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?