Wii Love Sports!

Well, as you can probably tell from the title of this post we have been playing the Wii a lot now that summer is in full swing.  The boys are finally old enough and to the point where they can play by themselves and they love it.  Right now their favorite thing to do is to play Wii Sports - baseball in particular.  This is the easiest for them since it does not involve button-pressing and moving.  Braeden, however, taught himself how to work the remote in order to pause, restart, and select.  So it may not be too long before they are broadening their athletic video game abilities.  They really want to try bowling, but I must confess, I do not have the patience yet to try and teach them how to use the remote for that.  I know once they get it they will have no problem, it's just the probability of a frustrating learning process that has me holding out.  But luckily for now they are content with baseball only.  They are actually really cute when playing, Jack especially.  He has a funny little grunt when he pitches and spends most of the time he plays yelling "Yeah Baby!" and "Did you saw that?!).  I would love to say I have pictures, which I do, but they are trapped on the camera since we still do not have any replacement batteries.  However, there are some, as well as an adorable video on Facebook.  Ahhh, I love Facebook, but I digress.  We did finally have the bright idea to set a timer for them, 30 minutes, when they play.  This keeps things in order and makes for way less drama when it is time to stop!  It may also be time to bust out the Cars game again since we had dinner at the Lytle's house on Tuesday where the boys played a Mario racing game and loved it.

My favorite part of the Wii you ask?  Well, I would have to be honest and say using it to access our Netflix and watch the instant movies/TV shows.  That is why I am totally addicted to Weeds now!  Plus I just love watching movies and now the ability to do so whenever I want is almost too much joy to withstand, but I manage! :)  Although I do enjoy Wii Sports as well, particularly bowling and tennis.  I'm not too terribly bad at either actually.  Of course I have put off starting up Wii Fit again.  I'm not ready to confront the little guy that runs it and get on the board/scale just yet.  I know I have about 10 pounds to lose but that little computer is a taskmaster and I have a tendency toward laziness (you're shocked I know!).  Hopefully next week I will begin again.  We'll see (Amy is now rolling her eyes!).

So, now that summer is here we actually have the time for the fun and recreational things that the school year tends to unintentionally forbid.  Wii time being one of them.  It is fun to watch and play, although I have to admit it is kinds of bittersweet to watch the boys play because it makes you realize exactly how fast (too fast!) they are growing up!  But for now we will focus on the fun aspect of it.  That and of course me working up the courage to face my Wii Fit Instructor!  Yikes!

All is well, Wii are loving summer, here in Drosche Land.

Wordless Wednesday - Again on A Thursday

Well, everyone has gone to school this morning and I am just sitting back and enjoying my coffee and I suddenly realized I didn't post last night!  I finished my homework early but then we got hooked (again) on watching Weeds on Netflix and I completely forgot.  That show is awesome and addictive!  So, here is this week's Wordless Wednesday.  Nope, I don't have batteries for the camera yet so the splashing pictures remain imprisoned.  Luckily though I have some more pictures I found last week when cleaning out my Hotmail email.  They are from a special day Braeden's teacher organized at the end of the school year.  It started in the morning with Donuts with Dad and then continued in the afternoon with Tea with Mom.  I was able to attend the entire thing thanks to a great friend and coworker who covered my class (thanks Lori!)  Here are the pics, it was a fun time!  Enjoy!

B

Braeden and I had a great time!

I

 I found out that Braeden enjoys (and is quite good at) puzzles!

Braeden & Mommy!

Storytime with Mommy!

6

Years that is, today is our 6th Anniversary!  Wow, it is hard to believe that it has been 6 years already.  It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the milestone of 5 years with one of my most romantic actions ever - the re-creating of our wedding cake topper.  Yeah, I did good!  :)  But this year came with less frills, but was special nonetheless.  Due to budget constraints (in order to hit our Debt Snowball hard) we decided to forego cards and presents.  That also meant no eating out or special date this year.  Instead, we just spent the day at home relaxing as a family.  As luck would have it though we were cleaning up and came across two old gift cards, both with remaining balances.  So, we took them to the grocery and bought items to cook a special dinner.  Amy made fondue, and I must say it was the best fondue she has made - EVER!  We also had some delicious rosemary chicken and smashed potatoes.  So, we did end up having something different and special after all.  Other than that though we relaxed and watched the US vs. England World Cup game, which I surprisingly was interested in.  It was a tie game in case you missed it, which threw me for a loop, since when is no winner a good thing?  However a friend explained it all via Facebook (thanks Daniel) and now not only am I all up to date with my knowledge, but am actually looking forward to the next game(s)!  Weird huh?  Maybe soccer is my sport?  Maybe I'm just all caught up with World Cup fever?  I'm leaning toward the latter, but you never know.




But I digress.  Today was a special day.  A day when I personally give thanks for my wonderful wife and everything she means to me.  I'd be lost without her and am lucky to have her.  So frills or no, Fogo de Chao (our special occasion splurge restaurant) or eating at home, gifts or none; I'm just happy to spend the day with my true love.  That's what today is all about anyway right?  Right!  Below are some of my favorite pictures from our wedding.  Man we look so young, but I guess we were!  Ahhhh the memories!  Enjoy!
 
All is well, entering our 7th year, in Drosche Land.

 This is my favorite picture of Amy ever!

Amy and her bridesmaids

Me and my groomsmen

The Wedding Party

Both of our families all together!

Our first picture together as a married couple!

Leaving the reception - one of my favorites!

Recharge

Well, since I finally got to mow the lawns yesterday, well at least 3/4 of the back yard before the mower ran out of gas, today was the first day the boys got to splash around outside!  Luckily I began mowing the back yard beginning with the portion closest to the house!  How clever am I huh?  I figured the mower would run out of gas, it's been low for a while, and I wanted to be sure they could get out to splash and play.  See, who says I can't think/plan ahead?  Guess I should have employed that thinking/planning ahead to getting gas though.  But anyway, I digress.  I filled up the pool, with two very anxious boys peering out the back door at me, urging me on.  Then I opened up the new water toy Braeden got for his birthday, thanks Tootie!  It's a Buzz Lightyear rocket that attaches to a water hose so it shoots up into the air when the water is turned on!  I, oops I mean the boys, really loved it.  Lastly I dressed the boys in their swimsuits and lathered them up with sunscreen.  By the time I let them out into the back yard they were practically vibrating with eagerness!  Needless to say a blast was had by all.  Running, jumping, splashing, playing with the new toy; it was a fun and wet hour.  Where, you might ask, are the pictures of this fantastic welcome to summer?  What, you may also be asking, does this have to do with the post title of "Recharge"?  Well, everything!  It seems our rechargeable batteries for the camera have finally thrown in the towel.  Luckily I was able to get some (hopefully) cute pics before they died.  I shouldn't really complain though.  Those batteries were at least 3 years old, at my best guess, and possibly older.  Sadly though the photographic evidence of today's fun are trapped on the camera until we can buy new batteries or I can scrounge up 2 AA batteries from somewhere around the house (watch out remotes!).  They were going to be the subject of next week's Wordless Wednesday, but I do have some back-up photos that have never before been shared to fall back on. 

So, now the summer-long question of where to store their inflatable kiddie pool begins???  I truly to not want to deflate and re-inflate it countless times and I really did want the boys to splash at least twice a week.  I need a bigger garage, or one of those neat storage sheds for the back yard!  (Amy is rolling her eyes at this!  :) )  But I digress again.  Dead batteries and captive pictures withstanding, today's splashing adventure was a success!  I even put on my swimsuit in an effort to cool off and work on my tan (sorry no pics of that were taken!  HA!).  We will definitely be splashing more often, something cheap and easy to enjoy during the summer!  Hopefully the quarantined pics, and more future ones, will be forthcoming.  Until then, take my word for it - it was awesome!

All is well, and splashtacular, in Drosche Land. 

Wordless Wednesday

I was cleaning out my email inbox today and came across these pictures of the boys that were taken at Trinity for their Easter celebration at school.  I thought that they were super cute, plus both of them are smiling for the camera (always a toss up for these two) Thanks Dana for sending them.  Enjoy!

 Happy Easter from Jack!

 Happy Easter from Braeden

SOS

Well, when we were building the house and going through the process of picking everything out, eliminating the bathtub in the master bath in favor of an extra large stand up shower seemed like a good idea.  Key word - seemed.  However, nobody told us how difficult they were to keep clean, particularly the glass doors.  So, it has been a battle for the past 2 1/2 years to keep the doors sparkly clean.  A battle, I'm afraid to say, I have not been winning.  So, the first definition of SOS stands for "save our shower".  Part of my plans for this summer at home has been a deep and thorough cleaning of the entire house.  One because it's time for it, and two because it will make it easy to get everything ready for the move next summer.  As I'm cleaning I am going through everything and making the small repairs here and there.
 

Today was the first day that the boys went to school on their Tuesday/Thursday schedule, which for me meant a day of cleaning and work I can't get done with them around.  I was supposed to mow the front and back yards but a huge storm had other ideas.  Instead I decided to clean the bathrooms.  The downstairs half-bath, and the boys' bathroom were not too bad.  I saved the most challenging task for last - the master.  I had been researching online the best way to clean shower doors and came upon several theories.  Many things seemed to center around vinegar, which we do not have (of course).  Then, as luck should have it, I found one that said to use those SOS sponges, the ones that are little metal pads with soap inside.  Yes!  We had a whole box in the garage!  So I was set, I first used the pads to clean the sinks and countertops.  Next I moved on to the shower.  Long story short - they worked!  So, 2 SOS pads, a lot of elbow grease, and about an hour later the shower doors are clean!  Now the only task ahead is to get some vinegar and Rain-X (another near trick) and keep them that way.  But that can wait for another day.  After the bathrooms I dusted and cleaned the dining and living rooms so I'm all cleaned out for today.

One of the things, though, that Amy and I have agreed upon for our next house is no stand up shower if we can avoid it.  Or at least a smaller one so it's not so bad.  But oh well, you live and learn from your mistakes as a homeowner.  Until then we will keep cleaning and living with our shower.

So, the clean-a-thon is off to a great start and we will see what tomorrow brings.  Probably not as much cleaning since the boys will be home and I will be working on finishing up this week's homework.  Believe it or not, I actually enjoy all this cleaning.  I don't know if I could be a stay at home dad all the time, I might go insane, but so far it's going well and I am really enjoying it.  Weird I know!

All is well, and squeaky clean, in Drosche Land.

Summer Lovin'/Lovin' Summer

Well, today was the first full day of my very first summer vacation, as an adult that is.  Yes, that's right.  A teacher who has never had a summer break.  Hard to believe, but true.  At Memorial I always ran the Summer Program, but at Trinity that is a job already held by someone else!  So, I actually get a vacation.  I wish it were with Amy, but she works year-round.  :(  Such the is life of an Early Childhood Director - no rest for the boss.  So far though my vacation is going well.  Today was just a day of nothing - no big chores or anything on the list.  That will all begin next Monday.  However, I did get 7 loads of laundry and 2 loads of dishes done.  In addition to that, the calendar and Religion/Memory sections of my 2010/2011 block plan and some discussion questions for this week's homework are also done.  So needless to say, it's been a productive day.

Another exciting part of being home is the time with the boys.  They will only be attending school on Tuesday/Thursday so I will have them at home the other three days.  Today we just relaxed but starting next week I really do want to start some structured activities with them.  I have grandiose plans of working on letters, numbers, and handwriting.  But we will see how that dream progresses as the summer sets in.  I don't want to, and am being told not to by others, push them too hard.  They do just need a break also, so we will see what happens.  Today though they did well.  Just relaxing watching movies, playing with toys, and playing sports all day.  Starting next week I also want them to be outside and splash some each day (I will also get to work on my tan!) but that means I have to mow the lawn and get it ready - another task for next week.
 
In addition to regular housework (I want to thoroughly clean the entire house) and working with the boys I also have an extensive "honey do" list developing.  With the hope of moving next year there are things that need to be done this summer to prepare.  Most of these projects, and other big ones, will be done on the days when the boys are at school and I can just work on stuff.

So, sounds busy huh?  But I'm actually excited about all the to-do's emerging and everything!  I will also plan on plenty of time to relax, but I also do enjoy chores and stuff - weird I know.  So, I'm already loving this summer vacation thing (hence the post title).  I also am excited about blogging more and photographing the boys more!  Woo hoo!  Oh, and I want to learn iMovie, I've already started!  Well, I gotta run and get dinner ready (another fun part of being home).  Summer will be busy - but exciting and lots of fun!  Woo hoo!
 
All is well, and on vacation, in Drosche Land.