Well, I have to admit I'm a bit embarrassed dear readers. I did know that my 2-year Blogiversary was coming up, but I thought it was closer to the end of the month, like sometime this week. Imagine my surprise and chagrin when I just checked back and find it was last week Monday! Yikes. So, I'm a week and a day late in wishing y'all a Happy Blogiversary! Oops! I think it's alright though and hope you don't hold it against me. I mean, after all, I didn't receive any cards, candy, or flowers so I can assume that y'all forgot the date as well! :)
Last year we stood at a little more than 200 posts, today this post is #333! Last year we celebrated 3,000 visits to the website, today (as I type) we are at 8,911! The hot topics last year included Margaux, the adoption, the moving/not moving adventure, and Amy's Scentsy business. Wow, have things changed. The biggest being the halt to our adoption adventure. Margaux remains, and always will, in our hearts and minds as does adoption itself. The idea of moving has reared its head occasionally throughout the past year, but it never gained enough of a foothold to get us serious about it. Amy still sells Scentsy, just not as aggressively as before, we still love it though and are addicted to it.
This year we are excited about Stella's birth and the preparation for her, my photo challenges, the A to Z blogging challenge in April (more on this later), and a few recent random posts! We also celebrated the completion of both Amy's and my Masters degrees, which was a major accomplishment! Another highlight was my trip with Adam to Las Vegas. We loved it and still talk about making it a yearly tradition for us, we shall see though. Many other adventures have taken place in the last year (and 8 days). That's one of the things I love most about blogging. It's like a journal/scrapbook for us. Looking back is always fun. Seeing how far we've come, the fun we've had, the things we've done, and anticipating the future. I can only imagine what it will be like in 10 years to look back. I have dreams/plans/thoughts of making a book out of these posts one day to give the kids. Something for them to remember their childhood by as well to remember Amy and I by. Good idea? What do you think? I could totally see it as a graduation gift of some sort. I'm a bit sappy and sentimental like that so the project is right up my alley! We will see what develops, luckily I've got more than enough time to plan it!
Looking into the future, Year 3 promises to be just as adventuresome as Year 2 was. Obviously first and foremost because Stella will arrive. But Year 3 also brings Braeden in 1st Grade with me (yikes!), Jackson in Pre-K, and who knows what other harebrained schemes/projects/ideas we come up with! So, join with me now as we buckle up and ride right into Year 3, or at least the last 358 (remember this is a Leap Year!) days of it!
All is well, 2 years in, in Drosche Land.
Showing posts with label Las Vegas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Las Vegas. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Sunday Snapshot - 2011 in Review
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
So last night we rang in 2012 in low-key style at home. Jack made it to 8:00, Amy to 9:00, and Braeden to 9:30! After the kids were all tucked in I spent the time half watching New Year's TV and reading. The ridiculously large and spectacular fireworks show put on by various neighbors woke Amy up right at 12:00 so we did get to have our kiss and ring it in together. I don't know how much combined was spent by the neighbors we watched but I'm glad it was funded by their wallet and not mine! I totally plan on getting a "Resolutions" post out but I'm not sure if it will be today or not. 2012 has already kicked off busily as we finish tidying the house and knocking out the last of the laundry. We have been dog-sitting one of Amy's Mom's dogs so we have to return her and then pick her Mom up from the airport (Adam has gone off to Nebraska for college and she's on her way back from there). After dinner with her it will be time to rush home for baths, bedtime, and lunch prep so we can be as fresh and prepared for tomorrow as possible. Both Amy and Jack resume tomorrow and I have a half-day in-service so Braeden is coming along and will wind up somewhere while I'm in meetings, we go back on Tuesday. So we will see if there is time tonight before bed for another post but I wanted to get out this Sunday Snapshot because I have been looking forward to it for about a week as I reviewed 2011 in pictures! I originally planned on doing 12 shots (like I could stay at a limit that small!), one for each month. However that quickly proved impossible as I couldn't sum up every month and its activities in just one photo. So I'm hitting each month and including a picture for each of the major events in that month, some have a few more than others. But I'm pleased with the selections and will post them now before I add more! Looking back 2011 was a busy and fantastic year! I hope 2012 will be more of the same! Enjoy!
All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.
So last night we rang in 2012 in low-key style at home. Jack made it to 8:00, Amy to 9:00, and Braeden to 9:30! After the kids were all tucked in I spent the time half watching New Year's TV and reading. The ridiculously large and spectacular fireworks show put on by various neighbors woke Amy up right at 12:00 so we did get to have our kiss and ring it in together. I don't know how much combined was spent by the neighbors we watched but I'm glad it was funded by their wallet and not mine! I totally plan on getting a "Resolutions" post out but I'm not sure if it will be today or not. 2012 has already kicked off busily as we finish tidying the house and knocking out the last of the laundry. We have been dog-sitting one of Amy's Mom's dogs so we have to return her and then pick her Mom up from the airport (Adam has gone off to Nebraska for college and she's on her way back from there). After dinner with her it will be time to rush home for baths, bedtime, and lunch prep so we can be as fresh and prepared for tomorrow as possible. Both Amy and Jack resume tomorrow and I have a half-day in-service so Braeden is coming along and will wind up somewhere while I'm in meetings, we go back on Tuesday. So we will see if there is time tonight before bed for another post but I wanted to get out this Sunday Snapshot because I have been looking forward to it for about a week as I reviewed 2011 in pictures! I originally planned on doing 12 shots (like I could stay at a limit that small!), one for each month. However that quickly proved impossible as I couldn't sum up every month and its activities in just one photo. So I'm hitting each month and including a picture for each of the major events in that month, some have a few more than others. But I'm pleased with the selections and will post them now before I add more! Looking back 2011 was a busy and fantastic year! I hope 2012 will be more of the same! Enjoy!
All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.
January 2011
We began readying Margaux's room in mid-January. Yes I know the adoption has been called off, but it was a big part of the first half of 2011.
January also brought Braeden's first 100 Day homework! 100 thumbprints!
February 2011
Valentine's Day! The kids had been dying for Pillow Pets! They are still in love with them!
Ok, no big event here but I LOVE this picture of Jack from one of our trips to see our nephew Jared's basketball games!
March 2011
March saw the addition of Rex to our family! I can't believe how little he was or how much he's grown!
During Spring Break we did our annual home improvement project, the floors! It was hard but totally worth it and I am still in love with tile floors (especially now after getting a Dyson). I wonder what Spring Break 2012 will bring?
April 2011
In April sports came to Drosche Land as Braeden began playing soccer! Turns out he loved it and was pretty good!
Easter! I love Jack's face, he gets so much pleasure simply from hunting for eggs!
May 2011
Braeden turned 5! Wow!
May proved to be quite Braeden-centric as he also graduated from Pre-Kindergarten!
June 2011
June began with our trip with Amy's family to Beaver Lake, Arkansas! It was an excellent time and the kids still ask when we are going to Arkansas again!
I also put my mad deck-building skills to use in June! Granted a storm as since taken the canopy from us, but I am mentally working on a solution to do this spring/summer thanks to some clever spying on a neighbor whose canopy suffered the same fate as ours!
July 2011
Another vacation? Don't mind if we do! This time it was with my family to Galveston!
July also saw Amy start her own blog (find it here) about her love of cooking and the adventures of a busy mom feeding her family great food. I'm highly recommend checking it out!
August 2011
Amy turned 30! We took another fun trip to our favorite stop - San Antonio's Riverwalk to celebrate!
Another school year began! Braeden in Kindergarten (what?!) and Jack in Pre-School 3!
September 2011
More sports as Braeden started T-Ball and again not only loved it but was good!
Jack turned 4! Wow, 2 old kids in the house!
Braeden lost his first tooth! He lost another in November so they're just falling out now!
October 2011
The annual trip to Dewberry Farm to pick the perfect pumpkins!
I got my new iPhone 4S!
Between having a superhero and a Storm Trooper present on Halloween we were definitely safe from danger!
#3 is on their way!
November 2011
I turned 29 31! Happy Birthday to me!
Adam and I had an awesome trip to Las Vegas for his 21st birthday over Thanksgiving Break!
December 2011
Our annual Christmas Eve family photo! Love it!
Another blessed Christmas. Between Braeden's DS from his birthday and Jack's Christmas gift of a Leapster we rarely see them anymore! :) Gaming has entered Drosche Land full force!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
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.
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!
Monday, November 21, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, November 07, 2011
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!
Thursday, November 03, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)