  He is not a shopper, and it is hard to find the right fit, but we did it!  Mr. Salt will look good up on that stage!

ignore the tags and wrinkles - this was a trial run!

Ready to go backstage!

Saturday.  FINALLY.  PARTY DAY!  Jake had a group of his friends join him for a bowling party at the local bowling alley.  We think this was his third party there!  It's hard to find a good place in January, and he (we) is (are) leery of trampoline parks and gymnastics gyms since he seems to get injured so easily...  Kobe cupcakes, a Thunder Jersey, a commemorative bowling pin and gift cards to all his favorite spots were the theme of the day.  It was a great party with a great group of young men.

brotherly love

And to cap it all off, he got braces on Tuesday the 4th.  Somehow, he makes it all look so effortless and easy!  I think he is rocking thirteen!

Early Morning braces appointment!

Last picture without / First picture with

Looking forward to his teen years!  Parenting 3 teenagers is a challenge, but a fun one!  His sisters are 17.5 and graduating high school this year; off to college in 6 months.  I love the relationships he has with each Emma and Lara, and I love that they take him on "teenager" adventures.  Plus, he is a great role model for his 8-year-old brother, Finn.  Always a middle child, but the best middle child I could ask for!