September

Where did this month go? I guess it washed away with all the rain that fell and the crumbling economy. How depressing. My basement has remained dry dry dry and that makes me happy!

Actually it has been a beautiful month, despite the rain, and I find myself on the cusp of my favorite time of the year. I love these chilly nights, clear blue skies and warm days. The changing leaves and perfect weather for a fire in my new firepit.

Bird and Osto are off to Camp Osto for Bird's first real hunting trip. This weekend is the youth hunt so they are in search of deer. I guess it is a rite of passage of sorts for him and I hope he faces his challenges with a clear head and a steady hand!

I can't believe it, but my princess turned EIGHT this month. She is still the most beautiful little girl in the world! She had a bowling party with some of her friends and we had a family party the next day. She and Nannie Pat shared a cake. My Nana came too. Four generations! Wow.

Happy Birthday MOM!

A little look back at the last thirteen years or so...in no particular order....

September 10 - HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

I love you. Thanks for so many memories and for being such a wonderful mom.

I hope all your birthday wishes come true.

Puppy puppy puppy...

Marley is 7 months old. Even though she looks like a big dog (and weighs 55 pounds) she is still a puppy at heart. She entertains us with her funny antics like attacking the kids and pulling off Choochie's socks and pants. Last week she thought it would be "fun" to destroy a brand new 8-pack of papertowels. NICE. Thanks to Papa Dan, who happened to be babysitting, for cleaning it up and for snapping a shot on his cell.

Another First Day...

Can't forget about Chooch's first day of four year old preschool! So CUTE!

First day of school

The first day of school, a day of mixed emotions: sadness that the summer is over, excitement about seeing old faces and meeting new ones. Trepidation about more difficult subjects like advanced math or reading. Wondering if the new teacher will be cool or interesting or let me sit by my friends. Will my new patent leather shoes give me blisters? It is a great time of year!The fifth grader and the third grader

August...part 4 - the last hoorah of summer!

We just returned from our annual family outing at Camp Osto!
We did a two hour tube from Beauty Bend to Crawford Park - the view of this stretch of the Muskegon is worth the extra effort involved in getting into the river at this point (steep with poison ivy to dodge). The kids played rousing games of Bloody Murder each night, screaming and running in terror every few minutes! There was also swimming at the park, pond fishing, outdoor showers, playing in the pump, driving black beauty and wandering the trails. The adults enjoyed too much food, just enough drink, nightly campfires and the company of family. One nice addition for the weekend was a portajohn we rented. Its kinda funny (and pathetic) that I felt spoiled by an outhouse this weekend! Bobo and Mike visited for the first time too.

Dan and Nancy also celebrated their 40 year wedding anniversary! We celebrated with the world's largest cake, homemade cards and a framed collage of their wedding pic, their parent's and their children's wedding pictures. Thanks to Missi for working out all the details on that one. Congradulations to 40 years - that is a hell of a long time!

Thanks everyone for sharing in our little campout. Even though you have to rough it a little, it means a lot to Osto and me to share the outdoors with our nieces, nephews, kids and family. These are great memories!

August...part 3

The Biggest Fish We Ever Stole

by T-Bird, Cal, Chooch and Papa Bob

One morning at the family cottage, we went fishing in the pontoon. Calli saw a big eagle flying overhead. It made a sharp turn and dove into the water. It brought up something very large. The thing was very heavy and the eagle could not get it into the air - even with its large 7 foot wing span. Since it couldn't get airborne, it did the "eagle stroke" pulling the thing, trying to swim to the island to where its baby was squawking. It gave up so we drove the boat closer to get a better look. It was a huge pike! We drifted away hoping the eagle would return to retrieve its catch but it wouldn't. So we decided to scoop up the big fish and bring it back to the cottage to show everyone and tell the story. The fish measured 27" and you could see the talon marks where the eagle grasped the fish! We returned to the island and put the fish there. Later that evening when we took another boat ride, the fish was gone and the eagles were still perched in the trees.

Our "prize" - a stolen 27 inch pike!

These marks are where the eagle's talons cut into the fish.

The baby eagle doesn't have a white head yet, but is almost as big as its parent.