Stratton' our stuff...

Anniversary Pictures

2009-07-26T18:20:00.001-07:00

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...?

2009-07-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-04T20:37:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

from The Strattons

Damn Yankees

2009-06-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-26T10:39:00.001-07:00

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

San Juan, Puerto Rico!

July 15-25th

5K highlights

2009-05-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-27T07:25:00.001-07:00

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...

Earth Day

2009-04-22T05:12:00.000-07:00

There are so many things we can do to help our planet!

Check it out: 101 Ways to Help Planet Earth

I challenge everyone to take care of our "Big Momma"...

We live in such a beautiful world!

Saddled up

2009-04-14T07:56:00.001-07:00

Shawn and I had yet another "break" from school (poor us, right?) this past week. As a surprise, Shawn took me (us) to a place called Barnsley Gardens, which is about an hour north of the city in Adairsville, GA. Shawn knows how much I love horses and how I talk about having a horse one day. Of course that one day isn't tomorrow, but it's coming I know. I swear I feel like a natural, free, country-gal when I'm on a horse, so this surprise was totally breathtaking and liberating from all the stresses of school and work.

Sorry about the detour...back to the point.

The gardens were gorgeous, and fortunately it wasn't too busy so we felt like we had the resort all to ourselves! We rode our bikes around, played tennis on clay courts (which changed the game up quite a bit), played bocce ball and croquet on the grounds, and of course went horseback riding at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The greatest part was that our guide let them run in the woods! I've been on walking, trotting, and swimming horses before on other vacations, but I've never been on a horse in a full gallop. Wow! I'm sure many of you reading this have already experienced this many times, or were raised by horses, so the thrill is probably gone for you.

For me? I just know that I need to find me a horse and a lot of land!

HIGH hopes

2009-04-03T07:28:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we spent time in downtown Atlanta with our good friends Rachel and Anthony. We have all wanted to explore the High Museum of Art for quite some time, and we knew that time was running out to see The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army. (The exhibit ends on April 19 in case you're interested in going).

*Oh, and I can't believe we haven't taken advantage of this until now, but every first Saturday of the month is free admission for Fulton County residents.* I've never been more proud to be a Fulton County resident!

Unfortunately, when we arrived to the museum we were greeted by an hour-long line for tickets. I guess every other Fulton County resident and their relatives decided to go on the same day. So, instead, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful, sunny day. Shawn and I spent some time walking downtown and through Atlantic Station. Sometimes we forget how pretty the city is that we live in. I guess we'll see the "emperor" another day...

Sculpture next to Woodruff Arts Center

We saw this really pretty tree & had to take pictures with it.

City trolley

We love this building, and the tree in front made it so much prettier.

15th Street fountain

Pansies...true signs of Spring.

Sculpture next to the High Museum.

The High Museum of Atlanta

SEA the WORLD

2009-04-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

This is one of our many riding experiences that recently surfaced from this spring break in Orlando. It's funny how things work, but it ended up leading us to some of our close friends from Woodward, the St. Amands! What are the chances? We had to take advantage of it, so we hit up the Kracken.

Nicole (not much of a roller coaster rider) took this awesome shot of us riding in the front row.

Left to right: Single rider in camo shorts, Alisha, Shawn, Jason St. Amand

We can't tell you how much we miss being in warm, sunny Florida! Did you hear it was supposed to be freezing again next week? I'm talking lows in the 20s at night....brrrr! Why?!

Spring Break Orlando 2009

2009-03-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

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It's been oh..., about a month since I've last updated this thing. Shawn and I have been super busy lately, so Spring Break couldn't have come at a better time. We spent an entire week in Orlando with sunny skies and highs in the upper 80s. Thank the Lord! We had an awesome time park hopping from Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure to Sea World back to the City Walk. Of course we had to catch a Braves game while we were there at the Wide World of Sports. We went to church our first Sunday there and I saw the Orlando temple for the first time - absolutely breathtaking. On our way back home, we stopped by Daytona Beach and walked a few miles. Lovely.

Summary: Orlando temple, hot weather, lots of sun, good eating, great shows, roller coasters, incredible sea animals, NO SCHOOL...need we say more?

Puppy Love

2009-02-19T08:33:00.001-08:00

Annabelle & Me

There's no kind of love like the love of man's (and woman's) best friend!

One Dozen Memories

2009-02-17T07:53:00.001-08:00

This Valentine's Day, despite our promise that "We're not doing anything fancy this Valentine's Day," my fabulous husband surprised me with a dozen red roses and a beautiful pearl necklace. "So sweet," you say, and it certainly was, but I began to question the card I had for him!

We did end up eating at Fogo de Chao (incredible Brasilian barbeque in Buckhead),

and then we just took it easy over the weekend as I was trying to recover from a miserable cold (I'm still recovering...urgh).

Because I didn't "dazzle" my husband with the finer things, and I know I wasn't the best person to be around with congestion, whining, and soreness, I wanted to give my love a dozen of "greatest memories" I've shared with him during our almost 2 years of marriage.

Here it goes...

1. Falling in love with you over a month of text messages and phone conversations, waiting for you to come back from California.

2. Your sunburnt back picture...enough said.

3. Greenville, SC fall festival...walking close to keep warm, downing a venti hot chocolate, and pampering our hands at the Burts Bees tent.

4. Our first ski trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains when you "taught" me how to ski. I'm still so sorry for cursing you all the way down the hill. Look where it brought us?! And the hot tub wasn't such a bad recovery time either.

5. You on your knee proposing to me at the Braves game, and the hostess being involved! You totally surprised me. Perhaps it was the many "fake" proposals you made while we dated?

6. Our honeymoon in St. Maarten as we swam with those beautiful dolphins (esp. Ayla), and getting frustrated with dread girl.

7. Seeing your teary eyes for the first time as I walked down the aisle on our wedding day. My, how gorgeous you were...and are.

8. You de-feminizing my dog after one weekend of her living at your SC house.

9. Zip-lining and repelling through the Sierra Madre mountains in Pto. Vallarta, Mexico.

10. EL JUEGO LOCO

11. Bellbottoms...our first dance, holding hands, and hating to say goodbye.

12. My baptism in the Greenwood Ward...remember the dress?! Yikes!!

¡Feliz Día de San Valentín!

¡Qué frío!

2009-02-04T05:34:00.001-08:00

Uhhh...did anyone else feel like they woke up in Alaska this morning?!

Brrrr....

It's Showtime!

2009-02-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

"Stomp Out Loud" is by far one of the most incredible shows I have ever seen in my life.

Shawn and I went on opening night last week at the Fox, and we recommend everyone see it next time it's in town.

The cast is the most talented group of people I have ever seen, and I was in awe by the creative choreography and rhythms.

I've always been a performing arts nut, so this definitely filled my "fix" this month.

Anyone else a fanatic for the arts?

I am still trying to decide whether or not we should see Cirque du Soleil's Kooza in Atlantic Station. It's pretty expensive, but I hear it's worth it.

Has anyone ever been? Is it really worth the money? What's all the fuss about?

Making History

2009-01-27T05:31:00.000-08:00

Take a look at our amazing experience in Washington D.C. for the Inauguration of Barack Obama. I know that my slideshows tend to be a bit lengthy, so I put some of the best pictures at the beginning. Please take some time and look at the fantastic sites and parade towards the end of the reel. We'll never forget that weekend/week! It's hard to describe how close we were to the people and venues, so hopefully the pictures will describe it for us.

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Quick Update

2009-01-20T16:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, so we just got back from the Inauguration and the Inaugural parade and it was unbelievable!! President Obama (yay!) and Michelle Obama walked right in front of our bleachers waving, smiling, etc. and I was able to get some amazing video. Can you believe that he walked with his wife for four blocks? I was probably more nervous than he was...or maybe not. There are no words to describe it...or the cold that we've been experiencing since 5AM this morning....and the entire weekend. I will share pics, videos, stories later this week. I just had to give everyone a quick update on the last few days we've had in our nation's capital. I hope everyone was able to watch history at least on television.

WELCOME TO THE WHITE HOUSE OBAMA!

Inauguration '09

2009-01-16T06:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.belgiantrade.org/aboutus222222222

The anticipation is killing me! I thought tomorrow would never come (and it still hasn't yet) but it's close enough. Shawn and I leave tomorrow to see Barack Obama sworn in as our new President on Inauguration Day. There are so many emotions - mainly excitement as we expect that the environment will be ELECTRIC - but also nervousness as there will be MILLIONS of people in attendance. It's going to be chaotic, yet calming. I have such mixed emotions, but they will will all come together on Tuesday afternoon.

We are attending the events at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday:

MyFoxDC reports WASHINGTON

-- When President-elect Barack Obama is welcomed to the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, he'll have plenty of famous faces on stage joining him. The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced the initial lineup of performers for Sunday's 'We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial'.

The event is free and open to the public, and will be shown exclusively on HBO from 7- 9 p.m. EST. It officially kicks off Inauguration Week in D.C. Among those scheduled to appear are: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder.Also, Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington are scheduled to read historical passages.

As if seeing Barack Obama isn't great enough, we get to see and listen to lots of celebrities (a cup of Denzel anyone?). I was never the person that randomly "ran into" various celebrities like most people have that live in Atlanta, so this is a big deal for me I guess. We'll take a break on Monday to defrost our fingers and toes, and then we're off to the Inaugural Parade on Tuesday to watch the procession & the swearing in on the big screens!

My only concern is the weather. This morning in D.C. it was a whopping 11 degrees. Hmmm...what is a girl to do?! Hopefully it won't be too bad (again, this is my way of thinking positive...I didn't say anything about realistic), but all I know is that I will be dressing in layers and drinking loads of hot chocolate.

I can't wait to share videos, pictures, and tales of our first Inauguration experience. It's a great day in history....yippee!

It'll make you "Shutter"

2009-01-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

I have taken on yet another project. As if keeping up with our blog was not enough, I wanted to have a website that didn't require people to read, as much as just sit back and browse. Shawn and I have had and taken advantage of many travel opportunities since we've met. Sometimes telling people about our experiences just isn't enough...our words are never able to describe the beauty of some of the places we've seen. I have (too often) wanted to share our pictures with people, but unfortunately I can't carry hundreds of pictures in my back pocket.

So, I created a new "Stratton" website using Shutterfly that works almost like a photo journal. We are able to post pictures into different albums to recount the adventures that we had in different places. All you have to do is click on an album and look. There are other cool tools to add to the site (calendars, other websites, contacts, members, etc. similar to a blog) and it allows viewers to add comments and even edit the page (if you wanted that option). I just started working on the site last week, so there's quite a bit of editing left to do, but I wanted to share what we have thusfar.

Check it out and tell us what you think. It's super easy to become a member, so try it out if you want...if you have the time. But I will say that I definitely don't have the time, and it didn't take long. It's pretty fun once you get it started.

http://shawnandalishastratton.shutterfly.com/

A Holiday Reflection

2009-01-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

¡Feliz Navidad

Feliz Año Nuevo

a nuestra familia y nuestros amigos!

We hope everyone had a blessed, safe and peaceful Christmas, and that you happily ended the year of 2008 with no regrets!

We were fortunate enough to have two weeks off from work (hence the gap in our blog posts), and we took many pictures to remember our experiences with family and friends.

We hope you enjoy them...

Our first real Christmas tree in lights.

Our family.

Annabelle's Christmas.

Volunteer work at the soup kitchen Christmas Eve.

Why can't I get him to do this at home?

Christmas day with the Stratton family.

Shawn's Brave gear; Annabelle's new coat

Mom Stratton and me posing with our gifts.

Dad Stratton and Heather with gifts (we're in there too...can you find us?)

A Christmas visit with Gramps.

New Year's Eve...pre-date.

New Year's Eve with my hubby...dinner and a movie (Bedtime Stories).

It's what we do best...EAT!

New Year's dinner: Cornish game hen, stuffing, greens, black eyed's, dinner rolls, and "Champagne."

(my first home-made holiday dinner!)

Welcome 2009!

A "Post" to my Dad...Cheers!

2008-12-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

To my Dad,

and the best musician and band director I know,

Here are the videos I promised you from today's holiday concert. I wish I could've seen yours last night, but I was there in spirit. I love you, pad!

-Ster

Woodward Academy Middle School Orchestestra: Irish medley

Woodward Academy Middle School Advanced Band: Christmas songs

**I love this one...so cool**

The Nutcracker

2008-12-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

Shawn and I began a (hopefully) new tradition for the winter months...

the Nutcracker ballet at the Fox Theater.

We have appeased to our "adventurous" side by going skiing every winter, but I felt as though we were neglecting our more "artistic" side. It was definitely fulfilled last night as we watched the beautiful ballet from the 3rd row on the orchestra level.

No matter how many times you see it, it is fantastic, so don't hesitate to go if you're thinking about it. It was a great way for us to get into the holiday spirit, since this warm summer weather has definitely made that difficult!

Enjoy the Holidays and embrace new family traditions!

Arriving at the Fox Theater...

Christmas-y photos inside...

The set of the Nutcracker...

Snow fall...

Cameras were prohibited inside the theater and I wanted to capture more snow (illegally), so this is my rushed, candid, "I don't want to get caught" shot.

Snow? Not so much, but I thought the shot looked cool.

Bon Qui Qui

2008-12-11T05:04:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've all heard about Bon Qui Qui by now, but in case you haven't, I just had to share my favorite video of the month.

I'm a MadTV fanatic, and this is by far one of the most hilarious characters.

Take a look and tell me what you think!

A late Thanksgiving greeting...

2008-12-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends and family!

My entire family got together for the first time since our wedding (a year and a half) and spent the week at a resort in Williamsburg, VA. It was so great sharing laughs and "friendly competitions" with my siblings, and Shawn and I had a blast making memories with our five nieces and nephews. And let's not forget "Black Friday," which goes down in the history books for the most strategic and successful shopping experience ever...way to go mom, or should I say "Captain?"

Dad, Mom, Aaron, Diana, Ahmond, Tre, Alyssa, Amaya, Aris, Andreas & Shawn,

We love you!

Thanks for everything, and we look forward to our next get together!

Dad drinking café, and mom browsing the circulars with my niece Amaya.

Shawn lounging with Aris & Andreas; Snuggle time

Aris working on his next masterpiece; Aris showing off his newest find - a worm

My brother Aaron coloring "Leroy"; Demonstrating how to use the zipline...yipes!

Amaya taking the big leap; Tre trying to reach the next level on his DS.

Andreas coloring another dinosaur; Ahmond & Aris striking a pose

Cutie Alyssa smiling for the cam

Belated birthday news

2008-11-21T07:16:00.001-08:00

Shawn and I have been so preoccupied with the unfortunate happenings of last Sunday that I completely neglected to thank him for an incredible birthday weekend.

I turned the big "26" last Thursday [November 13], and Shawn had an amazing weekend planned for me. My birthday dinner was the traditional Cheesecake Factory in Buckhead on Wednesday night with several friends: thank you for the great company Dan & Yulia, Rachel & Anthony, and Heather! If you haven't eaten there, you MUST try it. The portion sizes are amazing, the menu is endless (you know it's bad when the menu has pages just for advertising), the service is spectacular, and the desserts...perfection!

I was at home sick all day on my actual birthday (doesn't that suck?!), but I was definitely lifted up by the numerous phone calls from family and friends.

On Friday evening, Shawn surprised me with a weekend in Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA: Fantasy in Lights [you ride a trolley through the gardens at night and see a beautiful display of Christmas lights], a cute room in the Moutain Creek Lodge, a delightful massage, and a Saturday full of bike riding through the gardens.

I wanted to share some pictures of the weekend, so enjoy the slideshow.

Thanks to all who wished me a Happy Birthday! I was in great need of a smile after this past Sunday, so thank you for allowing me to remember and share the happier things in life.

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Warning...

2008-11-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

I am sure that you are all aware of the harsh times that our economy is facing, and with these times come violence, invasions, theft, and mild "insanity" as people are trying to regain what they have lost or may potentially lose.

On Sunday evening around 7:30pm, our Jeep Cherokee was stolen from our driveway. This may sound "typical" for the area, and many of you may have had this happen to you, but you must understand that Shawn and I were at home - lights were on, we were visibly moving through the house, etc., and they took this from our own property knowing that there was the potential of being caught in the act.

The two people broke the back window, broke the cover off of the ignition, and somehow used this wrench to crank up the Jeep (no hot wiring anymore I guess)...and we didn't hear ANYTHING! We suffered through a long night of police reports, phone calls, sleep deprivity, & stress as you could imagine. The next day, I went to work & Shawn stayed home waiting for a locksmith - there was a spare housekey in the Jeep and we wanted to take all precautions. He began to ride his bike to the nearest ATM & found the car literally a couple of blocks away in a senior citizen residency (where we later discovered another car had been broken into 3 cars down from where they left ours, & another car was stolen after their first attempt failed). I guess they got tired of "joy-riding" in our Jeep? It was then that we confirmed that our house key was taken. Ask me how much I've slept since Sunday night?!

Long story short, our Jeep has been recovered, but it is not in driving condition, nor do we feel comfortable driving or sitting in a vehicle that has been raided (they went through every inch of the car), abused, & disrespected.

I wanted to share this story with you because these things are happening way too often in our beautiful city because of rough times and desperation. I also believe that many of these crooks are not being actively pursued by law enforcement, and they are feeling invincible. Many of you may say, "These things will never happen to me," but they most certainly do...and often times right in front of your face.

I have been a victim of burglary twice in the last two years - once a year ago when my condo was gutted of both replaceable and irreplaceable items, and now Sunday when our vehicle was taken. I can tell you that it's something that you never get over - having your privacy and personal space invaded & never feeling like those people have been punished for it.

I want you all to be safe...no matter where you are. As much as you may want to, you cannot assume that people "mean no harm." Pray daily, and have faith that you will be kept safe from violence & invasion. Please learn from us: our car was locked & secure, but we could have kept it in the garage with the other vehicle; do not leave valuables (incl. paperwork) inside your vehicle even for a few minutes; never leave your car running to warm it up; invest in a good alarm system. We were very blessed to have our car found and to have avoided any confrontation with the thieves, but others have not been as blessed as we have been. Please take care!!

The good, the bad, and the 80's

2008-11-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

Oh the lovely 80's. I've got admit that I don't remember as much of it as some, but I guess I claim to be an 80's girl since I was born then & took part in all of the 80's "hot & not so hot" lists. And I grew up during the 80's in Korea (which means you have to multiply the severity of the 80's by three), so let's just say my style was a hot mess. (Okay, okay...so maybe not so "hot", it was just a mess). I've got to say though, that I wouldn't change my life in the 80's for anything. I mean the style is coming back, right?! Pants are made tight enough that you don't even have to do the tight roll! Oh yea! Anyways, one of my best friends sent me a great e-mail that took me down that long, windy road of 80's memories. I hope you find it as humorous as I did. Enjoy!

You Know You (or your kids)Grew Up In the 80's IF:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.

2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton

3. You know that 'WOAH' comes from Joey on Blossom

4. If you ever watched 'Fraggle Rock'

5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.

6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.

8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

9. You played the game 'MASH'(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)

10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.

11. You know the profound meaning of ' WAX ON , WAX OFF'

12. You wanted to be a Goonie.

13. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (Some of us...head-to-toe)

14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off, his cheeks shifted and his nationality became questionable.

15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

16. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard.

17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.

18. You still get the urge to say 'NOT' after every sentence.

19. You thought your childhood friends would never leave
because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.

21. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.

22. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying 'I know you are, but what am I?'

23. You remember 'I've fallen and I can't get up'

24. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.

25. You have ever played with a Skip-It.

26. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.

27. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

28. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.

29. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.

30. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and don't even flinch when people refer to them as 'NKOTB'

31. You knew all the characters names and
their life stories on 'Saved By The Bell,' The ORIGINAL class.

32. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

33. You just sang those words to yourself.

34. You still sing 'We are the World'

35. You tight rolled or french cuffed your jeans. And still debate on which is the right term!

36. You owned a banana clip.

37. You remember 'Where's the Beef?'

38. You used to (and probably still do) say 'What you talkin' 'bout Willis?'

39. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

40. your hair looked like this for at least 1 school picture!

Blog Help?!

2008-11-11T07:46:00.001-08:00

If you are at all familiar with the way that our blog used to look, I am in need of some help!

For some reason, the sidebar to the right does not display the way that it should...you have to scroll all the way down to the bottom to see it (blog links, profile, etc.) I've tried everything (at least I think I have) to make it move, but I haven't had any luck.

Are there any "Blogger" experts out there that can talk me through this? I'm a bit OCD when it comes to things being balanced, so I can't stand to look at my own blog!! Crazy...I know. Please advise! Thanks a lot in advance!

La comida....mmmm

2008-11-07T08:17:00.000-08:00

The change in temperature has inspired me to cook and bake some dishes that just warm me up inside. I wanted to share these recipes with anyone who has the time to try them out. Enjoy!

1. Lentejas (Lentil Soup):

This is a dish that I ate all the time during my stay in Spain several years ago. My señora would make this for us on cold days and I would be the last one at the table scraping the bottom of the pot...literally. It's super delicious!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups dry lentils
2 tablespoons olive oil1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups water1 carrot (optional), cut into bite size chunks
1 medium potato, cut into chunks slightly bigger than bite size
2-3 small chorizo sausages (Mexican or Spanish) or linguica sausage (Portuguese)
**I am not a chorizo fan, so I just used about a lb. of regular smoked sausage**

DIRECTIONS:

1. Soak the lentils in cold water for an hour prior to cooking.
2. Heat olive oil on low heat, add onion and garlic. Sautée until onion begins to look translucent and garlic browns a little.
3. Add water and lentils, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Add potato & carrot (opt).
4. Add sausage, in one inch slices. **I did this a bit later to keep the flavor**
5. Cook until lentils get soft and expand and sausage filling strains against natural casing, about 40-45 minutes.
6. Serve warm with crusty bread.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bocadorada/

2. Banana bread: I know this is a classic and most of you probably have a recipe of your own for this, but I tried a new one yesterday. The bread is perfect to look at, delicious to eat, and left a beautiful aroma in my entire house (if you like the smell of bananas, of course)! I love eating this for a quick breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 c. (1stick) soft butter
1/2 c. shortening
4 eggs
3 1/2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 1/4 c. mashed bananas (about 6 bananas)
1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
2 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

1. Generously butter 2 loaf pans.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. In large bowl, beat butter, shortening, sugar & vanilla until fluffly.
4. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each.
5. Sift flour, salt and soda together.
6. Stir lemon juice into milk (it will curdles).
7. Add sifted ingredients alternately with milk to batter mixture. Blend well.
8. Stir in bananas and nuts.
9. Pour into loaf pans. (It will rise a lot, so be sure you don't fill pans to top)
10. Bake loaves for 1 hour & 10 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

**This does freeze well, so make as much as you want**

A Day in History

2008-11-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Today is Election Day...

a day to cast your vote...

a day to take a stand...

a way to voice what's important to You!

Please take the time today (if you haven't battled the lines already) to vote, no matter who you are voting for. Just remember that you can't complain about who is in office if you don't take the time VOTE!

Shawn & I hope that today is going to be a beautiful moment in history...

our first Black President.

Go Barack!

¡Feliz cumpleaños a mi esposo increíble!

2008-10-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Shawn celebrated his 28th (¡qué viejo!) birthday on Friday October 17th.

Doesn't that look like the face of someone who just turned 28?! Yipes!

We had great food, great fun, and great laughs with family & friends on Friday night, and then Shawn and I went out on Saturday for some "just us" time. On Friday we ate dinner at our fav Mexican restaurant in the area & ate bday cake. Our plans to go to the Homecoming football game were put on hold due to weather, so we all went back and played Taboo. I just want to make a plug to the Burnette's - they are amazing ;^)

Shawn took complete advantage of a special occasion, like most men do, and soaked up the birthday attention for all it was worth calling the entire weekend his birthday! How convenient! Just when I thought I was done treating, the occasion had only just begun.

Remember that when I turn 26 this year Shawn!

So, like a good wife, on Saturday I took him shopping in Norcross and to Malibu Grand Prix Fun Park. We went to the batting cages and hit a few, then it was off to an endless number of stores.

I mean hey, a girl's gotta enjoy herself, too, right?!?!

We had a fantastic time celebrating another year of a blessed life!

Enjoy the pics...

Our friends Rachel & Anthony joined us at "La Fiesta" for some good Mexican cookin'!

Shawn & his big sis' Heather posing for the cam. Heather preparing take-out for her dog at home.

Us. The pics look the same, but they're different, I promise.

Shawn opening his new Fossil watch from me & a musical card from his other sister Laura. He was jammin' to Tito Puente.

The amazing staff surprised Shawn with a cake (that I bought...no time to bake) after the yummy dinner. Picture 1 - Hmmm...what do I do now? Picture 2 - Oh yes...blow the candles out.

A Stone Mountain Fall

2008-10-14T07:57:00.001-07:00

Shawn and I went to Stone Mountain on our day off last Friday. It was a beautiful fall day full of new experiences and adventures, and a great way to spend a day without work.

Here are some pictures to highlight the day.

Posing in front of the beautiful stone. There is actually a picture carved into the mountain, but you probably can't see it in detail...gorgeous!

The SkyHike was a great adventure. There are three levels of crazy obstacles that you have to complete as you're suspended from a bungee. We also competed in a huge, completely vertical rock climbing wall.

It was great!

Posing in a pumpkin patch. I love Fall!

I loved these pictures with the leaves hanging low from the tree.

We could see a great view of the mountain from there.

Yes, you guessed it. I was chosen to compete in a pie eating contest! Did I win?! Of course not. Do you see the big man sitting next to me?! Yipes!

We decided to hike to the top of Stone Mountain. Here are some pics of the view. We made it to the top just in time to see the beautiful sun setting on the Atlanta skyline. It was a gorgeous site!

Victory! We finally made it to the top just in time for the sun to set on our fantastic day.

Stone Mountain Park ended up being a great day-long getaway with a romantic end.

We definitely suggest visiting the park in the Fall to capture the leaves changing and the cool breezes.

Cebollas

2008-10-07T11:52:00.001-07:00

Spanish food lesson number one: "las cebollas" means onions.

Photo dowloaded from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pieceoflace/

Onions have been on my mind since yesterday evening mainly because I can still smell them underneath my fingernails. YUCK! Can anybody relate?!

While I love the taste of onions, I absolute dread having to prepare them to cook. I was in the mood for a simple, yummy dish that I absolutely love for dinner last night (it's basically a concoction of sausage, potatoes, spices, and yes, you guessed it, ONION), but the experience turned into tears, sniffles, odor and more tears! Even when I avoid eye contact with them, they make me cry like a baby! And even worse, I feel like I carry the smell of onions with me for the next couple of days like they're embedded in my skin or clothing or something. I've tried everything BUT wearing rubber gloves - running water over them while I peel and chop them, looking behind my back (which leaves my fingertips pretty vulnerable), washing my hands repeatedly after I'm finished...nothing works. I think garlic ranks right up there with onions.

Do any of you "Martha's" out there have any suggestions for making onions my "amigas"?

"Amigos(as)" means friends.

It's been bothering me all day (and it bothered Shawn all night...poor thing!).

The Great Outdoors

2008-10-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Okay...brace yourself...are you ready for this?!

Alisha Louise Stratton went camping!

**gasp** Catch your breath...I still am.

Shawn and I went on the 2nd Annual Stratton family Camping Trip last weekend in Helen, GA (I wanted to capitalize it to make it more official). While I was up and ready for the challenge, many people just couldn't believe that I of all people would go camping in the great outdoors. As one person put it, "You look like you belong on the East Side of Manhattan." Thanks, I guess? Well peeps, I proved you all wrong! We had a great time in Unicoi State Park for a couple of days. We slept in a tent (with an air mattress no doubt), we biked through the mountains (they were more like hills, but my thighs and butt are calling them mountains), we walked through the "German" streets of Helen (more like Confederate flag country...scary!), we cooked and ate outdoors (except for the meal we bought and brought...fried chicken & sides...mmmmm) and we most importantly spent quality time with the Stratton family (dominos, cards, Putt-Putt, etc.). Oh...and I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Old Time Photo shops, but we got one of those pictures taken, too! It was so much fun getting dressed up and posing on an old-fashioned bar, and we figured it would be a nice addition to the family photos we have at the house (Shawn as a "wanted killer" and me as a "town..."), well you know what. It started off pretty inexpensive, until they suckered me in with the "old-fashioned" matte and the "old-fashioned" picture frame...which I fell for...but it looks great!!

The most exciting events of the weekend for me were my hunting and shooting workshops. Yes, I shot some guns and hunted (dummy animals, of course) with a bow and arrow. I know my family is reading in disbelieve, so these events can only be proven by pictures. Take a look!

**Disclaimer: I do not hunt, nor do I believe in violence or the torture of animals**

Alisha skeet shooting: 2 for 5, which is not bad for my first time ever.

Shawn taking aim at the skeets, with much better results.

Alisha target shooting. Not only did I slaughter Shawn's score, but I also beat some of the teachers!

As one woman put it, never make her angry. Yay me!

Shawn's bow & arrow results. Let's just say that the wolf is dead.

And yes, Shawn slaughtered my score in the bow & arrow competition.

Can we say...competitive?!

We had a great time last weekend, and we look forward to the 3rd Annual Camping trip.

We love you, Stratton family! Thanks for everything!

Dad Stratton, me & Shawn at Ruby Falls

Me, Jack (nephew) and Shawn taking a breather on the hike back from Ruby Falls.

Me and Shawn make it to the falls and stop for a quick pose.

Surrounded by leaves (and warning signs for rattlers).

**pssst...Hill family, when is our camping trip?!** YIPES! LOL!

First Day of Fall!

2008-09-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Autumn! Happy Fall! Call it what you want!

We love this time of year!

Not too hot
Not too cold
Beautiful colors: oranges, yellows, browns and greens
Fresh, leafy scents
Leaf piles and the smiles they bring
Thanksgiving = Good food + Family/Friends
Football season
Halloween: corn mazes, haunted houses, laughing kids
Birthdays: Shawn - Oct. Alisha - Nov.
Goodbye A/C
Hello fresh air and opened windows
Crisp Breezes

Ahhhhhhhh!

It's a great time of year, and we couldn't be happier.

Enjoy the season!

Toothpicks please?!

2008-09-15T07:50:00.001-07:00

So I'm not sure if you're familiar with that great episode of the Flintstones when Fred was super tired, and he was so determined to stay awake that he turned to toothpicks to keep his eyelids open...which almost immediately led to the toothpicks snapping in half because his lids were too heavy! That episode always had me laughing when I was a kid, but now in "serious" adulthood it is a sad reminder of the "hot mess" Droopy bags under my eyes from sleep deprivation!

Look familiar?!?!

So enough of the background cartoons. I simply wanted to blog about my newest, yet sad, revelation...

the week "extension."

I don't know why people call the weekend a week "end." At least in my crazy life, it feels like the weekend is simply the week's way of giving me two additional days to do finish the work I didn't finish during the week. Hence the new expression: week extension. I feel like I can never get enough rest! The things that I don't have time to do during the week are put off until the weekend, and these "put-off things" are the important things in life like laundry, basic cleaning, grocery shopping...urgh! And while Sunday is the "day of rest," I am still "working" to get to wake up, shower, get to church on time, feed the dog, practice the hymns, (sometimes) teach, cook, etc. I am truly spent by time Saturday gets here!! Even date nights seem to end early because we are BOTH so exhausted.

So what to do? Am I the only one struggling to make it through the day...and weekend?

For those "super energetic" ones out there, what's your remedy?

Takin' It Back to the 90's

2008-09-08T05:17:00.001-07:00

Does anyone remember this MTV series?

I was OBSESSED with this show back when I had huge bangs, called anybody "cool" my role-model, and had ZERO fashion sense (tight roll anyone?).

This series gave me something to look forward to as a young, impressionable middle schooler (what was I thinking?). It was the time in my life when I wanted to dye my hair red (until my mom's enraged face popped into mind). Needless to say, I loved and still do love the show, and I just found the complete series on DVD!!

Although Shawn doesn't share my passion, he will be sitting next to me on the couch as we watch and take a stroll down memory lane with a big smile on his face...or else! No, I'm totally kidding.

Please share your memories about the show...or maybe I'll find out that I was its only fan!

Not at all Laborous

2008-09-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm not sure if laborous is a word, but it sounded pretty good, so let's go with it!

Shawn and I wanted to share some fun moments that happened over Labor Day Weekend with my...our...mommy. It's still hard to say that things are "ours" and not "mine" or "his", but we're working on it.

Mom arrived last Thursday and stayed with us in Atlanta through Monday. So before I begin, let's just say my parents spoiled me as a kid...just a little?...but I account that to being the youngest...and the only girl...but all that aside! I asked my mom to work her magic on our garden (or lack there of) and she was super excited to help. My mom and dad have such amazing talents when it comes to landscaping and growing things - one thing that they DEFINITELY did not pass on to me. I struggle to keep plants alive, so my mom was glad to pass on a few tips. So, while Shawn and I were at school working, mom took the car out and went to Lowe's to buy a "few small things" for the garden. Little did we know that mom had basically purchased a small nursery of plants...and garden decs!! And if that wasn't enough, when I got home from work, she insisted on going BACK to Lowe's to buy more "filler" plants, except that I insisted on paying for those...whew! No complaints here, but I knew that I wasn't going to get out of gardening like I did when I was younger. I will seriously play any card to get out of getting my nails dirty. Hence...dead plants and gardens. But, Mom and I worked for hours on Friday to "perfect" the pathetic area we called a garden. It is absolutely beautiful now! We never imagined we could pull off a garden in Hotlanta, but it was...and is...possible.

****pics of the new and improved garden to come (any day now Mom!...j/k)****

The night before, we went to the Braves game. This was my mom's first time, and she was super lucky to come with us the day that we had extraordinary tickets. We were probably about 8 rows behind the 3rd base dugout. I mean, you know you're close when you can see the players' sweat! Okay, so maybe we couldn't see their sweat, but we were definitely close. The exciting thing was the mom and I both caught baseballs during batting practice (Shawn came up with a big fat goose egg...ZERO!), and she also had a great time doing the tomahawk chop.

We spent Saturday in Atlantic Station...another first for my mom...and for the shoppers we are, it was divine! We found a few deals at H&M (check it out if you haven't gone yet), and then we were stopped by someone promoting a show. In all seriousness, it was one of the most touching experiences of OUR lives! It's call "Dialogue in the Darkness," and it's basically an indoor "journey" through the city of Atlanta (obviously it was a simulation) in complete darkness for about an hour to understand what it's like to be visually impaired or completely blind. WOW! It's the only word I can use to describe it. They give you a cane (that used by those who are visually impaired), the tour guides are also visually impaired (which makes it even more beautiful), and you walk through different rooms in TOTAL darkness which are set up as city sites. PLEASE do this with your family and friends. You will NEVER see the world the same again. Following our memorable Atlantic Station experience, we went home and spent the evening with Yulia Manor and Christian. We absolutely LOVE that family.

Mom spent the first meeting at Church with us on Sunday, and then we watched a great movie called "Where the Heart Is"...exceptional movie! Our last day on Monday, we ate breakfast at this VERY country diner (which are the best places for breakfast), did some IKEA shopping (another great store), and headed to the airport for the sad goodbye.

Mom, we had such an awesome time, and we are so very appreciative for all that you did for us last weekend. We'll never forget our experiences with you. Also, we apologize again for the "blown tire" mishap...long story...so we'll just leave it at that.

¡TE AMO MAMÁ!

Fresh Start

2008-09-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE 3-day weekends...and they always come at the best times...when you need them most. I can only speak for myself, but I feel like I'm off to a fresher start on this Tuesday "feels like Monday" morning.

Just a couple of "happy, fresh, rejuved" pictures of Shawn and I...just as motivation for us to make it to our next school holiday/vacation. Remember those smiles!!

We hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!

We spent a lovely weekend with my mom, so fun tales to follow!!

Mysteries

2008-08-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to plug how wonderful my husband is. It's been a hard couple of weeks for us after a long summer: preparing for students, teaching, coaching, team games, lack of rest, etc. While you think that us teachers have it easier that most with summer vacations and other holidays, teaching is a lot of work and extremely tiring, and I think I forget how hard it is every new school year.

Shawn has noticed how tired and (more or less) "cranky" I've been, so he planned a great date for us last Friday (Fridays are our official date night). We promised each other to go out on a date once a week once we were married because it's so easy to get caught up in everything else going on, and we really want to try and keep our relationship fun, spontaneous, and well...just keep it!!

Shawn took me to Agatha's Dinner Theater downtown. I love theater in general, but this was incredibly fun and different. The package comes with a mystery show and a 5 course meal: appetizers, soup, salad, meal (options: chicken1, chicken2, filet mignon, salmon, veggie pasta), and dessert. Shawn ordered the beef, and I ordered the salmon, and we both clean our plates throughout the other courses. Did we mention how much we love to eat?!?! The food was delicious. As you enter, they give you an actual role in the production - Shawn was a Native American chief, and I was a singer...lucky me! In each play, there is a murder (hence the name mystery theater) and you're trying to figure out who in the audience is the killer. Between each act, they serve the food and give you about 10-15 minutes to eat and chat. The plays they perform make fun of actual plays, so the one we saw was called Annie Get Your Uzi! mocking Annie Get Your Gun! It was such a fun time, and the audience members were so hilarious. We are always trying to find new things to do in Atlanta, so here's a fun new thing! I believe they change the play every few months, so it's something we look forward to doing every now and then. Here are some pics from the night. Check out the website and reserve away!

Lost and Found

2008-08-25T07:14:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,

Shawn and I are in the middle of a desperate search for a home for a lost puppy/young dog. Lulu was rescued by a friend of ours a couple of weeks ago, but escaped again a few days later. She then returned to their house last week, so this dog is desperate to find a safe haven. Shawn and I offered to be foster parents to Lulu until we were able to find a home for her. Now a bit about her...

Lulu is a very young and innocent dog (she still has a few sharp puppy teeth, but most are adult teeth). While we can't figure out what breed she is, beside a good ol' classic mutt, we are guessing a mixture of lab, shephard, and possibly beagle? She is by far the most friendly, laid-back dog I have ever seen! We have only heard her bark a few times because she was playing with our dog Annabelle (which if you know Annabelle, you would bark too), and she whimpers a bit when she wants attention. Lulu is definitely a cuddler. She will either cuddle up right next to your legs, or she'll plop down in your lap, but either way she just loves to be loved by people. She basically made herself at home since the minute we brought her in the house, to include sleeping in bed with us. She seems to be house broken, but she definitely HATES the crate (trust us!). We're thinking she had bad experiences in her old home? Who knows, but we baby gate her in the house, so that seems to work. She is very clean (no scars, fleas, scabs, etc.) but we're not sure about her shot history.

Trust me when I say that Lulu would make an awesome addition to any home - big, small, with kids, without kids. I want to find her a trust-worthy home before we have to call animal control. I can't stand thinking about her in a cage waiting for adoption. While we would love to keep Lulu ourselves, we unfortunately have a very dominant dog who wants things her way or the highway. Shawn has actually debated taking Lulu over Annabelle, but I had to snap him out of it lol. We are also away from home more than we are at home, and we want Lulu to have the most attention possible in her new home!

Please: If you're not interested in having "another" dog or responsibility, or even if you don't like dogs, help us look for a couple or family who does! Lulu did not ask to be in this situation, so please help us find her a safe place to call home.

Here you go Mom

2008-08-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

I promised my mom that I would show her my new haircut asap (following in my husband's footsteps), so here are some before & after pics.

I loved my long hair, but it was just....long! I felt like I (and it) needed a little "oomph."

Of course it's near impossible to re-create what the hair stylist did the night before, but I did my best.

**BTW Mom, I agree that it is definitely hard to take a "cute" pic of yourself. The angles were definitely off! And these I just settled for after 50 takes...or more! LOL***

Before pics

After...

with a bit more volume and shape!

A pleasant surprise

2008-08-18T07:19:00.000-07:00

We wanted to share some pics of our little baby tree out front that blossomed recently.

Just when we thought that our landscaping was in need of a "pick-me-up,"
God gave us something pleasant and beautiful to smile about and appreciate.

Back-to-School time

2008-08-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Shawn grew his lovely locks out this summer to the point of no control. Despite my efforts to have him get a professional "styled" haircut (instead of the freebies he has given himself the last 10 yrs), he wanted me to cut his hair for back-to-school time.

So, thanks to my sturdy hand,

this...

turned to this...

Do not let the face fool you. We both actually love his new do, but you know Shawn isn't Shawn without playin' it up for the camera.

I hope these kids are ready for him.

Michael Phelps

2008-08-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that this man is an amazing athlete? And not sore on the eyes either :^)

Never did I imagine myself saying that a swimmer could be the greatest athlete in the world, but I think he is proving to be just that.

There is a lot more gold in his future for these Olympic games...I hope.

Go USA!

Beijing Olympics

2008-08-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

I am not sure how many of you are addicted to the Olympics like Shawn and I are, but I just had to share a few thoughts.

My family and I were living in Seoul, South Korea when the '88 Olympics took place there, and we were fortunate enough to attend several events. A small "claim-to-fame" for my mom: she was actually one of the Olympic torch runners during the ceremonies...Go Mom! I was obviously very young when we were there (5 yrs old), but there are some beautiful memories (many from pictures I'm sure) that are still very fresh and glorious in my mind.

Over the years, I have learned to appreciate, embrace and often times advocate for other cultures and peoples through my studies in college and the many travel opportunities I've had in my life. I have to say that the Olympic games truly touch my heart in so many aspects. There is something so amazing and heart-warming about the entire world, even countries we've never even heard of, coming together for one cause. No one cares about the physical or cultural differences of their competitors. Everyone is there to proudly represent their country, some even knowing that they have no chance at a medal. It just makes me wonder why the world cannot come together with such ease outside of the Olympic games.

If you have been watching since 08-08-08, you have probably seen many instances of people coming together, smiling and laughing with one another, taking pics of their favorite athletes (which are also their competitors) from other countries, cheering for one cause...it's as if the political views, anger, violence, etc. have paused for just a moment. Unfortunately, there have been a few acts of violence and political protests, but in the grand scheme of things, it just seems like a better world for 2.5 weeks.

I hope you all have the opportunity to see the Olympics for all the beauty it has to offer, rather than how many more golds we have than others. Share your thoughts with me...whether you agree or disagree!

GO USA!!!

and all athletes from around the world!!!

Thank God for Lincoln Logs

2008-07-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

All I can say is...wow what a day! And it's not even over yet!

7:30am- Annabelle (our faithful Puggle) actually sleeps in this morning and licks my nose until I wake up. Where was Shawn you ask? Sleeping soundly next to me...or faking sleep.

Now that I couldn't sleep...

8:00am-9:10am - Annabelle goes back to bed with Shawn, and my eyes are glued to the Today Show. So much for resting before our energetic nephew arrives!

9:10am - Shawn strolls downstairs wondering why I'm not ready for the gym yet. Let me give you some background...

We recently got a membership to L.A. Fitness (Shawn for the all-you-can-pump weights, and me for the great exercise classes). Yesterday was my first day back since Mexico, so naturally I was a bit rusty. All I can say is after an hour of kickboxing yesterday and some intense squats, I felt pretty rejuved...until the evening set in and I felt my bum getting a bit tight. Needless to say, I really wasn't in the mood for the gym being that it hurt just to sit on the toilet!! (Sorry for the visual) Anyways, I took one for the team and attended my Body Works class this morning at 9:45am. WHY DID I DO THAT?!?! Now I have the pregnant walk, but without the pregnancy thanks to Shawn and my insane instructor.

11:00am - Get showered/eat/take Belle out, and leave to meet our sister Laura and her family at Emory Children's hospital to pick up our nephew Jack to watch for the day while his baby sister was having some X-rays done. (Whew! That was a run-on!)

Once Jack made it clear that he wanted to build things at our "not-so-child-friendly house," we had to make an emergency stop at Target. I love that place!

12:15pm - Leggo aisle at Target. All I can say is...WOW! Those things are getting more and more expensive by the minute! And why does every box of Leggo's come with an instruction booklet to make these detailed objects? Don't kids just make buildings anymore? These things just aren't for kids anymore. Oh well. After Jack insisted on the $40 box of Leggo's, I quickly showed him the box of Lincoln Logs...now there's a classic...and easy on the wallet lol. It went over like a charm, and we headed home.

Can you believe that Lincoln Logs entertained for the entire time?! The funniest thing is that he made Shawn do all the building, and he took all the credit. I love how children work hahaha.

3:30ish - Laura, Mike and Chloe come to pick up Jack, and everyone was happy! Chloe is healthy, Jack was smiling, Annabelle was entertained, my butt and legs were still on fire....yep...everything went well!

So while I would love to pop a few Motrins and head off to bed, it's not quite over for me. Levi and Desiree (the new, young, really cute couple at the Ward) are finally coming over for dinner tonight...after Kembe tried to set us up months ago! But...at least it's happening now...yay! Hopefully my legs can carry me to the kitchen to make dinner, while Shawn continues to sleep from the "hard day" he's had LOL. Enough complaining...it's off to make dinner!

Thank you to the Lincoln Logs company for making Jack's day so much fun...and our day a bit easier.

Always listen to your Mother

2008-06-30T07:51:00.001-07:00

Okay, so we've all heard our mom say, "Horseplay causes accidents!" While I have always been one to listen to my mother, Shawn has evidently never listened.

It all started with an innocent game of pillow fighting...

and it ended with...

1. Glasses flying off of my face

2. The lens flying in the opposite direction

3. A minor cut on my face

4. TEARS (he knew he was in trouble then)

My poor glasses

To add insult to injury, here is Shawn posing with the broken glasses!

Why must men take innocent fun too far...in everything?!

Pictures as Promised...a bit late

2008-06-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Our ferry ride over to Jamestown/Williamsburg, VA

Shawn posing for GQ magazine

Historic ships in Jamestown

Entrance to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Ireland)

Shawn drinkin' from the very expensive souvenir cup

Shawn and I making "wine" in San Marco, Italy (as people walked by and laughed)

Our carousel experience (Shawn and his circle issues)

The log flume...it was soooo hot that day!

Land of the Dragons...our hatched birth...

Howdy partner!

Save a horse, ride a cowboy...in Colonial Williamsburg...oh my!

Our train ride through the park

Virginia Beach, VA

Baseball game fun...and humidity (note the frizz)

The Norfolk Tides baseball game...and Shawn's winning catch!

A Hill family visit

2008-06-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

Before I begin with this lengthy post, I just wanted to say thank you to those who left very encouraging, heart-felt comments about my brother's service overseas. He is truly making the brightest situation out of a difficult one, and he sends weekly journals about his experiences in Afghanistan. He is surrounded by many prayers and angels, and I have no doubt that God will protect him during his time there. Thanks again for supporting ALL of our troops!

So it's obviously been a long time, too long in fact, since I've contributed to our blog, so my apologies to those who were anxiously awaiting our return...totally kidding of course. But, of course, I have a great excuse...

SUMMER VACATION!

I'm telling you that the biggest perk of being a teacher is the endless number of vacations you get, so it's been truly awesome for Shawn and I to have a lot of "down time" together since we both teach, especially those 2 months in the summer. Don't let the perks fool you though...teaching is by far one of the hardest jobs in the world (and I'm not saying that because I am one, it's just true!). Anyways, back on topic...

Shawn and I finally had the chance to visit my parents in Smithfield, VA the last week and a half and it was fantastic! I just wanted to share some of the "highlights" and comedic happenings during the trip, so I hope you're not too bored.

(Pictures to follow)

To begin, we made it to and from Virginia with zero...I repeat, zero speeding tickets! It may seem like nothing to many of you, but for us (well, I should really say Shawn), it's a tremendous accomplishment. While I myself have never gotten a speeding ticket, Shawn is quite the expert in the area :^) (I love you babe!). We had quite a full schedule during this seemingly short amount of time, so we knew we had to get crackalackin' once we got there. We arrived to our parents' house prepared for a huge welcome - big hugs, nice kisses, a huge banner...no I'm kidding - but we were definitely excited to see our mom and dad. However, they were nowhere to be found. I was pretty disappointed because they knew what time we were going to arrive, yet they felt that shopping was a bit more important that day lol. Of course, I felt bad when I found out they were shopping for new life jackets for us since they planned on taking us out on their new boat that evening (oops...why does that always happen?!)

My parents live in a very beautiful house overlooking the Pagan River, so my dad was beaming to take us out on the river and show us what he's learned as a new "boatmaster." We had such a great time - taking in the sun, breeze, and fresh smells, fishing, chatting, laughing - it was such a nice treat. The next time boating was a bit more exciting as Shawn and I were pulled behind the boat on a pretty large tube. Shawn, again, was pretty experienced with this sport. I, however, was not so much! We had a lot of fun (although we probably gave my father an elevated heart beat and blood pressure) and we can't wait to see my parents take the plunge next time we visit (subtle hint mom & dad!).

Hmmm...next adventure...oh yes! So because my mom was still working and my father left later in the week for a Habitat for Humanity trip in New Orleans, Shawn and I decided to buy a 7-day pass to two pretty spectacular amusement parks - Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA. Being that I was raised in the area, I was very familiar with the parks and I wanted so bad for Shawn to experience the thrill and fun that I had experienced so much as a little girl. My dad and I have always been "the riders" of the family - twists, turns, loops, backwards, sideways, forwards - nothing can turn our stomachs. Shawn, as I found out later, not so much lol. He'll hate me for saying this and airing his business, but I have never seen so much projectile...well you know...in my entire life! I know I should've been and should be much more concerned than I sound right now, but it was so funny to see this tough guy who was talking so much smack about how "little" these roller coasters appeared, throwing up his lungs in the parking lot at the end of the day. Poor guy. Needless to say, we spent most of our time at Water Country :^) I think we ended up going back to each park 3 times that week, and it was such a fun adventure for both of us. Our favorites, in case anyone decides to go in the future, are the Griffon at Busch Gardens and Nitro Racer at Water Country. The Griffon (see video below) seats 10 people per row and makes a 90 degree drop of 205 feet at 75 mph. It is insane, but surprisingly Shawn's favorite ride! Nitro Racer is a 6-lane water ride that allows you to race your opponent(s) on a mat lying on your stomach. Needless to say, Shawn won every time...grrr! We're way to competitive.

The last day in Virginia, Shawn and I decided to check out our second baseball game of the visit in Norfolk, VA. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the game was "flashback night," so all hot dogs, drinks, and popcorn were 25 cents! I'm serious for those who are still trying to figure this out...25 cents! Because we are a couple with two enormous appetites, we decided to take advantage of this steal of a deal...let's just say we dined sufficiently. The Norfolk Tides played a great game and the atmosphere was highly entertaining. For those of you who don't know, either Shawn or I catch a baseball at nearly every Braves game we have attended, so of course Shawn was on the look out for a foul ball. We have this ridiculous collection of baseballs (one ball with Franceour, McCann, and a few others' autographs) in a kitchen drawer. If anyone has any ideas of what to do with these, please let me know and I'll see if I can convince Shawn to let them go lol. Anyways, Shawn caught a ball during the 7th inning of the game, so that made it all worth it to him I guess. The Tides ended up losing that night, but it was so much fun to experience a baseball game that didn't involve Braves game prices!

We had such a fun time with Mom and Dad Hill, and we certainly look forward to another visit soon. There is obviously so much more that we did together as a family during our visit, but that would take too long to write about and I'm just too lazy. We're still trying to get them to come and visit us here in Atlanta this summer, but according to my husband we have to pop out a kid before they visit as often as we want it to. He's probably right! Dad, thanks so much for the endless amount of food, boating, and CNN/WHRO/political television (hooray Obama for making history!!). Mom, thanks for the great movie, Farmer's Market, shopping (as always). We loved your company, and we look forward to seeing you soon! Love you guys!

Check out the pictures in the next post!!

Memorial Day

2008-05-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

My father, Aaron Sr., and both brothers, Aaron Jr. and Ahmond, all proudly served in the US Army.

Aaron Jr. is still serving active duty.

For most of us, Memorial Day is a time for cook-outs, sales, beach trips, baseball games, or a day off from work (which obviously aren't bad things).

But, for many others, it's a day to remember and mourn those family members or close friends who died in an attempt to make our lives and the lives of others in the world better.

I am aware that everyone who reads this blog is going to have their own opinions and views (personal or political) regarding the wars in which we are currently fighting and the state of our own nation. Regardless of the differences we may have, I would like to share a few things:

I am so appreciative of what the military men and women, past and present, have done and are doing for the nations of this world. Despite what many people believe, not everyone who signs up for the military do so because they want to fight in a war, so it takes an enormous amount of strength, selflessness, and bravery to leave family, friends, children, etc. behind and risk their lives for a cause they may or may not believe in. Could we do that?

I am deeply saddened for those families who have not seen their precious husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers for years, all of whom wonder everyday when they will get to come home. Will they ever be the same when they return?

It breaks my heart to hear stories of such young, vibrant, giving, intelligent, and successful soldiers (PEOPLE, FAMILY, FRIENDS) whose lives have been cut short. Do you ever wonder how could we have benefited from these amazing people in years to come if they had survived?

Aaron and his two daughters, Alyssa and Amaya.

Trey is his oldest son (he didn't quite make the picture)

My brother, Major Aaron Thomas Hill, Jr., will be leaving for Afghanistan this Friday. He is an amazing U.S. Army officer who is proud and willing to serve his country to the best of his ability. My family and I cannot express in words how proud we are of him and all of his successes: West Point grad, West Point professor, funny father of 3 awesome children, loving husband, hilarious brother and son...the list goes on. While I don't want him to leave, I have accepted the fact that it is his time to go, and I will support HIM, his fellow SOLDIERS and their EFFORTS for as long as these wars last. While I am unable to support the total cause of our presence in particular places, I will always support our troops and their duties.

Please keep my brother (all soldiers) and my family (all effected families) in your thoughts and prayers. We would so greatly appreciate it!

Aaron, I love you so much and I will miss you for the time that you're gone. Please be careful, and know that you're in my prayers!

Aaron is singing in his famous "Blessed Union of Souls" voice as we dance at my wedding (hence my lovely face).

He never fails to make me laugh!

la vita è bella

2008-05-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I received word last week that his grandfather, a.k.a. Gramps, was not doing well, so we decided to make the trip to Rock Hill, South Carolina to lift his spirits!

Gramps is Shawn's only living grandparent, and I can't say that I know what that feels like. I am very blessed to have both of my Grandmothers and one of my Grandfathers alive and well. While I don't get to see them often (they all live in PA), it makes me happy and appreciative that they are still here with me and for me.

I have only been around Gramps a few times since knowing Shawn: I met him briefly when we were still dating, he graced us with his presence at our wedding, and we celebrated his 90th birthday last year! Every time I've been with Gramps, I've never had the opportunity to get to know who my new grandfather was because we were surrounded by so many other family members. Shawn has always spoken so highly and sincerely about his Grandfather and Grandmother (who passed away several years ago), so we were really looking forward to spending some "alone" time with him.

Gramps, Shawn & Alisha Stratton

I was so amazed by how alert, knowledgable, and sharp he was! Gramps was very tuned in to current events, he was an active listener, and he responded in a manner in which you knew he was listening. I don't know about you, but it feels good to know that someone has a genuine interest in what you have to say. Far too often do we get that blank stare & nod from people who "hear" you, but don't really "listen" to you. (And yes, there is a huge difference!) Gramps really enjoyed hearing about what Shawn and I were up to, and we also enjoyed hearing about his past successes: serving in 3 different military branches, meeting our Grandmother, travels, life mottos - "I don't like to live in the past. I only want to live in today's life. When today is over, tomorrow will come, and then I try to make it through tomorrow."

After talking and laughing and learning, we played a couple of card games: Skip Bo, one of Gramps' favorites, and Golf, a Stratton family favorite. Gramps won in Skip Bo, and Shawn won in Golf (by pure luck might I add!). After we played cards, we headed downstairs to eat brunch in the dining room.

Shawn & Gramps celebrating their victories.

Me & Gramps posing after my devastating loss.

While we had a great time eating together, there was still a very gloomy feeling in the room. It broke our hearts seeing some of the elderly who had no one to dine with, or who forced themselves to dine with someone because their "special someone" was no longer with them. I realized that life is so beautiful for Shawn and me because we have each other to share it with. But for those who have no one, does life have its beauty anymore?

It was so hard to say goodbye to Gramps because we wondered about how lonely his life must be now without Gram in it. Of course he has children and grandchildren who visit him as often as possible, but we're sure his heart and his life is still with Gram.

Shawn and I began this trip hoping to benefit Gramps and his health, but we left our visit feeling that Gramps had actually benefited us. This trip also made me realize how important our families are. They are one of the reasons that we live, and we take them for granted so much.

We love you Gramps, Nana Hill, Nana Fourhman, Pap & Dee!!

Gramps' window garden...a reminder that la vita è bella

Baseball, baseball, and more baseball!

2008-05-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Spring for some people means beautiful weather, colorful flowers, green grass (unless you're in a drought), picnics at the park, pollen-filled faces...

unless you're married to Shawn Stratton!

Spring takes on a whole new meaning for me and my husband - a meaning that I have grown to love (well, sort of)...

BASEBALL!

Shawn is an incredible baseball player. I know it's typical to "boast" a little about your family, but I'm telling you, he is amazing. Why he isn't playing Major League Baseball is beyond me. We are determined to get him back into shape so that he can tryout in the future because I really want him to go after his dreams (which is something we should all do). Anyways...

Shawn co-coached the Miller Grove Varsity baseball team this year, which was a very tedious, time-consuming season. He took on a team with a losing record from the previous season (they may have won 6 or less games out of many) and helped tranform them into a strong, victorious team. Shawn and the Wolverines ended their season with 17 wins and almost made it to the playoffs. Unfortunately, they are in a very competitive district and they were a couple of wins short of tasting their first playoff game. Shawn is an incredible coach, and the players and coaches learned a lot from his experience as he did from theirs. Hopefully they will continue on this "victory" path after Shawn leaves them. Several of his players received some pretty impressive awards at the Dekalb County Baseball banquet, and Shawn has certainly grown a lot through his experiences with these young men.

Just because Shawn's high school season is over doesn't mean that baseball is over for us. We...or I should say Shawn (I'm just in the room)...have "ESPN Sportscenter" or "Baseball Tonight" continuously playing on our tv. How many times can you watch the same highlights until they get old?! Not only do I get to share in the joy of viewing baseball everyday on la tele, but Shawn also plays baseball on an Atlanta Hispanic league, so I am basically his cheerleader "to-go." But wait...there's more! Shawn and I both joined a co-ed softball league this summer (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em I guess) and we are playing in our first game this Wednesday night! I will let you know how the game went, if I am still able to think and type afterwards. Wish me luck!

While I have to admit that I'm a little baseball-ed out, it's so much fun to learn about and get involved in my husband's interests. We both have a great time and grow as a couple in tremendous ways because of the time we spend together. Now if only I can get him into shopping :^)

Despite my complaints every now and then, I must admit that baseball certainly has its perks...

...the Atlanta Braves!

Let's hope for a better season this year.

Look for us on TV because we will definitely be at many this summer!

Happy Mommy's Day!

2008-05-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

A day late, I know, but Happy Mother's Day to all of our friends and family who are blessed enough to be Mothers (or soon-to-be Mothers).

My mom, who I absolutely adore and model myself after, is so thoughtful and sweet...as she made a very subtle hint(s) by sending me TWO Mother's Day cards. Did she receive some new information before me?! I was a bit surprised to know that I was expecting :^) Shawn and I are so excited to start a family, especially after seeing how much joy parenthood brings to our friends and family, but we know it will happen according to God's plan. My mom, however, has been chatting with God via e-mail I guess, trying to convince Him to make a little Stratton appear sooner than later. You laugh, but I'm telling you that she probably knows my cycle calendar better than I do - haha - and now I realize I am probably telling everyone much more than they want to know...or imagine. Sorry! Mommy, I love you so much!! Thanks for the very beautiful and thoughtful cards!!

Shawn and I traveled to Greenwood, SC this past weekend to visit Mom and Dad Stratton. My mother-in-law not only celebrated Mother's Day yesterday, but also her 59th birthday! We had a really nice time together...shopping, dining, card playing, and baseball watching.

We unfortunately returned home to some missing plants and broken St. Maarten windchimes (after hitting random Atlanta traffic) because of the horrible storms and wind, but we were truly blessed compared to many others across the coast.

I hope everyone had a memorable weekend celebrating Motherhood

Mom, we'll be in touch about babies - LOL!

New Addition...or should we say...Additions!

2008-04-28T10:56:00.001-07:00

We are so excited and proud to announce that we are proud new parents...

of three...or four...baby birds!!

That's right! The eggs officially hatched late last week, and the mother bird has been busier than ever. She is constantly flying back and forth finding food, cleaning the nest, worrying...is this what I should expect of motherhood?

Watching Animal Planet from our own patio door has been so amazing. I'm not sure if you know this, but I am very afraid of birds! Yes...I love the movie "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock (it's the first question everyone asks me, so I thought I'd clear that one up). But, I hate the way they perch, swoop, travel in large groups, attack me (and my dog)...need I go on? When I found out that we had a bird's nest on our patio, I was quite unhappy at first. But, as I watched the mother bird prepare her nest and care for those sweet, little eggs, I was so amazed by how God gave animals such knowledge. As my mom pointed out, animals are the only creatures who are natural mothers - - the rest of us (humans) have to be taught how to do so much on this earth.

As soon as I saw those three (or four) little fuzzy heads bobbing up and down in the nest, I fell in love immediately. Shawn has had no choice but to love them...poor thing. The first thing I ask him to do when he goes downstairs everyday is to check on the babies. My mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of them: Are they getting enough to eat? Where will the mother find food? What if they fall out of the nest? Will they/Did they survive their first rain? Will they like me?! I can't wait to watch them grow up and take their first flight. I will post a follow-up video of their adventures soon. I'm trying hard not to name them, because once you name them, you're attached for life!

It's so awesome how much we can learn from animals - - motherhood being one of those things. God has really created an incredible world! I guess this is a great prep for Shawn's and my own "bird's nest" one day.

A Stratton Family First

2008-04-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

So here's the deal...I have heard about the wonderful world of blogging for quite some time now, and No, it's never sparked my interest....until now I guess. I have always held and will always hold friends and family close to my heart, and I've learned that this is by far the best way to keep them updated about us and for us to know what's going on in their lives. Just so we're clear, I am sure that I (Alisha) will be the only one contributing to "our" site, but please know that Shawn love's you, too :^) and I will be speaking for both of us. This could actually be a good thing - I can make myself shine, and Shawn, well...not so much! I'm kidding.

So where to start? Let me just tell our story...

Shawn and I met through his sister Heather (shout out to Heather!). I was at Piedmont Park walking my little darling Annabelle, and Heather noticed how similar our dogs looked.

Getting to the point, she learned that I had a lot in common with her brother, and she was crazy persistent to get us to meet each other. Our first encounter was at her house, and well, let's just say Shawn did a lot of talking and I did a lot of listening. The crazy thing was that I was connecting with every word that came out of his mouth. So yes...I was quite impressed, but it just wasn't enough. We met a second time right before we were leaving for our summer vacations (Shawn to Cali, and me to NYC). All three of us went to this cute 70s club and danced our hearts out...some better than others haha. Before we went our separate ways, Shawn held my hand and the connection was definitely there...and strong. We kept in touch every single day for that summer via text messaging, phone calls, e-mails, etc. and literally fell in love in a month (Shawn also had a $1000 cell bill waiting for him at home).

Shawn and I began dating the day he got back home. It took an enormous amount of sacrifice, patience, prayer, and driving every weekend, but ultimately it led to our engagement.

Shawn, the romantic and sports fanatic that he is, proposed to me at 8pm on Friday April 13, 2007 in Braves stadium at the 755 Club overlooking the outfield. Being that he had "fake proposed" to me several times leading up to this event, I did not believe him at all...until I saw the hostess snapping photos of us. It was by far one of the most amazing nights of my life. My first answer was "Shawn, this is neither the time nor the place to play around!" followed by an "Oh my gosh...you're serious," to an "Of course! Yes!"

Shawn and I were married three short months later at 5pm on Friday July 13, 2007 in Smithfield, Virginia. We both agree that this was the happiest day of our lives. We spent two amazing weeks in St. Maarten for our honeymoon, and we are looking forward to many more travel opportunities together as husband and wife.

We moved into our new, College Park home together in July after the honeymoon ended. Shawn is currently teaching Spanish and coaching Varsity baseball in Dekalb county, but he recently signed a contract to work at my school in August. I teach Spanish and coach Cheerleading and Soccer to a vibrant group of middle schoolers at Woodward Academy. We keep very busy, but we know it's all worth it when summer vacation comes around...paaartay! Shawn, Annabelle and I live a very eventful life, so I'm sure we'll have lots of news to come!

Enjoy!