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!