November Rain

No no no, I am not talking about the Guns N Roses song!  I am talking about life in Oklahoma!  Minnesota has already had one snow day this year, where we still have beautiful leaves on the trees. 

Now, a week or so ago we were under a winter storm advisory...

Yup, this is all we got!  Lol!  The boys had a blast but really are missing the snow.  Me...not so much!  I will take the beautiful trees and 50-60 degree weather any day over cold and snow!

Today, it is raining and thunderstorms.  

Again, I would take this over snow and cold any day!  It will be weird as we are entering the Christmas Season with no snow but as for now, I am okay with our November Rain! 

Still loving this Oklahoma life, and I have a feeling I will love it even more come December, January and February!!! 

Fall Time? Are You Sure?

We have experienced our first Labor Day in Oklahoma.  Well...we actually spent it in Dallas for a hockey tournament but the temps were quite similar.  It didn't even feel like Labor Day Weekend. One, we weren't heading "Up North" or even getting ready for school to begin on that Tuesday (because the boys had started 2 weeks earlier).  But also Two, the temps were in the 90's.  That just is not right...for this Northern Girl anyway.  It is supposed be cooler...mid 70's or lower, with really cool nights.  We were supposed to wear sweat shirts and jeans, not t-shirts and shorts and still be sweating.

Tonight on the news they "warned" us to get the coats out because a "cold front" is coming through.  Yup, it is going to be the low 70's/high 60's starting tomorrow and through the weekend.  BRRRRRR...NOT!  LOL!

I am actually heading to MN tomorrow for a girls weekend at Carlos Winery.  It will definitely feel like fall there.  I am excited for the cooler temps, to wear my jeans and sweatshirts.  Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining about this warm weather!  I love it; it is just so weird and does not feel like fall time.

People here are starting to talk about their favorite crock pot recipes that they are cooking now and will be this weekend.  Ummmm...doesn't it have to be at least 60 degrees to just start talking about it?  And those fabulous fall/winter hot dishes.  That's right...they are Hot Dishes, NOT casseroles! And then there is football...Is it Football Season?  It isn't still pre-season?  The weather is too warm for football.

I am not knocking on any of my Oklahoma friends, it is just so different from Minnesota!  I know I will slowly adjust and become "acclimated" to the weather but for now I am still a true Northern Girl!  And I love the fall weather there.  I can't wait to feel some of it this weekend!  And...I am sure I will be ready to go back to the warm weather on Sunday!  To my Minnesota friends/family I will be seeing this weekend...NO TEASING ME if I am colder than you are!  ;)

I know I will love this "Southern Weather" come January!  That will be a whole other post!

I promise not to wait so long to post again!  I do see likes/differences almost weekly so I will continue to post about them!

Until next time!

Where there is a "Will" (and Wyatt and Ben") There is a Way!

Piggy backing off my last post of not having many accessible parks and trails the boys have become quite creative this week!  A couple days ago we had our own driving range in the back yard!

With an empty lot next to us they have lots of space to do this!  Now their challenge is to hit it over the neighbors fence on the other side of the lot!  And they have met their challenge a few times!!! Thankfully the neighbor is nice and said she would just throw the balls over when she sees them.

Another creative idea they have done is is their own gym/American Ninja Warrior obstacle course.  The boys are obsessed with this show. So they decided to create their own gym (THE FIERCE GYM) and make it an obstacle course!  Click on their names below and you can watch each one run through them! Oh, I should mention, Will and Wyatt don't quite make it through the tube run at the end but it is quite comical! 

First we have Ben running through the course!  Then we have Wyatt!  And last but not least, Will!  

I am pretty proud of these boys for being so creative.  They have had lots of fun with it.  They have a course at the neighbors too that includes their 6 foot fence!  I haven't seen them do it yet but I can only imagine!!!  :)  

So, even though in my last post I was complaining about the parks and recreation...or lack there of we have found the positive in it and created our own! Who knows...we may have the next American Ninja Warrior Champion on our hands!  

Cheers to fitness!!!!!

Parks and Recreation...maybe?

Living here in Oklahoma we are quickly learning there just isn't the parks, lakes and trail systems that Minnesota has. We all are really missing them.  Minnesota is so abundant of trails and lakes and parks that no matter which way you turn you have one.  Here in Oklahoma, you have to drive at least 30 minutes...sometimes more...to find a park or lake and some trails.  And...those are mostly State Parks. Which aren't bad, just not your run-of-the-mill parks that Minnesota has.

The boys and I have had to become creative with finding things to do that don't always cost money.  Where we spend most of our time is our neighborhood pool but I even think they might be getting a little bored of that.  Other than that we have been to the roller rink, movies, shopping (costs money), skating at the rink, walking down to the creek to look for craw fish, turtles and what ever fun "boy" stuff we can find. and then just going on bike rides, roller blading, and running on the trails we do have in our neighborhood. These are the best trails we have found yet.

We will continue to search for some fun (free) parks and lakes to go to as we have made it an adventure!  But in the mean time...we are missing the Land of 10,000 lakes!!!

I scream...You scream...We all scream for...Snow Cones???

Yes, snow cones.  There is a snow cone (or shaved ice as they say here) stand about every few miles!  So cool to see all the different ones!  In Minnesota we have Dairy Queens every few miles, but here it is snow cone stands!  Here are three of them that we pass a lot. 

 So on hot hot days we all scream for snow cones here in Oklahoma!

Turtle Tunnel...HUH????

This is a very short blog tonight but I had to share this!  This is another BIG reason why we love Oklahoma so much, and why Minnesota and Oklahoma are different! A Turtle Tunnel in Minnesota?  Are you kidding me?  LMAO!  I can't believe there was money spent on this.  I am all about helping turtles across the road and will save them when I see them but come on...

This would NOT happen in Oklahoma!

Click on the link to watch the clip...
Turtle Tunnel In Minnesota

A piece of Home...

I haven't written in a little while; not because I have run out if likes and differences, but because we had a visitor!!  My mom!!!  She was here for a week and we had a blast!  It was the first time we had seen her since January.  Because her and my dad are ever so lucky and get to winter in Hawaii...yah, we don't feel bad for them either!!!

Anyway, we had lots of fun!  Her and I went shopping a couple times; we found a favorite boutique store...Kay's!  

If you livein Oklahoma, and more specifically the Broken Arrow area you have to go!  It is a great shop and the ladies are all so nice!!  My mom already has plans to come back and go visit the store!!!

We also went to the Drillers game.  For those that don't know, that is Tulsa's minor league baseball team.  It was our first time and what a great night!  We had fabulous seats!  Second row right on the 3rd baseline.

Wyatt and Ben got autographs from a couple players...

Will and Ben tried so hard for a baseball! The people sitting near us even were helping them...

But the ever so patient Wyatt stayed in his seat and got one!  Look at that smile...

The night ended with some fabulous fireworks and then a quick run through the splash park they have at the field!

We also went to the Tulsa Zoo!  It was a beautiful day and the best part was it was not busy!!!

I decided to show these animals at the zoo rather than the typical ones!

Other than that it was just great to have my mom here!!  We drank wine very night and had lots of laughs!!! I sure have missed her and it was nice to have a piece if home here!  

Thanks mom for a wonderful week!!!  We can't wait to see you in a month or so and spend some time up north!!!  Love you tons!!

Liebster Award!

Today is not about the likes and differences of Minnesota and Oklahoma.  Today is about an award I received last week!  I was given the Liebster Award by my dear friend Jolene at Southern Fried Soul!  Thank you Jolene!  I am new to this so bare with me.  With this award I get to answer her questions and then spread the word!


                                           

Jolene is one of my dear friends who inspires me by all her running of marathons, being a single mom and a nurse! She has a heart of gold and likes to spread her joys of health and fitness with all! Liebster Awards are given to bloggers to increase readership…typically who have less than 200 followers, in order to help them grow.  Because I don't follow that many blogs, a couple of mine have more than 200 followers.  Again, being new to blogging I am learning!!!

Of course, there are rules:

1. You must link back to the person who nominated you.

2. You must answer the 10 questions given to you by the person who nominated you.

3. You must pick 10 bloggers to be nominated for the award (just not the person who nominated you).

4. You must create 10 questions for your nominees.

5. You must go to their blogs and notify the nominees.

So, here we go with the questions Jolene has given me:

1.  Why Did you Start Your Blog?  

We recently moved to Oklahoma from Minnesota due to my husband's job transfer.  In the short time we have lived here I have seen many similarities and many differences from the North to South.  I thought it would be a great way for me to share our experiences with friends and family, as well as letting people reflect and say, "yah...I see that difference!" or, "wow, I never knew that about the South (or North)."  

                            

2.  Who is Your Hero?  

I would have to say my number one hero in my life is my dad.  He is an amazing man that has worked so hard his whole life to make my, my brother and my mom's life fun and exciting.  He is a man that has taught me to be strong, stand up for what I believe in and not let people push me around just because my opinion might be different.  I love how he has taught me to find a man just like him...one who loves his wife and children more than anything, one that would do anything for his wife and children, and one that would help anyone out in need.  I have found that man in my husband!  Thank you dad for being my hero!

                                           

3.  What is Your Favorite Color?  

Well, I would have to say blue although I wear a lot of shades of pink.  But for some reason I am attracted to the different shades of blue. Maybe that is because it represents water and outside!  I love anything outside.

    

4.  What is Your Dream Job?  

My dream job would be a teacher...which I have been in many forms through out my life!  I started out as a babysitter/nanny (teacher) which I started when I was around 9 or 10 years old to 3 amazing boys who are all now grown men and one is even having a baby of his own. Wow, that makes me feel old.  Then I got my teaching degree and taught for about 7 years.  After that I became a mom (teacher!) to 3 amazing boys of my own!  Last fall I went back to the teaching field as a Special Ed. Para.  I fell in love with that aspect of teaching again and knew when we moved down here I wanted to work in the schools again.  Stay tuned...

5.  Dog Person or Cat Person?  Both?  

I would have to say I am a dog person but love cats too.  But ultimately I am a dog person.  I love our dog, Rogy!  He has been a fabulous dog!  He has endured the boys climbing on him, sitting on him and even laying on him!  He has been the best dog ever!  Not sure any dog could top him!

                                

6.  What is Your Favorite Quote?  

Hmmmm...this is a tough one.  I guess it would have to be, "It is what it is".  Not deep I know, I am not a terribly deep person. But this quote I think explains me to a T.  I don't tend to worry too much and just realize that if things are meant to be they will be...It is what it is...

                                               

7.  What is the Most Delicious Food You Have Ever Eaten?  

Gosh, my favorite food would have to be steak.  I love steak!  My favorite meal is steak, baked potato and corn on the cob. Yup...definitely the most delicious food I have ever eaten!  I don't eat it as much as I would like to because I try to stay more healthy but when I do I definitely over indulge!

                                    

8.  If You Could Live Anywhere in the World Where Would it Be and Why?  

Oh this is a tough one.  I have never been to Australia and always thought it would be neat to live there.  But after spending 6 months in Alnwick, England for school I would love to go back and live in England!  It is so beautiful with all the castles, the sea, and the rolling hills.  I would want to live in Northern England, like Alnwick.  

   VS.  

YES...I got to live in that castle for 6 months!

9.  What is Your Favorite Trait About Yourself?  

My favorite trait about myself would be my honesty.  With me you know where you stand...and I mean that in a good way.  I don't feel I am rude about my opinions, just honest and outspoken.  Now, to some, they take that as rude and I may offend them.  That is not my intent, I just like to be honest!

                                        

10.  What Do You Do For Fun?  I love the outdoors so when I can be outdoors for fun that is what I do. Exercising, gardening, camping, hiking, playing with the boys outside...anything outside!  My favorite is to sit by a pool or beach, watch the boys swim and me dive into a good book!  

And that is it!  

Here are my 10 (9) nominees, sorry I only currently follow 9:

1.  Sarah @ Money Saving Queen

2.  Lisa @ 100 Days of Real Food

3.  Briana @ Bikini Body Mommy

4.  Vani @Food Babe

5.  Laura @ Healthy Not Weird

6.  Samara @ Simplicity In The Suburbs

7.  Helen @ Topical Thunderstorms

8.  Gina @ Skinny Taste

9.  Chalene @ Chalene Johnson

Here are my 10 questions:

1.  Why did you start a blog?

2.  How long have you been blogging?

3.  Who is the most influential person in your life?

4.  Where is your favorite vacation spot?

5.  What is your favorite meal?

6.  If you had a million dollars what would you do with it?

7.  What is your favorite outdoor activity?

8.  Do you have a pet?  Tell us about it

9.  What is your favorite movie?

10.  What actor/actress would you love to meet?

Creepy Crawlies

Here in Oklahoma the bugs are abundant and I am starting to get the ebee geebee's!  EEEK!  I found this in my house this morning: 

This is a Grass Spider!  YUCK!  They are not small. The boys spotted it this morning while grabbing their back packs for school.  At first I thought it was a Brown Recluse...which mind you is poisonous!!!  But here is a Brown Recluse:

Not small either and even worse...POISONOUS!!!!  Phew, glad what I found was "just" a Grass Spider

Another bug that is abundant down here are the Rolly Polly's.  The kids love them, not sure why, but they are fun to play with I guess because they roll into a little ball when played with.  I was at the boys school yesterday and all the little girls were digging in the dirt and wood chips to find them and had a whole mess of them!  See below:

Me, again I think they are quite disgusting. They are harmless and usually you just see them crossing a sidewalk or driveway but when digging out weeds and I come across them they give me a jump!  I know, I am a wimp!

Last but not least is our other poisonous spider that everyone keeps telling us about...the Black Widow.  I have not personally seen one but the boys have at friends houses!  I don't WANT to see one either!  YIKES!  But reality is I am sure I will.

These are just a few of the creepy crawlies we have to deal with down here.  A positive for Minnesota is we don't have all these critters!  Just MOSQUITOES and I have to say I am quite happy I have not encountered the mosquitoes yet, which is amazing! 

It is a whole new world when it comes to creepy critters down here!  I will need to "man up" and get over it.  I will also make sure to keep up on the exterminators coming out!  Something us Minnesotans are not used to!

YEAH FOR FIRE FIGHTERS!!!!

Yesterday I was driving down the main "drag" of Broken Arrow and South Tulsa, 71st/Kenosha, to go run some errands. I was stopped at a stop light, right by Eddy's old Apartment.  It is a busy spot.  I noticed these guys running around from car to car.  I could not figure out what they were doing.  Then I saw one with a Fire Fighter Boot and people were putting money in the boot!  My first thought, "ummm...are these guys legit?"  Then I saw their uniform and figured I should donate.  So I, like the many others, rolled my window down, waved my hand and donated a couple dollars.  The Fire Fighter handed me a sticker that said I just donated to Muscular Dystrophy!  It truly made my day.

This is something I have never seen in Minnesota.  I thought it was so great! Another reason to love those Fire Fighters!

I personally want to every Fire Fighter I know as well as the ones I don't know for all their hard work and dedication!  You men and women are amazing!  Thank you for putting your lives on the line every time you get that call!

This is a picture of one of the Fire Fighters collecting money!

My Sticker!

No Lottery Here!!

Today was the second grade and Kindergarten fiend trip to the zoo!  The best part...and difference from Minnesota...NO LOTTERY SYSTEM!!  I got to go!  And even better...I got to be with both Wyatt and Ben!!  

In Minnesota we had a lottery system for parent volunteers on field trips. No haven't been on a field trip withy kids since Will was in first grade.  Today I got to go because any and all parents are welcome!!!!  AND...I for to be with both Wyatt and Ben. It was such a great day and a great zoo!   We will definitely be going back!!!!

Here are aome photos of our day...

A Smile and A Wave Goes A Long Ways

Post number 2 for the week!  I am on a roll!  I am trying to spread out my posts but I am learning and seeing so many differences!  It is fun to see all the differences!

Today I was out walking with a neighbor/friend. This is the second time we have walked this week and it feels SOOO good to get in the groove again.  She is such a sweet heart and I am so happy to have her to walk with and call her a friend!

Anyway,  We walked for an hour and a half.  We just have so much to share with each other that we lose track of time and of where we are. LOL!  As we were walking every person or car that drove by us waved.  I didn't know these people so I was assuming Lori probably knew them. Around the 5th car that drove by, which had an elderly couple in it and the woman was waving an smiling so big, I asked Lori, "do you know them?"  Lori said, "no, they are just really sweet!"  I then asked, "have you known any of the people that have waved to us today?"  She answered no.

I am amazed at how friendly people are here in Oklahoma.  Again, another love!  Every time I have been out and about people smile, say hello, wave, hold doors, etc. even when you don't know them.  also, everyone is so willing to help.  All the people we have met have been so helpful and it is just great!  Another big difference from Minnesota.  Not that people aren't friendly in Minnesota...we do have the "Minnesota Nice" claim to fame, but I do have to say the majority are not as nice as they are here in the South!

It really makes a persons day when someone says hello to you or just smiles.  I am learning that it makes me feel good and I should do it more often!  So, I challenge you all to do the same!  When you are out and about...say hello, smile, hold doors, wave, etc. to people you don't even know! You never know what you will do for someone!

Sports and Coaches

First off I want to say I am not trying to offend anyone in this post.  That is not my intent.  My intent is to show the differences I have noticed with the sports in Minnesota compared to Oklahoma.  It is quite different...at least from my experiences so far and honestly I like the way they do it here!

The coaches that the boys have had in the short 3 weeks that we have been here have been AMAZING!  They welcomed our boys like they have been here forever, they made them feel like one of the team right away.  Even the kids were so excited to have some Minnesota boys on their teams!  Will has even earned the nick name "Minnesota" from his Lacrosse team!

One word...RESPECT!  This is one big difference I have noticed from the coaches down here compared to up in Minnesota.  Mainly, how they speak to the kids and how they expect the kids to speak to them.  All the boys have learned to say, "yes sir" and "yes mam" quickly.  All the coaches expect it to be said.  I love it!
Another difference is the discipline factor.  If one team mate isn't pulling his weight the whole team pays. They need to "run to the pole" or "skate longer and harder" down here.  In Minnesota I am sure this is true with the upper ages of sports but at the ages our kids are at...no way!  I have not experienced this with my boys in their Minnesota sports.

Oh...and...the coaches say it how it is!  One coach would often say, "are you hurt or injured?"  If the kid answered hurt then he says, "then get up and get moving...no excuses".  Another coach, regarding a player who was not pulling his weight at one practice, "You are acting like you have a debilitating disease or something!"  LOL!  I thought, as well as all the other parents, was quite funny!  It made the kid work harder!
Now, some of you may be saying, "how dare they" or "those poor kids" or "I would go to the hire ups about those coaches."  Not me!  I saw how hard all those kids worked and it was because those coaches push them to work hard and they love it!  In Minnesota, of all the sports my kids have played, they have never been pushed so hard!

I want to give the Minnesota coaches some Kudo's.  They are amazing as well!  They relate well to the kids, they know their information and they have fun!  The coaches down here in Oklahoma do too!  As hard as they are during the practice or game each coach has walked up to every player on their team and gave them hugs and told them how hard they played and how proud they were.  I didn't hear too many coaches saying that to our boys in the sports they played in Minnesota.  A select few, but that is it.

One last difference and I debated on putting this in for fear of offending someone.  But again, that is not my intent, it is just to show differences.  One of the boys on Will's lacrosse team wore a feather in his helmet during a game..  If this was EVER done in Minnesota. parents and spectators would have been in an uproar! They would have brought it to the board or something to complain.  I thought it was great!  What a team player.  Now, this boy is Native American too so that makes it more okay; but again in Minnesota this would have NEVER happened!  And to top it off, not one stink was made about it!  GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!

The moral of this post...Minnesota is way too PC!  They need to relax and not be too worried about offending someone.  They need to teach those Minnesota kids more respect towards adults and teach them how to be team players and work hard for their team.  I am proud of our boys and their teams. They all play hard and work as a team, not as an individual!

Reduce Reuse Recycle

A big difference we have noticed here in Oklahoma is people do not recycle on a regular basis.  You may have your occasional person that recycles but there is not a weekly/biweekly service that comes to your house like in Minnesota. For something that was so hard to get used to years ago when Minnesota really started recycling, it sure is hard NOT to recycle now here in Oklahoma.  Everything I throw into the garbage I feel bad about.  :(  And the amount of garbage we have...WOW!  Especially with moving...all the boxes and paper...WHY is this not being recycled.  Wyatt even asked me the other day, "Mom, where do I put this bottle to recycle it?"  "Well Wyatt, we don't recycle here."  Wyatt responds with, "WHAT?  That is so bad!  We should be recycling!!!"  Yes we should!  Again today, after grocery shopping and buying granola bars, etc. that come in a box I was reminded I need to figure this dilemma out.

So, this prompted me to do a little research. There is a recycling facility here in Broken Arrow that we WILL be using!  I just need to go get some bins to start the process.  For those of you that are reading this in the Broken Arrow, OK area here is the website you can check out to start your recycling.

It is called:  
The M.E.T     (The Metropolitan Environmental Trust)

Although this will be more work for us I am looking at the positive side:  CHORES FOR THE BOYS!!!!

Here's to Reduce Reuse Recycle!

Minnesota Smarts!!!

This isn't really a post of likes or differences but this Northern girl is not going to deal with 50 degree temps, no sun and 21 mph winds!  This Minnesota girl is sitting in her car right now as the boys are at lacrosse practice!  Yes I know, I am being a wimp!  As I got up and said I was going to the car a couple parents said, "what?  Aren't you from Minnesota???"  Yes I am and I am SMART for going to the car and not sitting in this cold and wind.  I know my Minnesota friends and family are laughing too because I have seen the forecast in Minnesota today; but we all know that wind is not fun!  And Oklahoma has a lot of it! 

So the moral of this post is...In Minnesota we learn to not deal with the cold and wind!  Survival of the fittest!!!  It's called Minnesota Smarts!

Kids in the bar area VS. UFC fighting?

Last night after all of our fun day of sports Eddy and I felt the boys deserved a nice dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.  Haha...well...okay...we wanted it! But thankfully our boys like that place too!  We also thought it would be a fun place to watch some good 'ole hockey since we are in the state of Football and Baseball!  When we went in we had to wait for a table.  BUT...the bar area was completely empty. It was glassed in...still not totally sure why but it was.  We asked if we could just go sit in there.  The nice young hostess said, "sorry, your boys have to be 18."  Okay, no problem, it wasn't a big deal.  Anyway, when we finally sat down we asked our waiter to change one of the TV's to the the hockey game.  He said he would try but the UFC fight was going to be on soon and all the TV's were going to switch to that.  WHAT????  Soooo...our boys can't sit in a bar with us but they can watch people beat the living crap out of each other?  Eddy and I didn't understand this concept.  I still want to do some research on why the bar area was glassed off because not all restaurants are like this.  In the end, we got to watch the hockey game while we were there AND UFC fighting.  Thankfully our boys said the UFC fighting was a stupid sport; in the words of Will, "all they do is punch each other a few times and then get knocked out."  You are correct Will!

Just adding to this post:

A friend, Kara, told me and my friend Kim did some research and here is why the bar area was enclosed: Oklahoma's statewide smoking law prohibits smoking in any indoor workplaces – including restaurants and hotels – unless a separate ventilation system under negative pressure is installed for ventilating the smoking area, but permits smoking without limitation in bars, private clubs, bingo halls, retail tobacco stores, small family-owned workplaces, workplaces occupied exclusively by smokers, veterans' halls, and designated employee smoking areas

Makes sense but I still find it funny that they don't allow kids in there due to smoking (but can be anywhere else around it) but they can watch a sport where they purposely beat the crap out of each other.

A New Beginning

With a move to Oklahoma from Minnesota I thought I would start a blog to share my thoughts, feelings and experiences of our New Beginning!  I have lived in Minnesota my whole life, with the exception of living in England for 6 months while studying abroad.  I have been to many states, but I have never spent any time in the South...besides Florida but I don't really consider that the South. Nor has most of my family and friends.  I hope to share all my experiences...good and bad!  I have seen many differences already in the week we have been here!  So...sit back and enjoy the ride with me!