Okay, this year’s birthday wasn’t exactly on the “day of” either, since we had a lot going on the “day of” including a tornado that decided to blow in and take out a few signs, roofs, cows, trees and fences. So a few weekends later Jeff and the kids took me to Prairie Kitchen for breakfast, yes in keeping with the eating-(breakfast)-at-local-places theme that I recently started which they thought was weird but have so far indulged me in twice now. I’d always seen the place from the highway but never stopped in until now. Like Waffle House, there wasn’t one in the area I grew up in and for good reason -it is a LOCAL establishment. Yep, only three in the area -Ada, Ardmore and Norman, Oklahoma. So anyway, we parked out-front where there were only 5 parking spaces. As we were getting out, there was a couple that parked in the  Phillips 66 gas station  next door and hopped the divider to go in so to our surprise, the place was pretty packed upon entry and then we saw there was a huge parking lot out back. Anyway, it was very pleasantly decorated in sea foam green wainscotting, and Texas themed iron stars. The soup of the day was “Bean and Bacon”. I had the standard breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and an English muffin. The kids split a chicken fried steak breakfast with a cinnamon roll and Jeff had his usual cholesterol bomb -some kind of crazy omelet with chili and cheese slathered over top but it must’ve been prettty good ‘cuz the guy in the next booth asked what it was and ordered the same thing. Our conversation consisted of popping zits (since Julia decided she couldn’t wait to get one and try it) and accidentally burning oneself in a tanning bed since this recently happened to a friend. Jonathan played Tetris with his pancakes and Jeff quietly surfed his iPod for a variety of nerdy topics until his battery ran low and began to panic but was then distracted by the arrival of our food. All in all, it was a very pleasant breakfast experience and I’d say we all walked outta there full and happy (and heavier, fatter, and ultimately slower). Attached is a photo replica of our quaint little eatery which doubled as a condiment holder/restaurant promotional that resided on every table top.

After a quick pitstop to a local record store where Jeff HAD to pick up a Cadbury Cream Egg(?) we went to Mason’s and picked up a few more local goodies to include Pecan Sandies (the BEST), several varieties of chocolate covered snacks, a pack of SUGAR FREE gummy bears (which Jonathan remarked had authentic bear pawprints embossed into the toes which is rare) and a jar of  Black Bean and Corn Salsa made in Arkansas.

Can’t wait till next year…