Saturday, January 31, 2009

Skiing!

We went skiing today. It was the first time for the kids. Everyone had fun, Choochie had a few tears, he was a little afraid, but did well when he wasn't thinking too much. Bird and Cal took a lesson and were flying down the hill in no time, with little fear! We even made chair lift runs with the big kids. No one wanted to go home! We'll be going back in February for sure.

Check out the pics (sorry some are in b&w), Chooch and Cal fell asleep on the way home. All that fresh air, I guess!



In case you don't know what a ShamWow is...




The official CampOsto Review is that this product doesn't really live up to its "WOW" reputation. It is absorbent, but not so great at wiping up spills. We poured about a quart of water on the floor and it did sop it up, but when we tried to dry the floor with it, it just really spread the water around.

I'm still a Vince fan though...the Slap Chop commercial is even better. He's more polished and has better hair. Plus he's got some great one liners...

Monday, January 26, 2009

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!! Thirty six years ... you are on your way to 40! I love you and know this year is going to be a great year for you and for us! I hope you like your Sham WOWs!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Winter Pics

Here are some recent snowy day pics from the latest snow storms that rolled thru...



Sunday, January 18, 2009

So Far...

January has been a pretty good and uneventful month so far. Uneventful feels pretty good after the hectic holidays. New Year's resolutions are on track. Kids are taking guitar lessons, we've paid 100% cash for everything (which is amazingly fun), and we are working out like fiends (except maybe not six times a week). Oh well, I am happy and satisfied (and amazed at how much money we spend on food)!

We are also enjoying skyping with our families and seeing their faces when they are far away! Our good friends are moving south to Brazil for two years, so it will be fun to keep in touch with skype, especially for our kids who are close. If you have skype, let me know!

Also looking forward to celebrating our January / Feb birthdays over the coming weeks. My sis-in-law, Melissa, turned the big 4-0 earlier this month. Hunter and Osto will have bdays at the end of the month, followed by my dad and me in Feb. This year we are going to celebrate in style at the CLB, a bar up at our cottage, where you can get pizza, beer, cake and your name on the sign outside! How can you beat that for $50 bucks? Pics will follow for sure!

We've continued to pile on the snow with lake effect and clipper systems and regular old fashioned snow storms. It is Michigan after all - what do you expect? Personally I love it, and today there is a beautiful fluffy snowfall that is perfect, but chilly! I'll try to get some pics posted for our friends and family who are in the warm climates!

Facebook has been so fun. We've caught up with so many people from high school, college, and elsewhere! It has been amazing finding long lost friends and seeing what they've become, how big their children are, what cool jobs they have, who married whom, and all that stuff. I highly encourage you to get a FB account if you haven't yet. It's free and fun and addicting! Its also one of the reasons I haven't been blogging so much.

Kids are all well. Chooch is so funny! Matt was making stupid jokes and Chooch suggested that "maybe ants had crawled in his head and made him all jokey." Jokey? Only Chooch would say that!

Love to all! Stay warm and well!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

New Year's Resolutions

1) Pay cash for everything

2) Work out 6 days a week

3) Play my guitar better than ever (especially with a headlamp on my head)


I'm excited about all of these and thankful my family is participating in all of my goals.

Rock n roll!

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year and a look back...

January 1. The new year brings a lot of expectations and resolutions and renewed vigor to accomplish goals or change all those old bad habits! It also always makes me think back on the past year, let's recap 2008...

bunco
fencing
trip to traverse city
poker
scouts
basement floods (again!)
Osto plays charity basketball and almost gets in a fight
my car accident
Brad and Shelly got hitched
Siver goes to Iraq (and comes home)
T-bird gets braces
We get Marley!
Kris has baby Vaughn
baseball and softball
Riverbank Run
new patio
Cedar Point
dance recital
Osto starts his new job
Grand Haven
Dan and Nannie turn 60!
Rau Cottage
Guitar playing
CAMP OSTO!
Dog training
Marshall Run
Two 40th anniversaries!
More Camp Osto fun!
Kids start 4 year preschool, 3rd grade and 5th grade
Safety patrol
Cal starts gymnastics
Trick or Trot
Lots of Birthdays!
Trick or Treat
Hunting and more hunting
new President elected
Chooch plays soccer
The holidays

Of course, there were many more things than these, but these are just some of the highlights. Sadly, the last few months of 2008 brought a lot of loss to our families. My cousin, Michelle, lost her husband Erick to cancer at the age of 39. Papa Hunter died at the age of 87, and Osto's uncle Andre died from an unexpected heart attack at the age of 59 while hiking in Arizona. We'll always remember these people fondly.

So now its on to 2009 - I hope you slay your dragons or whatever and have a great year!