Take Four...or more!

Peace

This is a stressful time of year, I know that and I'm sure you do too. I have been thinking of a lot of my friends, co-workers, nieghbors and other people in my life lately. So many of them are filled with the stresses of the holidays and the basic December rush...

But some of them - some of you - may be feeling the stresses of a job loss or the need to find a job, financial needs, a sick family member, an aging parent, trying to sell a home, a grocery store moving into your neighborhood, a loved one serving in Afghanistan or Iraq, wanting a baby, wanting your kids to respect you, wanting to get married, depression, addiction, divorce, dealing with difficult family members, continually having to fix stuff that keeps breaking down, wanting to be closer to your family, trying to graduate (again), losing your company car, breaking your own car doing donuts in a church parking lot, taking a chance on something new, working too much, not living a healthy life, or trying to get a high score on bejeweled blitz!

So for everyone I love and like and admire - I wish you peace.

Hunting Re Cap

Deer Camp at Taylor's (this is about the only picture I can post)

Osto's spike

three point from Kalkaska area

Osto, Dad, Chris

Another successful year!

Weather Alert! Weather Alert!

This article says it all!

Weather hype greets Major! Winter! Storm! (OMG) Headed for West Michigan.

I could have written this.

Thanksgiving in Florida

This Thanksgiving we were blessed to return to Florida, this time with the entire Osto family in tow. We celebrated our first Thanksgiving together (usually we are flung all across the country this time of the year)! We went to Seaworld, the beautiful beach at Siesta Key, and Universal Studios. The weather was cool and rainy at the beginning, but improved by week's end and we finally enjoyed that southern heat we were seeking! The coaster enthusiasts amongst us enjoyed the Kracken, Manta, Hulk, Dueling Dragons, Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket, and many more fun thrill seekers! We loved the shows and Spiderman with its awesome 4-D effects, the Mummy and Men in Black. Chooch and Nana rode lots of the kiddy rides and little coasters (thanks Nana)! (and some of us were excited to see the beginning stages of the Hogwarts due to open in the spring).

Most of all we loved spending time with Nana and Papa, where the grandkids drove the golf cart and swam in the rain and hunted for alligators. The four "big" kids enjoyed our nightly peace and quiet thanks to the Masters, who generously allowed us to use their home. All in all, more great memories!

Florida Thanksgiving - Slideshow Maker

This week's News

We had a fun Halloween. This year Nannie and Papa joined us for the festivities. It was a cold, windy night so we only had 16 trick or treaters! Chooch was the cutest Harry Potter, Cal was a vampire and T was a hippy.

Last night we had conferences for the two little kids - great reports for great kids! Cal-Trish is leading the class in every effort, scoring super high in reading and math. Her favorite subject - science! Love that! She is also managing her talkative nature, even with having her very best friend in the whole world in her class. No issues there whatsoever!

Chooch is coming out of his shell at school and is making lots of friends. He knows all of his shapes and colors and is progressing on his letters and numbers. His favorite subject - recess! Of course!

This weekend starts a marathon of days off for my hubby as the annual hunting extravaganza ensues. Please say a prayer for my marriage as he will not return to work until December 3!

And say a little prayer for him too that he gets some "horns"!

Blah Monday

What a nice, relaxing weekend. I was lucky to have Friday and today off, so it feels even better. I haven't been feeling the greatest, just a cold comin' on, but I really just want to lay around and rest.

On Friday we met my college friend, Joanne, her husband JD (from AZ), and their friends, Julie and Rod, downtown for dinner. We also saw our friend's band, Borrowed Time. Delicious food and sangria at SanChez!

I've blazed through the Twilight series, very addicting. Sad I finished. Now I need something new to devour!

On Sunday, I made my "famous" meatloaf for Matt. It was very yummy and good comfort food on a cool fall day. The kids and Matt raked leaves. We carved pumpkins last night and cooked up the pumpkin seeds.

In order (above) are Mr. Pumpkin Head, Chooch's, Cal's, and T-Bird's pumpkins.

No plans for this blah Monday today except feeling better and taking a nap!

No news is good news, right?

Sorry sorry sorry sorrrrrrrry!!! I know I need to get back into the blog groove and I will try. But no news is good news, right? Kids are happy and adjusting well to school. Work is still there, which is a great thing. I feel opportunities will be popping up in the future and it is always good to have that feeling.



News of late...

The beautiful fall colors have arrived and it is my favorite time of year. We are getting our pumpkins tonight.



My college girlfriend, Joanne and her hubby, JD, are coming to visit tomorrow. I'm excited to see her! We're hoping to head downtown GR for some dinner and catch Borrowed Time at Kale's Corner.



My girlfriend, Marci, is getting married next weekend. She is one of the nicest people I know, so I am very happy for her.



Hunting season is in full swing for the guys, who are planning the firearms deer season annual deer camp. One deer in the freezer so far and a couple ducks.



T-Bird had a great report card - all A's and one B+. Little kids get report cards next week.



No school tomorrow!!! No work tomorrow!!!



No H1N1 flu yet...keeping fingers crossed.



Heading to Florida in November for the first EVER Osto family Thanksgiving. Should be a riot.



I'm missing my family and hoping to see my mom soon.



That's all for now, until I can think of something more interesting to write about. If you have any suggestions, click the comment button and let me know!

Hunting at Camp Osto

Part of the initial inspiration and agreement for Camp Osto, besides the thought of owning our own little piece of land, was hunting (for Osto) and being able to enjoy nature and the river (for me). The sweetest part is the combination of the two tied together with people we love, especially our kids.

This weekend was the youth bow hunting opener and Osto and Bird were able to share Bird's first hunt of the year. Unfortunately, a buck or doe was not to be had, but father/son companionship was the real prize.

They saw 6 doe, a fox, and lots of loud jays. Bird had a nut hatch land on the end of his arrow! Lots of time left for a deer and great memories were made in the process.

Last Hurrah of Summer

Every summer I try to take the kids to the beach for what I call the "Last Hurrah of Summer". Usually this involves a trip to the lovely Lake Michigan Lakeshore to a beach called Kirk Park, which occurred a few weeks ago.

This year we decided to photograph our journey and we found some interesting things on the way - which we shot at the beach and then on the way home.

We hope you enjoy our "Last Hurrah of Summer" as much as we did!

Tyler's First Duck Hunt

(shut off the tunes to get live action!)

This is a video of Tyler's first duck hunt, September 19 in the Saginaw Bay. Tyler was accompanied by his dad and Papa Bob who could not have weapons during this youth-only hunt. Congrats T on your first bird and a great start to your hunting career!

First day of school '09 Pics

Big things are going to happen this year, can't you tell!?

Insomnia

I have been up the last two nights unable to sleep. Luckily I was able to watch Gangs of New York and Hoarders. My insomnia has a direct correlation to stress. And you may ask, what do you have to be stressed about? PLENTY!

The main issue is one that is dividing my community. If you are local, I'm sure you've read about it or seen it on the local news. Its all about a grocery store that will most likely be built where some little league fields now stand. The main issue for me (and there are lots) is that it is very near my home. This has become such a convoluted issue, because the grocery store is going to build the little league new fields. Sounds like a win-win to most people. The other problem is that the land is not zoned for commercial. Our little community has commercial areas that will be damaged by this, two other grocery stores will be closed leaving those giant shells sitting there empty, and on and on....blah. Don't even get me started on the little league.

For the latest news - click here

There, now you can lie awake at night too.

Jenny and Matt

J-Bear and George tied the knot in August! (I'm trying a new video site, so this is a short 30 sec. highlight reel). Turn off the other tunes so you can enjoy!

Perfect S'mores at Camp Osto

Saturday we took the kids and some of their friends to Camp Osto for the night. We tubed, had a great campfire and ate perfect S'mores - courtesy of Osto!

More Clear Lake Pics

Here are the rest of the shots from our annual family vacation to Clear Lake in July. Always a blast, always great memories! When I asked the kids what is their favorite thing about Clear Lake, the unanimous answer was....EVERYTHING!

The Brazilians are back....for a visit

How to make a pirate ship

(Roll mouse over photos for captions) ARRRRGHH MATES!

Softball

My niece made the all-star team. She played near my house last night, so I got see her team win 4-0. Go REE! You're awesome!

Part of the cheering section...

Bunt...but it's a foul ball


A nice RBI

The rest of her fans

Justin Abdelkader

Osto caddied for an LPGA charity event on Monday. He caddied for one of the pros and Justin Abdelkader was in his group. The boys stopped by (along with T-Bird's friend, Zach) to get some autographs. Cool stuff!

Mission: Walleye

We headed over to see Nannie and Papa this weekend. Saturday morning found me as the unexpected coxswain of the Sea-Bob, navigating the oft' chopppy waters of the Saginaw Bay. Our Captain, Sea-Bob himself (kidnapped by pirates as a child, he learned the pirate ways, later he stole the golden teeth of another evil pirate), was assisted by his "first mates" and fishing crew of Cal, T-Bird and Chooch.

Our fish mission: the elusive Walleye.

After several passes of the secret "sweet" spot known only by Cap'n Sea-Bob (and now me) we landed a few beauties. We caught our delicious supper and had a lot of fun too! And the littlest mate fell asleep in the cabin on the way home.