Memorial Day Weekend 2010

What a wonderfully relaxing weekend!!

We started the weekend by building a darling flower bed in the back yard.

Then Nick and I had a date night at RePUBlic. We LOVE RePUBlic. Seriously, we really love it. I had a Chocolate Truffle beer (see below) which might have been the best thing I've ever drank in my life. Yum-o.

It's super contemporary. There are more screens showing sports than you can possibly watch and the beer selection is amazing. They also were very accomodating to our meatless ways and brought several yummy treats.

While Nick and I were dating, Grammie and Mason went on a date, too. Isn't he just the cutest little date!? :) They ran by the book store then hit the movies to take in the new Shrek movie.

We spent plenty of time in the sun, shooting rockets (below), throwing wet sponges and enjoying the mister.

I did get shot in the eye by said rocket. I'm now wearing a pirate patch and I walk with a limp. Not really...but damn, why did Mason shoot me in the eye!?

The Smith's came over for a lovely feast, too! Baby Caroline and Mase enjoyed some pool time, the rest of us enjoyed good food and company.

A trip to the zoo was in order, we. love. the. zoo.

-----> Click here to see all of the photos from our weekend! <-----

I couldn't be happier that summer has officially begun. Stay tuned for next weekend...Caroline's first birthday party and the one year anniversary of my first 5k.

Do you think I can beat my time from last year?

- S

I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again

We meet again.

Most of you know about my life-long (I'm not dramatic at all) battle with Diet Coke. You'll remember that in 2008 I decided to give up the liquid gold in search of a chemical-free life. I did GOOD, really good, until February of this year. I started to crack...then I broke. I had dreams of running happily through a field of flowers right towards the glowing, shiny, silver can....the can of life, the can of glory, the can of goodness.

I mentioned my thoughts to my friend Nicole, she assured me it would taste like crap. I mentioned my weak thoughts to Nick, he didn't approve. In order to not hear him nag me about my brain falling out we made a negotiation of sorts (of which I still owe quite heavily). After the handshake it was time. I bravely walked into a neighborhood CVS and purchased a bottle of Diet Coke.

I came back to the car giggly and smiling. Nick shook his head, but because of said agreement, he couldn't say a thing. I opened the lid, heard the fizz and prepared myself because this was supposed to taste NASTY! It didn't. It went down well and it went down fast. I was a happy woman.

The following couple of weeks I drank it as much as I could. I even started going back to Sonic again! (I will tell you that the photos on the menu at Sonic are enough to make this vegetarian hurl).

Then a friend at work told me about a book called Skinny Bitch. Don't let the name freak you out, it's actually a funny book! The main purpose of the book is to raise awareness about the food we consume. They talk heavily about vegetarian/vegan ways of living...I found it quite enjoyable. What I wasn't expecting was the chapter about chemical sweetners. Ugh! Education and logic. Reading the information regarding aspartame (the same information I read years ago that made me quit) just made me sick.

I always say if you know better, do better. I know better.

So, here we are. Round 2.

Wish me luck.

- S

Preschool Graduation 2010

"Here Mama, I got this for you." - Mason T.

There was an explosion of cuteness at the St. Luke's preschool graduation ceremony! Tiny caps, tiny gowns and lots of precious children. :)

The Trougakos Family

Mase was chosen from his class to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. He did a great job! He saw me in the audience (I won't admit  to waving like a crazy person) and I must have embarassed him because he closed his eyes through the entire song (they sang "What The World Needs Now"). He enjoyed rubbing the soft tassle on his cheek throughout the ceremony which resulted in him getting it caught in his glasses. Shout out to Miss Madeline who helped him get it untangled. I won't post the video because you might have a seizure from watching the wobbly, bobbly footage.

(I have weak arm muscles!)

------>  For more photos from his graduation, click here!  <------

(Nicole - there are cute pics of C on this link for you to grab.)

Now he's all ready for Kindergarten!

Daily practice for Aristocats starts tomorrow, so stay tuned for kitty updates. I'm off to shop for black jazz shoes.

-S

Oklahoma Weather Breakdown

January: Ice Storms
February: Blizzards
March: Earthquakes
April: Severe Thunderstorms
May: DevastatingTornadoes
June: Hail Storms
July: Heat Wave
August: Drought
September: Severe Thunderstorms
October: Hail Storms
November: Sunny Skies and Cool Temps
December: Earthquakes

All in all, it's a great place to live.

Farmer Mason

If there is one thing I know about Mason, it's that he loves nature, animals, and vegetable/fruit farms.

On our recent trip back from Orlando, we stopped in Dothan, AL, to pick strawberries. $10/bucket!

This weekend we drove to Broken Bow for a visit to the Blue Roost Farm, aka my Dad's house. I never had chickens growing up, we had dogs, but not chickens. Now, my childhood home looks more like a farm with several gardens and 60+ chickens. Oh how things change with the kids move out. Mason LOVED the farm. He got to pick out his own baby chicken and name it. He named it "Chicky", of course. (We hope it doesn't grow up to be a rooster.)  {See Mason above holding his new chicken} He fed the puppy, fish, chickens, and cats. He helped Papa Chuck let the chickens out, herd them back in, and he even collected eggs for the night! (Thanks, Dad, for the three dozen fresh farm eggs!!!)

I think we have a little farmer on our hands.

For more photos of our weekend at Blue Roost Farm, click here.

- S

One Mile of Meditation

I haven't felt the wind beneath my feet since my brutal 10k race. (You know, the one where I felt like I was going to die.) Since the race I've been doing other things like planning a vacation, going on said vacation, eating lots of ice cream on said vacation, and drinking beer while sitting on my rear by the pool on vacation. Important stuff, you know?

Today I said I was going to run. I didn't want to run. So, I sat on the couch feeling guilty. Then I got up, put on my gear, and went to hit the trail (sounds fancy, but it's just an asphalt loop in our neighborhood) for a quick three miles. First thing you should know is that quick and I don't get along. I ran one mile semi-fast (for me) and then decided I had a bad side stitch and would try again tomorrow for the other two miles. My side stitches come when I don't drink enough water. But, I am not drinking enough water because I've been too busy drowning myself in Diet Coke since falling off the wagon. Hard times.

I did just read an interesting article in my Runner's World magazine about meditative running. The article, Transcendental Steps, was very interesting and seems hippy enough to qualify as something I would try. I did try today, I tried to listen to the sound of my breath (it was gasping). I did try to feel the wind against my skin (it felt nice and cool). But, at the end of my tiny one mile, I still had a side stitch that kept me from entering my meditative state. The author claims it can take several months to reach "mindfulness" during a run. Meditating while running sounds amazing, no? I think this will be my new endeavor. I've always been intrigued by those Buddhists.

- S

It's the Time of Your Life.... Disney 2010

Disney 2010 was a blast!

First I want to be a bit sappy and say how thankful I am for the ability to take vacations with my wonderful family. I know it's not something everyone gets to enjoy, and I'm very, very appreciative of the time we had together! Thanks for allowing my sap.

Now for the fun!!!!

DRIVE THERE AND THE BEACH

D3 (this stands for Disney Three - our third trip) was the time of our lives. :) We decided to drive this trip which enabled us to enjoy a lazy day at Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Oh how the little guy loves the beach. We played, and played, and played. We ate at a cool restaurant, the Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers. Good times.

For more photos of our drive there and of our time at the beach

CLICK HERE!

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DAY ONE - DOWNTOWN DISNEY AND THE MAGIC KINGDOM

This day was filled with shopping at Downtown Disney and the SpectroMagic parade that night at Magic Kingdom. We enjoyed pool time and ate at our very favorite restaurant, Boma (located in our very favorite hotel, Animal Kingdom Lodge).

For photos from Day One, CLICK HERE!

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DAY TWO - MAGIC KINGDOM

Let the real magic begin! We started off the morning at Chef Mickey's and filled up on Mickey-shaped waffles. Then we proceeded to Magic Kingdom to conquer the left half of the park before heading back to Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is to be noted that Mason rode his first big roller coaster on this day, he was a huge fan!

For photos from Day Two - CLICK HERE!

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DAY THREE - ANIMAL KINGDOM

We met up with the Mann family for a hearty breakfast at the Tusker House, yum-o! We tried out a new ride, the Kai River Rapids, and spent the afternoon back at Animal Kingdom Lodge hanging with the Mann's. Good times!

For photos of Day Three - CLICK HERE!

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DAY FOUR - HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

We did several new things on our D3 trip, at HS we decided to stay late for the Fantasmic show. And oh what a fabulous idea that was!! Fantasmic was AMAZING!!!! We also got double-dose of our favorite ride, Toy Story Mania and saw the Beauty and the Beast production for the first time.

For photos of Day Four, CLICK HERE!

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DAY FIVE - EPCOT

We met up with the Mann family and the McNeil family this day, oh what fun!! The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival was going on and there were so many fun exhibits to see. We rode Test Track for the first time and it was too much fun!

For photos from Day Five, CLICK HERE!

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DAY SIX - MAGIC KINGDOM

We spent the first part of the day conquering the right side of Magic Kingdom. We rode Splash Mountain for the first time and squeezed in our favorite Mickey's PhilharMAGIC show! We came back for a lazy afternoon in the Uzima Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge and finished the trip with dinner (again) at our favorite restaurant, Boma!

For photos of Day Six - CLICK HERE!

We're already planning our next trip...why not?

-S

Now it's time to say goodbye...

...to all our family. M-I-C... see ya real soon... K-E-Y....why? Because we love you! M-O-U-S-E.

On our way home, so thankful we got to go on a fabulous family vacation!! I had plans to do live updates from Disney, but Mickey's wi-fi comes at a cost.

Once we pull in to the 405 I'll hook you guys up with photos.




-- Posted From Some Small Highway In Nowhere Alabama