"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sunday Snapshot - The Lost Photoshoot


So, with school starting back up I haven't had a ton of time to go snapping away.  Pictures have been few and far between.  Once things settle back into a routine I hope to reconnect with my inner shutterbug.  I missed last week's Sunday Snapshot and was determined to make it this Sunday.  However, today came and I had nothing.  So I thought I'd look back a little, maybe there were some pictures from this past summer that hadn't seen the light of day yet.  Lo and behold I came across these.  Taken back in mid-June, Stella wasn't even a month old yet.  It was her first solo photoshoot and I cannot for the life of me think of why they've never been posted.  Better late than never though right?

So serious!
I remember having to hurry into this photoshoot because she was growing so quickly.  This outfit was one of my favorites but she only wore it this once before she outgrew it!  I was so excited because it was also one of her first outfit that had a complete set of matching accessories - headband and shoes!  I thoroughly enjoyed, alright I still enjoy, dressing her up in her outfits.

Her sly half-grin
Looking back at these pictures I am amazed at how much she has grown in such a short time.  Next Sunday she'll be 3 months old already!  That means it's time to start thinking about and planning out another monthly photoshoot.  Who knows, maybe that will be the next Sunday Snapshot?  I'm glad I came across these pictures and was able to share them.  Not only because they helped out in a time of photo-need, but also because I'm already finding myself reminiscing back to when she was a newborn.  Now that she's moving on to infant status, next will be baby, then toddler.  Yikes!  I can't bear to think of that!  I'll just keep looking at these for now!

I love me some baby feet, even when they're in cute shoes!
All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.



Ni Hao Yall

  
  

Back

So, it's mid-August and I've been MIA for a week.  That can only mean one thing right?  That's right folks, it's Back to School time in Drosche Land!  Yes I know what you're thinking, "Gee, it's awfully early Dusty!"  And yes, you're correct.  However, Trinity always starts earlier than the other private schools and public schools.  It doesn't bother me because it comes in handy in late May and early June when everyone else is itching for summer and I've already been scratching for about a week.  Ok, maybe that wasn't the best analogy but you catch my drift.

Trinity started back this past Wednesday.  So that means that the kids and I already have 3 full school days under our belt for the 2012-2013 school year!  Stella's first day went well, though technically she started back before that when I had to report, but it was still the first day of the school year.  She does really well at school, she eats really well (though she does that well really anywhere she goes).  She doesn't nap too much but that just makes for easier nights if you know what I mean!  :)

Jackson started Pre-Kindergarten this year!  I can't believe we are about a month away from his 5th birthday!  Where has the time gone?  He still is under the impression that once he turns 5 he'll move right into Kindergarten and begin losing teeth.  It might sound odd but those are the things he associates with being 5.  Luckily he loves his teacher and class so when those don't happen at the end of next month there shouldn't be too large of a meltdown.

Braeden. First Grade.  With me.  Crazy, but true.  The moment we've been gearing up for has come. So far it's gone very well and he has had no problems differentiating between Daddy at home and Mr. Drosche at school.  I'm doing well too, it is a learning curve, but it's a great class this year so I know we will have a ton of fun together.

Wednesday was also Amy's birthday!  Her birthday falls on the first day of school every few years.  Possibly one of the best things that happened for her that day was that, one of the positives of stepping back into the classroom and out of administration was the fact that, for the first time ever, she was able to drop the kids off at their classrooms for the first day of school!  I went in early to prep and she brought them in later before heading to work herself.  It was great to see her get the opportunity to be a Mom on the first day of school and do those fun things!  I know she enjoyed it.

The first few days went very well for me.  Now we are gearing up for Amy's first day on this coming Wednesday.  She is totally prepared and ready.  I couldn't be more excited for and proud of her.  She is going to have a fantastic year.  We have already had a lot of fun talking shop together and I know that will continue throughout the year as we share the joys of teaching First Grade!

So, we're back in action here!  Something old, something new.  It's going to be a great year though!  Below I've attached our annual Back to School pictures!  Exciting times!



All is well, back to school, in Drosche Land.


 

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Dog Days of Summer - Days 2 & 3

So, the best laid plans . . .  The 3 topics for this blog hop won't be spread out among the 3 days.  Eh.  Yesterday was my Back to School event and Amy and I went out with friends afterward so I was beyond exhausted when we came home.  But I'm still within the parameters of the blog hop so all is well.

I am stoked about the comments I've received and it's been fun checking out the other participants!  I've already enjoyed this mini blog hop so much!  On with the remaining sections!

Part 2: What activities do you have planned before summer is over?
Well, I don't have much time until summer is over since I begin back on Wednesday.  That doesn't leave much time for big plans!  Tomorrow I have a half day of meetings and then I'll be working in my classroom the remainder of the day.  Tuesday is a full day in my classroom for last minute planning and prep.  So, while it won't be anything spectacular, I assure you my final days of summer break will be busy.  My classroom is nearly finished since it had to be for yesterday's event.   I have some finishing touches and decorations to get together and then it's on with the block planning for the year, lesson planning for the first few weeks, and copies and materials prep.  I know, sounds like too much fun and I know you're green with envy!  :)  Seriously though I am very excited about the start of the new school year!

Part 3: If you could have the ultimate vacation ever where and what would it be?
Wow.  Those are some pretty lofty qualifications for a vacation.  It would definitely be somewhere overseas and far away.  Why stay close to home if it's the ultimate vacation?  So many places pop into my mind.  Ireland.  Tahiti.  Africa.  Italy.  Greece.  So it would definitely have to be some place exotic, some place that is a whole other world.  While there it would be awesome to see and do things that you would deem as "once in a lifetime".  Like kiss the Blarney stone.  Stay in one of those hotels that has a private house right on top of the water.  Go on a safari.  Wine country.  See the Parthenon and ancient ruins.  Catch my drift?  So I guess I'm undecided as of now.  Maybe if it weren't totally hypothetical I'd be able to nail it down.  Well, maybe not.  Maybe I'd just combine them all into some year-long mega-vacation.  Yeah, that sounds good.  An extended world tour.

Whew, that last one was a doozie.  Again, this little blog hop was fun.  Now that I've got two under my belt maybe I'll seek more out.  Well, after the initial craziness of a new school year dies down of course!  Well, I'd love to say and post more but I've got some blogs to hop around to and comments to leave and reply to.  It's been fun!  I hope everyone enjoys the remainder of their summer, however long you have left!

All is well, closing out summer, in Drosche Land.

dog-days-of-summer-blog-fest-august-10-12.jpg

Friday, August 10, 2012

Dog Days of Summer - Day 1

So maybe you noticed the graphic on the left-hand column that appeared a few weeks ago?  The one with the weenie/sausage on the fork?  The one labeled "The Dog Days of Summer Blog Fest"?  Maybe you didn't.  Maybe you were so taken by whatever post you were reading that you just got carried away by my words and all else disappeared.  Because that's what happens right?  :)

Either way I'm hear to explain it. I've included it at the end of the post to remind you once you've finished reading!  Maybe I should have done the explanation when I posted the graphic, eh.  Anywho.  So a while back another blogger that found my blog during April's A to Z Challenge invited me to his blog hop (click the graphic and it'll take you to his blog).  I thought, why not?  Sounds fun, and 3 days is way less intimidating than an entire month!  The theme of this blog hop is the end of summer.  He posed 3 topics participants could post on.  3 topics, 3 days.  Sounds like a plan!  So, here we are on Day 1 and I'm up after feeding Stella (who wants to just hang out and chill rather than return to sleep).  What better time to blog right?  On with the post!

Describe your favorite summer activity thus far.

Easy.  The theme for this summer was relaxation.  I mean how could it not be.  With all of the craziness that was Amy's pregnancy last spring, accompanied with the usual busyness of May, and life in general we were long overdue for some R&R.

See, one might think that all of our past summers have been filled with rest and relaxation, after all we are teachers right?  Well, not so much.  See when Amy was an administrator her job was year-round, and she was busy.  However, once she decided to step back into the classroom as a First Grade teacher, she gained summer breaks!  Technically this summer was our first one!

Filled with vacations and travels it was not.  Not surprisingly, having a brand new baby does not really go well with vacations and travels.  So we really didn't have much choice when it came to the R&R.  But we didn't put up a fight!  :)  The (newly renumbered) 5 Drosches just settled into the house this summer and enjoyed everything laziness and relaxing has to offer, and that's actually a lot more than you'd think.  Peace of mind.  Physical and spiritual renewal.  Quality time together as a family.  General happiness.  We weren't holed up like hermits the entire summer.  We did get out, some.  We took the day trip to the Blue Bell Creamery.  We ran errands.  We (and by we I mean the boys) rode bikes.  We read.

So that's it.  Nothing exciting.  Jet-setters we're not.  But as uneventful as this summer was, that's what we needed, and wanted.  So that would have to be my favorite part.  Now as Amy and I have returned to work for meetings and prep for the coming school year, we're rested.  We're ready and excited.  We're re-charged!  Bring it 2012-2013 school year!

All is well, well-rested, in Drosche Land.


  

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Shot Through the Heart

You're totally rocking out to Bon Jovi now aren't you?  Finishing the line of the 80's classic song?  Maybe playing a little air guitar?  I've never been one for the air guitar, not my instrument, but I do love me some 80's music. But I digress.

So this post is about a shot, or shots, but not through the heart. More into some chubby baby legs. Yep, I'm talking Stella and her 2 Month immunizations. Now. I'll have to preface this post by stating that I was not at said doctor's appointment. My wonderful wife takes the kids to get their shots. If you've ever done so you know it's not an easy job. Definitely one that I cannot handle. I think I've done it once, when Braeden was a baby. It didn't go well. There was crying and pain. He didn't take it well either. So Amy takes the kids. Such was the case with Stella's appointment last week.

Now, there's always a debate raging on the topic of childhood immunizations. Should you or shouldn't you?  Do they work or don't they?  Do they have horrible side effects or not?  Well, to each their own, but we've always gotten them. Do I think that some people have negative reactions to them.  If I didn't before I do now!  Stella's didn't go well. She got sick, if you catch my drift, after the oral one. All over the place. Then of course she ran a low-grade fever, as the boys always have, for a day of so after. But she's also been super congested and snurgly since then. Yes. I made that last word up but it describes it very well. You know what I mean. Snotty and gurgly and stuffy.

Now, is this related to the immunizations or simply some bad coincidental timing for a cold?  Who knows?  All we can say is that we'll be proceeding with caution at her next shot appointment at 4 months. In the mean time we wait for her to get over her congestion and snurgly-ness. Hopefully that ends soon.

Oh and forgive any spelling errors as I'm writing this at 2:14 am via my iPhone and sans glasses. I'm waiting for a certain little snurgly girl to fall asleep after her bottle!  Thanks for understanding.  :) Oh and you can get back to rocking out to Bon Jovi now too!  Shot through the heart, and you're to blame. You give love a bad name . . .

All is well, snurgly, in Drosche Land.

Sunday, August 05, 2012

Sunday Snapshot - 2 Months


2 months.

2 months!

We are 1/6 of the way to her 1st birthday!  Where has the time gone?  I have a feeling I'll be saying that a lot in the coming months.  Friday was Stella's official 2 month birthday and the poor thing spent the morning of her special day at the doctor's office.  Getting her 2 month shots.  Ugh!  Luckily I have an amazing wife who takes the kids for their shots appointments because she knows I'm a weakling.  But more on that visit in another post.

One of my favorites of her!

Stella continues to amaze us.  She weighed in at 12 lbs, 1 oz.  That may not sound like much, but in Drosche Land, that's a giant baby.  It took the boys at least another month or two to reach that number!  But not our little girl, she loves to eat.

Love me some props!

All in all, it's been a great 2 months.  We've had a little excitement with her eating/GI issues, but overall it's been an easy time.  She eats, she sleeps, she cuddles.  Sure there are moments when she is a little diva upset, but mostly she's an angel.

Love her eyes
Once again I was blessed enough to have a successful photo shoot with Stella.  Amy was my assistant this time, helping me with staging and baby temperament control.  We make a great team!  I'm looking forward to the future sessions when she'll be able to sit up and do things.  Although she's been very cooperative with just laying there and looking beautiful!

Happy  2 Month Birthday!
All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.


Ni Hao Yall