Wordless Wednesday

Well, this week's Wordless Wednesday takes a break from my usual subjects (the boys).  Instead these are pictures of a visitor we had in our back yard a while ago (these pictures were also held prisoner on the camera during The Great Battery Hunt).  Although we have firmly made up our minds to move and are quite excited about it, the pictures below detail something we will miss about living so far out.  Oh well, give a little get a little I guess.  In this case we will give a little of the friendly woodland creatures out here in Cypress and get a little, actually a lot, closer to the city!

A bunny!  I was doing some work about 2 weeks ago when I noticed Lucy going crazy at the back door.  Went I went to see what was up I saw our little friend!  I called the boys down to see it and they were thrilled!  

 Since this time he has come back to visit twice more but we haven't seen him in about a week.  Probably because I finally mowed the back yard and he didn't find it to be a comforting meadow anymore!  :)  Oh well, I keep hoping he will return!

Earning Their Keep

Well, today marks a momentous occasion in Drosche Land.  Today was the day we implemented chores for the boys.  Yes, that's right, as the title of the post says, we are making the boys earn their keep!  Well, really we are just trying to teach them responsibility and money management while we reap the benefits of delegating some of our tasks to them!  It's nothing big right now, but you have to start somewhere right?  Braeden has 4 chores a day since he is 4 and so obviously Jack has 2 chores a day.  We will add a chore per year until they max-out at age 5.  Over the years these chores will change and become more complicated to reflect their age, abilities, and level of responsibility.  A pretty good plan huh?  Well, we can't take total credit for it since it is heavily based in what we learned through FPU with Dave Ramsey.  Once they both get a little older we intend on beginning his kid's program with them.  But baby steps for now.

Each day they are responsible for their chores and if they complete them (with minimal reminding) they get a sticker for that day's chore.  Sunday night we will tally the stickers earned that week and pay them.  Yes, we are actually giving them an allowance, but technically they are working and we are paying them for the jobs they do for the family (again based upon Dave's principles).  Right now they are getting .15 a chore which, if you add it up (or take my word for it) adds up to about $4 a week for Braeden and $2 a week for Jackson.  I have to give Amy credit for how much, it was her idea and she came up with dividing it out equally to get to a dollar per age (gotta love her number-oriented mind!).  Again, over time this total amount (as well as the individual chore amount) will change depending upon age and complexity of the task, some chores will be worth more than others.  Yes, again based upon Dave's principles (I told you I couldn't take credit for it all).  What I can take credit for is the chart that I created!  I've attached it below because I'm that proud of it and just to show it off!  


I know what you're thinking.  What are you expecting a 4 and a 2 year old to do?  Well, funny you should ask, I was just getting to that.  Braeden is responsible for daily: 1 - putting away toys, 2 - taking his dinner plate to the kitchen counter, 3 - making his bed, and 4 - using respectful language.  Jackson has the chores of: 1 - putting away toys and 2 - taking his dinner plate to the kitchen counter.  See, nothing too complicated or difficult, but all aimed at teaching responsibility.  So far so good though for Day 1.  Jack has earned both of his stickers for the day and Braeden has 2 left, with all signs pointing toward the other 2 being earned before bed!  Right now excitement is high about the stickers and the money so we will see how long that lasts.  Amy and I are hoping that the excitement at least makes it until the chores become habit but we'll see.  


All is well, with everyone doing their share, in Drosche Land.

The famous chore chart (I'll pause for your applause!)

Eye Spy!

Well, summer is the time for relaxation and vacations, but it is also the time to squeeze in those appointments and check-ups that there never seems time for during the school year.  Such was the case a little more than a week ago with Braeden.  At his 4-year check-up his doctor, Dr. Kinalska (she is amazing) and one of the nurses, noted that his left eye did not track correctly.  Instead it seemed to go outward slightly.  This is something that Amy and I have noticed occasionally but not quite enough to worry about.  However, after the occurence at the doctor we were encouraged to see a specialist about it, better sooner rather than later despite how small it may seem.  So we made an appointment for the summer, when we would actually have time to go.


So, Monday the 14th we went to see an ophthalmologist.  Yeah, I could have just said eye doctor, but ophthalmologist is so much more fun to say!  Say it - ophthalmologist!  See, told you.  Anyway, he was super nice and Braeden did very well.  However, the doctor was not able to observe the problem himself but made a diagnosis based upon the referral from Braeden's doctor and our stories.  Intermittent Exotropia.  Sound cool huh?  Basically his eye moves outward rather than tracking correctly.  Commonly noticed at this age and not much to worry about.  It could develop further and require treatment or it could not.  We will just have to wait and see.  No worries, we were actually completely unalarmed by it!  So we will just continue to monitor it and make a follow-up appointment in about a year - sooner if it becomes more noticeable.  I have to admit, I thought it would be kind of cool if he got to wear one of those cool pirate patches, but that wasn't necessary right now.  Oh well.  I would have been cool to have a ready-made theme for a Halloween costume! 


Well, why write about Braeden's seemingly miniscule eye problem you might ask?  Well, in addition to the fact that it is just one of our many adventures here in Drosche Land, it got me thinking about the adoption again, the Waiting Child Program in particular.  Not only do Amy and I feel we have been called to adopt a special needs child, I've blogged about that before, but this is an example of how a "special need" does not mean much at all.  Did we choose to have Braeden's vision "problem"?  No.  Does it affect the way we love him?  No.  Had we known he was going to have this "problem" would we have been upset?  No.  Notice I said "problem" rather than problem.  It's all in how you view things (vision pun intended).  This relatively small "problem" is quite likely very similar to the reason that many children are on the Waiting Child list now.  However, does this slight "problem" deem them unloveable?  NO!  Granted, I'm not naive, I am well aware that there are children on the Waiting Child List that have needs far greater than this, but it is a good example of how something small can be termed "special needs" when in fact it just makes them who they are.  We are, after all, fearfully an wonderfully made.  Technically both of the boys are already special needs since they were both born pre-term and have had respiratory problems.  I wouldn't trade them for anything! 

Amy and I have already discussed, at length, the needs we will be capable of handling and caring for and we are very realistic.  This whole issue with Braeden's vision just got me thinking about it all and has really confirmed in my heart that we are not only doing what we have been called to do, but that we are doing the right thing for our family.  It also has further excited me.  But alas, that awful, yet realistic, w-word (wait) has come into play.  I'm ok with that.  Hold on while I step down from my soap box.  Maybe my post got a little preachy but maybe not.  Regardless it is just one of the many adventures we are a part of!

All is well, we can clearly see that, here in Drosche Land.  

Batting 1,000

Well, judging by the little visitor counter on the right-hand side of the blog sometime between yesterday's posts and today we reached 1,000 hits!  Woo hoo!  I'm excited, it's the little things.  Now this means one of two things.  Either a lot of people are coming and visiting once and never again, or a few people are viewing it constantly, eagerly awaiting new posts!  Either was I'm happy.  I know what you're thinking, "What about when you log on, doesn't that count?".  Nope, when I set the counter up I made it so that it ignores my computer (it works, I've tried it!).  I also programmed it to wait a few hours before a visitor becomes "unique" again.  I thought this would give a more realistic picture of who is visiting.  Yes I know, I'm a little obsessive about it all.  But hey, I like it.  I have really enjoyed this blog.  Not only is it fun, but I think that it's a great idea to share our adventures here with family and friends.  So, I will celebrate this milestone by, well by blogging about it I guess.  The next milestone I am looking forward to is 100 posts.  This makes #79 so that celebration should come sometime this summer.  Get your party hats, confetti, and champagne ready!  :)  Happy reading!

All is well, and welcoming visitors (repeat and unique), in Drosche Land.

Wordless Wednesday (THE SEARCH IS OVER!)

Woo Hoo!  The search is over - on several accounts actually!  Ok, so I was looking through the pictures I have and I suddenly remembered that when I was cleaning out our aptly named junk drawer in the kitchen the other day I came across 2 AA batteries!  It didn't hit me then, obviously or we wouldn't have had today's posts, so I put them with the rest of our batteries (mainly usless AAA and D batteries).  But I digress.  Anyway, I remembered I had found them and as luck would have it they worked!  So I quickly connected the camera to the computer and rescued the photos of our first splash adventure of the summer!  But hold your applause, there's more.  Not only have I found 2/3 of the things I have been searching for, but also I started thinking about what could I post about.  Ideas began to flow.  See there is value to the posts tagged as "Random" (i.e. "Searching") and the ones where I declare Blogger's Block!  I always say it helps to talk (or in this instance write) your problems out, it often leads to understanding and solution as is the case today!  Woo hoo!  So, here are the much anticipated (or at least I would like to belive the one or two people who read this have much anticipated them) release of the photos I have been talking about.  I will save the post topics for tomorrow, although I think I may write the ideas down.  But I digress, here are the pictures!  Enjoy!  I know we have been having a blast splashing around in the back yard!  Who needs a pool anyway?  :)

Although excited they were hesitant at first because the water was a bit cold

They soon got over that!

 They (ok me too!) loved this cool Buzz Lightyear rocket that Braeden got for his 4th birthday!  Thanks Tooie!

Amazingly enough they peacefully took turns launching it!

Jack loves to jump/dive head first into the pool!

 Splash, splash, splash!  Fun, fun fun!

Searching

"For what?" you might ask.  Well the answer is pictures.  Yes, as I am sure you could guess I still have yet to replace the batteries for the camera, thus further imprisoning fun photos.  So I have begun to scour my iPhoto and my iPhone for previously unreleased photos for today's Wordless Wednesday post.  I can't fully blame the lack of batteries solely on budgetary reasons any longer.  The truth boils down to my forgetfulness (at this Amy is either shaking her head "yes", saying "AMEN!" or both).  So, until I can get my act together and remember to either get some temporary regular batteries or a new set of rechargeable ones, I bear the punishment of photo hunting.  Truth be told though that is not always a bad thing, I do enjoy going through pictures and reminiscing so I'll look on the bright side of the bed I've made and enjoy it!  

I guess the title of this post could also be eluding to the need for something to blog about since lately I am also experiencing Blogger's Block again.  I thought for sure summer would bring a wealth of things to talk about, what with all the free time and fun things.  However, I am often finding myself at a loss of things to discuss.  Weird I know, "speechless" is not typically an adjective one would use to describe me.  But alas that's how I feel.  So, while I search for photos maybe I will also search for topics?  Who knows, maybe I'll find both.  I know you are waiting with bated breathe for both - no worries I will find them both I'm sure!  Until then though the search continues!  Hopefully I will return later with at least one, hopefully both, of the things I'm searching for!

All is well, and on the hunt, in Drosche Land.  

Father's Day

Well, today's was Father's Day and it was a great one.  I have to say though, as nice as it is to have a day all about me (AWESOME) I have to give credit to the people who make it possible to be a father - the boys and Amy.  They made my day wonderful.  Presents, hugs, kisses, constantly telling me "Happy Father's Day", and eating at La Finca - our favorite restaurant.  It was fun.  All day I kept thinking about the birth of the boys and how crazy and different our lives are now that we are parents.  However, no matter how busy, hectic, or crazy our lives get I wouldn't change it for anything.  Just one smile from them melts me and everything is totally worth it.

This Father's Day was also different because it is the first once since we have fully decided on our adoption adventure!  So of course my mind was filled with all the thoughts of what lies ahead for our newest addition.  It is still so long away, but I know (and desperately hope) that the time will fly by and before we know it we will be welcoming our little daughter into our arms, lives, and hearts.

So, the boys are now in bed (quiet so hopefully they are asleep) and all is quiet and calm.  Time now to relax and enjoy the remainder of the evening with my beautiful wife.  The day, my day, is over.  But I close it in peace and comfort.  Happy with my role as a father, enjoying the blessings (stinkers though they be!) that God has given me and awaiting the ones that have yet to come!

All is well, with one proud Papa, in Drosche Land.  

The Father's Day picture Amy took for me this morning!  Love my boys!