Anniversary Pictures

Here are just a few pictures from our night out at Strip a couple of weeks ago. We had a great time celebrating the end of our 2 years of marriage, and we celebrated the beginning of our 3rd year in San Juan, PR. Pictures of our trip coming soon.

Do you know what today is...?

IT'S OUR ANNIVERSARY!

REMINISCING ABOUT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YEAR 2, AND CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF YEAR 3.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT'S TO COME.

I LOVE YOU BABY.

Fireworks...gone wrong...very wrong

Fireworks:

Beautiful streams of colorful lights that brighten the vast, dark sky on the day of our Independence...

when done properly.

I now understand why my mom never let us light our own fireworks. "You'll blow your fingers off," she would say. "What if they explode backwards?" she would rhetorically ask. I guess me & my "adult" self, my husband "the expert," and a few willing neighbors just had to see what the hoop-lah was all about tonight. Here it goes...

Beautiful, aren't they?

The men, taking control, doing their "man" thing...

Don't they look like they know what they're doing?!

Yes, that would be the gutter along the side of our house. I knew it didn't look right when the rocket fell to a horizontal position...aimed right at our open garage & vehicles. Nice.

"Firetrucks?!" you ask. Who would have known that the rockets had parachuting men that floated down after explosion? Once deployed, we notice the faint flicker of various embers on the top of a neighbor's roof. Nice.

Did I mention the sirens...from the four trucks...and their spotlights? I guess College Park Fire Department had nothing else going on tonight...why not send the whole squad?!

Needless to say, it was quite the experience. I'm look forward to next year! Happy 4th!

Happy Fourth of July

from The Strattons

Damn Yankees

Shawn and I watched the Yanks vs Braves game last Thursday night. It was a great series, and while the Braves held their own the first night, the ended up losing the next two. The Yanks are a great team with some very loud, dedicated fans...so much so that we were outnumbered! We had so much fun trashin' them though...in a "fun" way. Win or lose, Turner Field & the Braves have offered us lots of fun, many memories, and best of all great baseball. Our next game will be when they take on the Sox this weekend. Go Braves!

Turner Field

Pitchers Soriano and Acosta

Atlanta Braves warm up

Yunel Escobar; pre-game warm up

Gonzalez

Shawn made the Jumbo-tron. He was asked a multiple choice question for a prize. He picked 'C' but the answer was 'B'. I guess his charm worked on the Braves' girls because they gave him the prize anyways: Braves gift bag & a gift card to Dantanna's restaurant.

Home Depot tool race

The heat was getting to Shawn I think.

Intense watching batting practice.

Yummie hot dogs.

Refreshing Coca-Cola on a very hot night.

Go Braves!

We're Connected!

Connected?! you say. Sad, I know, but this is the first time (as of 30 minutes ago) that Shawn and I have had Internet (wireless, at that) and a new laptop in the house since we've known each other. How do you live?! people ask. Well, quite easily, but it was simply necessary to get Internet at the house since I'll be starting my Master's Degree in Education this September. Hopefully this won't be the beginning of a very horrible addiction. Television was, so hopefully I can find self-control with the whole Internet thing. I must say that it will be nice to not have to run to the school where I work to send an e-mail.

Lots of fun happening so far this summer, so updates and pictures to come. It's been lovely catching up with everyone! Never a quiet moment...

It's Final!

Shawn and I officially booked our summer vacation at the Caribe Hilton resort in...

San Juan, Puerto Rico!

July 15-25th

5K highlights

On Saturday May 16th I ran in my first 5K since high school cross country! It was the 1st Annual South Fulton 5K race and 1M fun run, and I have to tell you I was so nervous. Nervous as in 5 trips to the bathroom to rid of every ounce of water I had taken in that morning and the night before, uncontrollable shaking, dry heaving half-way through mile 3...it was ridiculous.

Despite the nerves, I accomplished my goals: to finish without stopping, and to not come in last place. The race was probably 3/4 hills, which I wasn't prepared for, but I finished first in my age group and second overall female runner! I am running in two more races this month (I think I have a mild addiction now) - Saturday 5/23 in Piedmont Park for Childhood Obesity, and Saturday 5/30 in N Druid Hills for Special Olympics.

Shawn, thanks for cheering me on during that last hill (a.k.a. mountain) mid-dry heave. You're the greatest man I know!

Light Green Thumb

I worked on our yard and garden over the weekend...perfect weather for it. Despite the opinions of my family I actually love gardening...as an adult. What kid do you know that likes picking vegetables in a swarm of gnats, Mom and Dad?

Oh, and we have a porch swing now!
Shawn, thanks so much for installing our porch swing...without a ladder...on our kitchen stool...with only me holding your ankles...in the most dangerous effort imaginable...

I love it so much, and I can't wait to spend warm evenings swinging with you to the sounds of our wind chimes.

Views of the porch and swing...

Plants and bird houses...

View of the porches...

Wheelbarrow garden...