January 2024

 

• 

  "The New Year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written." -- Melody Beattie

We survived!  All 94 days of January!  We were snowed in, iced in, and slipped and slid our way to Missouri. We missed school, started school, stopped and started again.  We made schedules, scrapped schedules, and rescheduled.  We were cold.  We were hot.  We were content and worn out.  We had dull days, and exciting days; stressful days and lazy days.  I seriously think we packed a whole year into the longest month ever.  But never fear!  Weaver antics abound, and here are some of the best memories of the month. 

Kicked off the year with a little Christmas money spending, Dog sitting, and National Basketball rankings.

 

As is usual, January is a busy basketball month.  Started off with an away game in Moore, and quickly ramped up to the 39th Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, MO - during a winter storm. But in between we celebrated some family milestones.

Celebrated this dude's Due Date-iversary!  TWELVE!  Insane.

And 18 years of marriage!

And then the storm rolled in...

But there was a weather reprieve as we traveled to Springfield, followed by another wave or the storm.  On Friday morning, the power went our at the ADORBALE motel we started on on Route 66.  That was not cute, but we survived.  The boys went 1-2 on the tournament - but the level of talent they were playing in a national stage was incredible.  We were so proud of them!

Introduced Finn to Will Rogers and the McDonalds over the turnpike in Vinita!

TOC Bracket = TUFF!

Photo Dump of game and arena images:

 

 

  

 

Bench Mob for the WIN!!!!!!!!!!

 

(He is signing an autograph!) And those HOPS have come a long way...

Photo Dump of touristy things:

Shoutout to Lara Beth for dog sitting the crazies babies!

Cutest little retro roadside motel ever!

(Had to by dad a coat on this trip and Joey needed an ice scraper.  We were not prepared...)

Weather cleared up and we went on a lilttle adventure to Buc-cee's Springfield (we we bought the dogs sweaters and had lunch) and the HUGE and original Bass pro Shop (all we got were some toys for the dogs - do you sense a theme? I think we missed them...)

And then in started Snowing again...

Our trip home was A LOT!  We left very early hoping to miss the storm, but we drove right through it.  Had to go to the High School when we got back as Jake chose to ride the (Cold) bus back...

Let's Go HOME!

Finn slept through most of it!  :)

And when we did make it home - the sun was back out!  (But had to leave the dogs with Lara in Stillwater another night - too icy to drive any more!)  I did the things a mom does, Britt napped, Jake slept for DAYS, and Finn went on a GRAND adventure!

 

We did finally get the pups back on Monday.  And they wore their new duds!

This week started our second 1/2 of the month.  The first1/2 was so jam packed I was looking forward to some relief.  But, now it was birthday season, and we still had basketball to play.  By this point we had 2 games that had been canceled due to weather, and they were to be rescheduled.

But I did a new thing - just for me!  There is a new book store in Downtown Guthrie (downtown is about 15 minutes form our house), and they are hosting book clubs in their space as they get ready to open in the Spring.  The very first club is the "Women of Guthrie" Book Club and the store is called "A Novel Idea Book Shop."  Women of Guthrie is a Facebook community page, and the women there are incredible.  It is not the snark and ridicule and crazy of other ages like it.  It is true and sincere and just lovely to see.  So I joined the Women's group, and  signed up for book club.  The first book was pretty good, but the community I found in the little book shop was incredible.  There was a HUGE turn out - much to the owners delight and surprise - and I will be back.  OH!  And the shop has a mascot - a 9 month old Basset Hound named Mr. Darcy.  They are hosting multiple other book clubs thee as well. Lara joined the Romance one and had a blats at her first meeting later in the month, too!

Mr. Darcy!

After Book club, Lara and I met in Edmond too see Mean Girls!

Then it was birthday season- first Grandpa (Dad), and then Jake turned 17!

And there was Edlam at Memorial when the crown chanted and Jake got in the game!

And a little dunk action later that week at Deer Creek

Ended the month with enrolling Jake for Senior year, and 2 trips to Norman just a few days apart.  The first trip we will talk about next month, and the second trip was to beat Norman North!

And in the midst of all that, I read some books!

January Reads:

No Hidden Oaks Book Club book this month due to schedules and  weather - we FINALLY got together to talk about last months book! We are back for February!

"The Lost Bookshop" by Evie Woods

Spelled my own name wrong.  It's fine!

"Token Black Girl" by Danielle Prescod

"The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery"

by Amanda Cox

"Normal People" by Sally Rooney

"I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy

"The Housemaid" by Freida McFadden (Women of Guthrie Book Club Choice)

"Yellowface" by R.F. Kuang

I am already at 17% (7/42) of the GoodReads 2024 Reading challenge!  February is a short month and I have been super busy, so I will not finish 7 books in February!

Find me on GoodReads:

 goodreads.com/bdub_ok