Sunday Snapshot - Vegas!

Well, I am back home, safe and sound from my Vegas vacation with Adam!  It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun.  We didn't win big (this time), but I prefer to think of it not as losing money, but as making a non tax deductible donation to the local economy of Las Vegas!  We went with grandiose plans of eating at fancy restaurants and gambling our way up and down The Strip (winningly of course).  Plans changed slightly once we were there though.  We ate at one great restaurant (Mesa Grill) and then realized that we would rather use our funds at the casinos, we can always eat later right?  Plus they give you free (adult) beverages so we were set!  Nevertheless though, changed plans and all, we had a great couple of days.

High Roller I am not, I prefer to play the slots (1¢ actually) than the tables but Adam talked me into a couple of games of Blackjack and I had a great time, although I get a little overwhelmed and flustered by the speed of the game so I don't last long.  Adam however does well at Blackjack and there was a point (the high point of the trip) when we was winning big!  So, I mainly played the slots with minimal success!  

Our one big meal was on Wednesday for Adam's birthday and we dined at Bobby Flay's restaurant, Mesa Grill.  It was delicious and I would highly recommend it if you are ever near one of the locations.  I am totally in to taking pictures of my food when I eat at great restaurants so you can eat with your eyes below!  No camera?  No problem, I was always ready with my iPhone when the photo-opp presented itself.  Plus I love my Instagram app and everything I can do with it!

All in all it was a great time even if we didn't return home with overflowing pockets.  We got to eat some great food, drink some great drinks, and enjoyed many of the casinos.  It was fun to hang out and bond together.   Also, our stay at the Encore was awesome too!  Although it is at the far end of The Strip, the hotel is wonderful and I would also highly recommend it, super swanky and luxurious!

All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.

 Our plan prior to leaving Houston.  I took this for the boys to see because they were so excited I'd be on a plane!

 Everything at the Encore was awesome.  The TV knew my name!  Now that's my kind of TV!

My room's key also knew my name!

 

 The view of The Strip from our room!

 The view at night, I LOVE this picture!

 I thought even the menu was beautiful!

 My drink!

 My appetizer - Goat Cheese Queso Fundido!

 My entree - Cornmeal Crusted Chile Relleno filled with Eggplant and Manchego Cheese!  YUM!

 My favorite picture made even more favorite thanks to Instagram!

 One of the many machines I played!

 One of my (small) wins!  Actually only $3 since I put in $10!

 Another machine that gave me a good run!

 Leaving Vegas, the view of The Strip from the airport, thanks Instagram!

 Bye Vegas!  The view from our plane!

Stuffed

My name is Dusty, and I'm an Over-Packer. (Hi Dusty!).

So Adam and I leave for Vegas on Wednesday morning and I am stoked. It is going to be awesome. I've checked the flights several times over the past few days and have been mentally packing all day long. I know what I can and cannot bring on the plane and the list of cannot is ridiculously long. But such is life in this day and age. Onto my problems with packing.

First of all we are not checking any luggage. $25? Seriously? No thanks, I'll cram it all into a smaller suitcase and then cram that into my overhead storage bin, thank you very much. But with the cramming comes additional problems. Well, I guess with the cramming and my tendency to over pack come additional problems. 4 nights and 3 days. That's how long we will be there. I packed 5 full sets of clothing and 2 pairs of shoes (not counting the pair I'll be wearing on the flight). That's not too much right? I can never bring myself to pack just for the days I'm there. I get a serious case of the "What if's". What if I don't want to wear what I originally packed. What if I spill coffee all over myself. What if it's super hot and I feel all gross and need to freshen up and change. The list goes on. So I over pack. Another downfall of this is the certainty that I will be ironing withing a few hours of arrival. But at least I'll be able to make good use of the closet and dresser space right? I don't think I did too badly, I weighed my bag and it only weighs 25 lbs and I'm allotted 40 lbs., so I have plenty of space left over.

However, with as much as I've shoved into my suitcase, there's a ton I wasn't able to bring thanks to strict TSA restrictions. I opted against loading a Ziploc bag full of 3 oz. (or smaller) containers and leaving that valuable space for additional clothing. So it looks as though I'll be going shopping at the hotel or some drugstore on the Strip.

So, I think I'm finished packing. I sure hope so, I'm so OCD about it that I pack, unpack, and repack at least once. But hey, that's normal right? I know I'm not alone there. It's all there though, 5 sure to be wrinkled sets of clothing, 2 pairs of shoes, and a tightly coiled belt. Check, check, and check. The one thing I always seem to forget is my iPhone charger! I should set a reminder. Ahhhh! Packing is so stressful! But the trip is so worth it!

All is well, crammed, stuffed, and zipped, in Drosche Land.

Sunday Snapshot - Goofball

Today's Sunday Snapshot is all about Jack's silly side. Yes, he can be a little wild sometimes and yes, he can be headstrong and temperamental. But, deep down he has a huge heart and loves to make people laugh. Often he gets his laughs by goofing around. Saying silly things, wearing silly things, or doing something silly. He loves a laugh, however he can get it. I have a feeling that as he gets older he will be quite the "prankster" and "class clown" as he has a bit of a reputation for these monikers already! The best part about this all is that he is well aware of this gift of his and has no qualms about using it to his advantage. I, and everyone else, often play right into his hands, eager to get a front-row seat to comedy routine! Who knows? Maybe he'll grow up to be a comedian or actor someday? Or maybe just an average joe who loves cracking up those around him. Whatever his future holds, I'm just glad to be around to watch, and laugh of course.

All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.

Displaying his own sense of style while mugging for the camera!

Goofing around in the car with a keychain. Yes, he enjoyed his props!

More silliness in the car (it happens often there), this time with stickers. They later ended up "hidden" on his stomach under his shirt!

Neverending Story

So, is this post about (A) the classic 1980's movie or (B) the mundane household chore of laundry?  If you answered B, then you are correct!  Although, answer A is one of my favorite movies.  If you haven't seen it, shame on you, you really should.

Anyway, back to laundry.  I'm a nerd, I love doing laundry.  I'm quite particular about it as well, Amy often teases me about my sorting, folding, and hanging rules.  I typically do all of our laundry on the weekend but lately with Saturday T-Ball games, birthdays, and just the general busyness of life I have been working on laundry throughout the week, doing it whenever I have time.  I'm sure this is what many people do, but it was an adjustment for me.  However, it does fit the fact that with 2 adults, 2 young boys, and 2 dogs there is always, always, laundry to be done.  Clothes, sheets, towels, etc.  So, even though I am usually hesitant to change, especially when it is one of my routines (I have some OCD tendencies) I have been trying to change the laundry schedule here so it doesn't pile up and take over the house every weekend.  Then Amy went and dropped a bombshell on me this past week.  It was one I would have come to realize sooner or later, but still, it hit me.  With a baby on the way that is a ton more laundry to add in!  Factor in all of the baby clothes, diaper cloths, towels, and everything else it adds up.  Plus, if the baby turns out to be a girl then that is a whole new story!

So, I have a few months to mentally adapt to the impending change as well as to put some new routines and procedures through trial and error.  So, while not a riveting (or too interesting) dilemma, still just part of our daily adventures here!

All is well, freshly laundered, in Drosche Land. 

Sunday Snapshot - Looking Back

I'm here, peeking my head out of our busy lives for a new blog post!  I have lots of posts brewing in my head but I'm short on time to get them out.  Worry not though, I'm not sure when, but I'll be back to posting regularly!  

My Mom gave me a bunch of old pictures today.  One she has been going through from cleaning out Granny's house.  Pictures that belonged to her.  Pictures of the boys when they were babies, me when I was little, my Mom when she was little, and even older than that.  They are special not only because they are fun vintage pictures, but also because they were hers.  I am a sucker for old pictures, the older the better.  I love the memories they hold and I could spend hours looking at them and remembering the times (if I was there) or wondering about the times (if they were from before my time).  So, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from the batch I got today, thanks to my beloved and ever-present iPhone and its awesome camera.  I have tons more so maybe I'll be posting vintage throwback pictures more often.  Hmmmm, do I smell a regularly occurring themed post?  Maybe!  Anywho, here are some from today.  I enjoyed the quick trip down Memory Lane when I looked through them this evening, hopefully you'll enjoy them also!

All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.

 This is a Polaroid (gotta love those) of my parents on their wedding day!

 

 One of my favorite pictures of my cousins and I (I'm on the far left) from when we were little!  1986

 Me sleeping.  I look remarkably like Braeden!  1982

 

 What's more adorable than a 5-year old with a broken arm wearing lederhosen?

Amy and I at my cousin's wedding, about 5 years ago.  Not super vintage, but look how young we were! 

 This is Granny (left) with my Mom and her brother when they were babies, 1952!  I didn't get too close so you could see the scalloped edges of the photo!  Love old photos!

 

Sunday Snapshot - Happy Birthday

Ok, so I know it's not Sunday, but here I am and still within the 24-hour window.

Saturday was my birthday and with it I have fully entered into a new decade - the 30's. It came calmly and slowly which, in this family, can be a good thing. Braeden had a T-Ball game and then we went to his end of the season party where he received his trophy! After that it was back home for some more relaxing before heading out to dinner. Nothing fancy but I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I guess the older I get, the more I realize how lucky I am to have the blessings I have been given. My gift is the upcoming trip to Las Vegas with Adam and I am stoked about that! Look for more posts about that as it gets nearer.

All in all it was a great day spent celebrating with my family and I couldn't have asked for more. A few pictures taken of the event, simple, nothing fancy but still fun!  So, bring it on 30's! I'm ready!

All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.

  Celebrating my birthday at school with a ginormous, and delicious, piece of cake from a student!

 

 My birthday breakfast!  Yum!

 Happy 31st Birthday!

November?!?!

Ok, so we are officially 3 full days into the month but I am still in shock that it is actually November already! Where has 2011 gone? Are we seriously this close to its end? As surprised as I am at its arrival I am also excited at most of the events it holds.

First up - my birthday! Yippee! Usually a cause for celebration but this year I approach it with some trepidation. As you'll remember from my frequent posts last year, 30 was somewhat scary to me. Me? 30? Well, I guess I've gotten used to the idea just in time for my birthday to roll around again. 31? Now I'm fully invested into a new decade. 30 was just dipping my toes in, trying it out. But 31? Now I am actually IN my 30's! I'm not sure I am so comfortable with this or remotely used to it but it will be here soon enough (2 days for those of you counting down)!

The other big event this month, and one I am certainly more excited about, is my trip to Las Vegas with Adam over the Thanksgiving break! It's his 21st birthday and Amy and I, for as long as we can all remember, have promised him that we would take him to Las Vegas when he turned 21. He never forgot about this and held us to it this year! My wonderful wife (love you Amy) is letting us go for a guys's trip to Las Vegas and its going to be awesome! See, you know I'm an only child and although it does have its perks, I've always wanted a sibling (Mom, you know it's true!). So Adam is my little brother, and a great one at that. We leave the day before Thanksgiving, which is his actual birthday, and return Saturday. Just enough time to have fun and hopefully make some money! I'm hoping that with Adam's skills and knowledge and my, well my support, we'll make some money. I think a 60/40 split is fair (I'm the 40), right? Regardless of money won (or lost) it'll be a great time.

Then of course there's Thanksgiving this month. I'll be out of town in Vegas this year (thanks Amy) but I still have so much to be thankful for. I do love this holiday and this time of year. I feel bad that somehow it has gotten lost/skipped over in between Halloween and Christmas. Poor Tom Turkey. It's a wonderful sentimental holiday and it comes with some great food. I'm already starting to crave turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, cranberries, and the list goes on.

Lastly, my beautiful wife is pregnant! I know we have a ways to go and this post is technically about November, but it puts us one month closer to the baby and I couldn't be more excited or happy. I haven't posted much about it since the announcement, but worry not. I will be updating frequently. Our first doctor's appointment is next week so stay tuned!

So, there you have it, November. Although it has snuck up on me I do feel it's going to be a great month and am looking forward to it. Plus, it means we are that much closer to Christmas which is, to quote the song, the most wonderful time of the year!

All is well, starting a new month, in Drosche Land.