Daphne's first basketball game - January 4th

 Daphne had her very first basketball game on Saturday.  She may be the smallest on her team, but by golly she is trying so hard.  She is precious doing it too.  Here she is warming up with her team.

 Her coach tells her to stand with her hands up, and she does exactly that.

 He also tells her to stand on the corner right there.  She does this the whole game and struggles to really move away from that spot.  She is guarding that corner wonderfully.

 On our tip toes to see the ball coming.

 One of the coaches helping us

 That's Daphne with the ball!  She tried to score twice during the game.  We didn't make it, but not for a lack of trying.

 Jocelyn was showing Jace all about her Jake and the Neverland Pirates game.

 He really wanted to do it himself.

Watch out Mugsy Bogues :)

New Years Eve!

 We had our annual New Years Eve get together, obviously on December 31st.  Every year there are different people (at least a few to come and go), but we always have a good time.  Before I go any further, I want to say that I have amazing friends.  Friends that are there to celebrate with us during our good times, and to help us keep smiles on our faces when we are at our worst.  Friends that we may not get to see as much as we'd like because they don't live next door, but would drop everything and run if we needed them.  These friends love our children as much as we do, and we consider them family. 

 Shannon and Charity relaxing

 Charity, Shannon, and Caitlyn with the kids.  We are all being silly eating tons of food!

 Emilee bringing in the last of her pizza puffs.  By the end of the night, we didn't have many (if any) leftovers at all.

 Someone is enjoying playing her DS while she's on break.  She knows she will be on a schedule very very soon!

 Ok, so remember how I said I have amazing friends right?  Well, a few years ago, Emilee and Mama Hillman made a red cape for Daphne for Christmas.  Daphne loves that thing.  She has gotten to grow into it so it doesn't drag the floor any more.  Jocelyn has been playing with her cape, or using her blanket as a cape when they are playing Super Heroes. 

 Jocelyn opens her first present from Emilee and J...

 What could it be?

 Is that a purple cape???

 Why yes it is!  A cape for me?!?

 We had to hold it out so we could check out the new Super Girl cape.

 In our house, if you wear a cape, you must be really fast.  So...off we go!

 Running down the hall like lightning

 We had to stop long enough to open our second present.  It's always a book.  No complaints here.  The girls love books, even sleeps with them literally every night in the bed. 

 Even Super Heroes have to stop and read every once in awhile.

 Where there is one Super Hero, there is bound to be two...

 Do you see the purple streak?

 Off running around saving the day

 

Even j has a cape!

 We have this tradition where we play board games, at least one during New Years Eve.  This year's chosen game was Monopoly.  By about 2:00, Emilee had fallen asleep.  Clinton, J, Allen and I played until about 3:30.   It was a good game in the end. 

Those Wild and Crazy Kids

 Daphne is a Purple Power Ranger, showing off her slick ninja like moves.

 Jocelyn is Super Girl, running around the house. 

 We only catch a glimpse of her before she's gone again!

 Ariel legos.  Daddy (and mommy too) has a deep love of Legos.  The girls love playing with them.  Daddy loves playing in the Lego Store. We watched Bryson on New Years Day while his mommy went to work.  I was looking to get a new phone, as my phone is dying.  Daddy suggested we get some lunch (since it was our last day before school starts again) and then go prance around Concord Mills Mall for awhile.  He thought it would be fun to go look in Bass Pro and the Lego Store, and give the three kids a small limit at the Lego Store.  Well, this idea went over very well.  We spent about an hour in the store, slowly deciding which lego set or box of random legos we wanted to buy.  The girls first looked all around and at the back wall, there are "free standing" legos, where you can fill a cup full of whichever pieces you want and you take them home.  They both put a full cup full, and then decided to rethink their choice.  Daphne ended up with a small Little Mermaid set of regular Legos, and Jocelyn found a Duplo set of the Little Mermaid which was very similar to her sister's.  Bryson was in awe of the Lego People area where you can make your own people.  He loved picking out each part, and arming them with tons of axes. 

Our three lunch dates at McDonalds. 

 Very intent on building/playing.

 Oh wow at our silly girls!

Last Saturday, we had a sad day in our little family.  Our buddy Bryson's dog died because someone ran over him.  After we buried him and told Bryson, he was very upset.  I decided we would have a Lego Party to celebrate the dog and to make Bryson smile.  Clinton came home from work that evening and Charity and I went to get pizza.  Daddy was in charge of building the Batcave with Bryson and Daphne.  Charity and I dumped all of the Legos out and started to build the other Super Hero sets we have.  About five hours later, Charity and I finally stop for the night.  We got two sets completely built.  The kids had so much fun playing with them, eating pizza, and watching dog/Lego movies all evening.  (and yes, Jocelyn wears her purple cape all night long)

 Mac was not getting down from that couch unless someone moved him

I spy one itty bitty Lego that is oddly shaped and has three holes in it.  Good luck finding it!

Christmas with Grandpa Bill and Grandma Eva

We took a day trip to China Grove, NC to see Clinton's parents and to see their new house.  Eva made lunch and the girls got to spend time with their other grandparents and their cousins. 

 Daphne and Eva's nephew Boomer.

 Jocelyn trying to open the M&M container.  Thank goodness for tight wrapping!

 Collin playing with his new trucks.

 Eva loves Build a Bears. The girls love Build a Bears.  It's a win-win for them. 

 Collin trying to actually ride on the ambulance.  (literally, and if he wasn't careful, literally)

 Jocelyn had to take a spin with the ambulance

The girls playing with their new my little ponies. 

He Came! He Came!

We have celebrated the most wonderful Christmas yet.  Clinton and I are very blessed.  We have two wonderful, outgoing, spirited, wild, crazy, loving girls.  We also have each other, who I greatly appreciate and respect.  I know it is super cheesy, but I'm in that kind of mood late at night tonight.  I never quite understood what my parents were talking about when they said their best Christmas presents were watching us open presents from Santa on Christmas morning.  Watching the wonder and beauty of the season through our eyes.  Since the girls are getting a little older, they are so excited about the small things, things that most of us have not thought about in years.  As we all get busy this time of year, their constant awe and love for things make us slow down and really appreciate what Christmas means and our wonderful little family.  Now, that being said...on with the picture commentary!

 Daphne asked Santa for 3 things this year:  a DS, a pool party lego set, and a pointer.  This little pointer was one of the highlights of our 5 year olds morning!  I know Santa had to find special, hard working elves to make it. 

 Santa ate all of our cookies we made, drank all our milk, and Buddy the Elf helped us grow our magic seeds!

 Daphne was so excited she could barely stand it!  Luckily, the girls still love their sleep, so we didn't wake up until 7.  Mom and dad thoroughly enjoyed that gift.

 Jocelyn didn't know what to do with herself.  We loved getting to see her open presents from Santa by herself this year.  (Even though it was a little sad at the same time).

 Let's see, what is in this small package?  Who left us this present?  Daphne had to read each label very carefully before she opened them.  We saw mom, dad, Jocelyn, and even the big man himself...SANTA!

 What did Santa bring us?  A DS???  That face says it all!

 Super girl!

 Our very own Jake and the Neverland Pirates lego set!  "It's a Jake boat mommy!"

 So proud!

 Jocelyn calls her LeapPad Santa brought a "DS" just like her big sister.

 Lego Batman game!

 A Jake game?!?

 Daddy and Daphne Christmas morning.

 Lego pool party!

 Daddy showing Jocelyn how her LeapPad works like mommy's iPad.  We figured she would call it her iPad.  Nope, still calls it her DS. 

 Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! " It's the Batcave!  With the Poison Ivy girl!  I used to want this so bad!"

 Santa found a Nutcracker of the Rat King.  Daphne and Jocelyn got to see this being performed and absolutely loved loved it.  They still talk about it and dance around our house pretending they are fighting the Rat, being the Sugar Plum Fairy, or the little mice running across the stage. 

 Jocelyn trying to open the game her sister picked out for her.

 How did mommy sneak Ninjago books from the book fair?  Mommy's that good :) 

 Pete the Cat is our favorite right now.

 I fell in love with this book after I read it.  It is Jocelyn!  The Monster that Lost His Mean.  It's about a monster (and each letter means something descriptive about the monster, the M being "mean") who loses his M and becomes an Onster.  This Onster is nice and everyone loves it, no matter how he tries to be mean, he can't do it.  It is precious!

 Pink Camo!  We now live in this shirt and it will stand up by itself by the end of the week. 

 "Noopy" shirt!  Snoopy is one of our favorite characters ever since she went to Carowinds.  She asks daily when it will open again so she can go see him and ride rides. 

 She is very happy with her Santa presents.

 Jocelyn put on her toboggan she found in her stocking to open the rest of her presents.

After we finished at our house, we ate breakfast and went to Mimi and Paw's house to see them and everyone else.  Mimi got two pairs of matching outfits for the girls (and they even matched Jace), one for pajamas, and one for Christmas morning. 

 My two girls in front of the Christmas tree being sweet to each other.  (Cherish this picture, it doesn't happen every day!)

 This is mommy's baby from a long stinking time ago.  It has a pull string and everything.  Mimi and Shannon got it out of the attic when they were looking for some of our old toys.  Jocelyn wouldn't put it down, and she will still go and get it every time we are at Mimi's house. 

 Jace and the girls.  Yes, he is just about as big as the girls!

 Jace and the pirate

 We got a Mermaid Barbie doll!  Jocelyn got a purple one and of course Daphne got a pink one.  Jocelyn was so proud of the doll.

 Daphne opening her Cupcake Party game.  It may be a little off from Monopoly and Uno, but (secretly) it's a fairly fun game.  I do have to say though that my sister cracked us up the whole morning.  We weren't sure half the time who was more excited...them or her! 

 "I think I have a bow on my head."

 Uh oh!  Mommy doesn't know what to do with these boxes. 

 Jocelyn is one happy little girl. 

 We learned the eyes opened and closed.  She was trying to get her baby to keep her eyes open when she was laying down.  Shannon worked so hard on putting clothes on these dolls.  She had pulled all her clothes down from her American Girl doll to give to Daphne for her new doll.  (Just don't tell her Jocelyn's is now naked...)

 Paw paw bought Jensen a golf set.  It is a must in the Weaver household.  (or so Paw says)

 "Lori" the American Girl doll looks pretty similar to Daphne.

 Jace and his smirky smile

 Izzy!  And Izzy talks! 

 Jocelyn showing her Barbie doll baby Jesus.  It was precious.  the Barbie and Jesus were playing, but we had to be quiet because Jesus was sleeping.

 Playing with Calico Critters

After Mimi and Paw's house, we went to Mawmaw and Pop Pop's house for lunch with the Godfrey clan.  The girls had a wonderful time and we all enjoyed spending time with everyone.

Magnets! 

 These last two were out of order for some random reason and didn't want to be moved.  Oh well.  The girls got new toothbrush holders for their bathroom.  Daphne got an Ariel holder and Jocelyn got a Jake holder.  Now they have their own little water cups and a place to put their toothbrushes.  No more fighting over which hole is who's.