Happy Holidays!

The Christmas season has finally arrived at Camp Osto! We cut down our tree yesterday and decorated it to the max! I love seeing all the Radko ornaments I've received from Osto and the kids over the last 10+ years. Add to that the ones the kids have made and the ones my grandma, Tootie Rau, hand painted, and it's pure nastalgia!

Baby Girl and Chooch participated in the Chrismon service at church last night. They sang and Cal read a verse. Nothing cuter than little kids singing and playing their instruments to get you in the holiday spirit!

This week we get to enjoy the kids school holiday program too! Lots of fun and excitement in store.

In other news...
JennaBear and George had their first baby today, a little boy, 9 lbs, 11 oz! No name yet!

Chooch lost his front tooth today (ok, I pulled it).

Cal's first gymnastics meet is this weekend.

T-bird is joining the ski club.

Osto is still hunting.

I'm ready for a vacation!

More Fall...

 

More fall...

Hunting collage of Tyler's first deer.

Halloween 2010

Will, Calli, Ella, Payton

Gage & Braden

Lucas, Zach, Kyle, Brennan

Carter and Tyler

The Chooch is Dope!

{Pause the music}
Here is a great video of Chooch dancing to that 90's classic from Bell Biv Devoe - Dope! Hope you enjoy his fly moves!

Tyler's First Deer!

This morning, T-bird shot his first deer during the youth deer hunt. It was a 3 point, taken with a shotgun from his tree stand. Pause the music and enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Hard to tell who was more excited...T or his dad! Congrats Bird, hope this is the first of many!

And the reaction....

10 years

Ten years ago today a little baby came into our lives. To my surprise, that baby was a girl! She has since blessed us with her zest for life, humor, fearlessness, beauty, talents, athletics, and heartfelt sincerity.

Happy Birthday Cal!
We love you more than you will ever know.

Recent Stuff

1) Back to School Pics!

2) Osto has a sudden and unexpected appreciation for wine. This is good, because I love wine and have someone to share it with...and bad, because I love wine and now have to share it.


3) T-Bird is running Cross Country with the 7th and 8th grade team. He is improving every time he runs and even having fun! I know we are having fun watching him.


4) Cal Trish joined the competitive gymnastics team and she will compete in Level 5 USAG sanctioned meets starting in January! She is learning her beam and floor routines and is loving it! More to come...

5) Chooch decided to pass on Karate and join Cub Scouts! More to come on that too.

Back at it

September always brings the end of summer, the end of the laze and the start of the craziness called back to school. Seems especially busy this year but in a good way. Happy to have my kids engaged, involved, and inspired to be part of something bigger than the world they know. Once they get over that fear of the unknown, they always soar! I guess we adults should take a cue from them huh?

I'm going to be an activity leader at church, which is scary in itself, right? Especially when you consider the audience is 7th and 8th graders! I will probably get more out of it than they do, so that is a reward in itself.

Find peace!

Labor Day @ Camp Osto with the families

Please shut off the music to the right first.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

This year's Labor Day was a little chilly, but we still managed a lot of fun. The kids built some awesome forts and played in the woods. Lots of shooting and a chilly tube ride. Good food and great company! Thanks to Don, Curt, Dan, Nancy, Pat, Bob, Chris, Charlie, CJ, Katie, Riley, Hunter, Mark, Missi, Matt, Tyler, Calli, and Braden for making it a fun year again. We love having you all together and celebrating our wonderful family!

U.P. Trip - August 2010

Rau Cottage Vacation - July 2010

We had our annual week at the Rau cottage - a week of eating too much, drinking too much, a lot of doing nothing - pretty much the perfect relaxing vacay. We did the annual walk around the lake, lots of pontoon rides, the kids tubed and kneeboarded. We took a day trip to Tawas where we shopped and walked the pier. So much fun as always!

AHHH SUMMER!

Summer is here! I just loved the more relaxed atmosphere of not having to rush every which way. The kids are sleeping in and the pressures of life are light. "So where you been, Rau?" you might be asking? Well, I didn't say I wasn't busy, it is just a way more FUN version of busy!

Summer started out with little league. All the kids played well and T made the All Star Team. It was a fun (and sometimes stressful year) with Osto coaching and me having to watch T pitch.

We've had some great trips to Camp Osto with the kids and their various friends. We had some SUPER tube trips and looking forward to more fun there in August when hopefully the adults can have a turn! A huge upcoming event at Camp Osto is the addition of POWER! YES!! More to come on that in future posts.

T spent some time in Bay City with Papa Bob in a fishing tournament in June. They didn't have the success of prior years, but I know they both look forward to this event and love the competition and time together.

Cal Trish has had a busy social calendar spending a week in Pentwater and another in Grand Haven! She's always on the go and really enjoying her summer so far!

We had a great time with our friends celebrating Amy T's 40th at a surprise party. Osto convinced the crowd it was keg stand time and then the party really started!
We also had our annual 4th of July with the Ungrey crowd. Always fun and a really great show this year. Next year will be fun with new baby U in the mix.

Last weekend the kids and I went to Bay City to see the Tall Ships. It was like a history lesson. We swam at the beach and had fun with Papa Bob and Hunter Osto who came along.

Papa Dan took the kids to Grand Haven for an evening trip of beach, ice cream, musical fountain and summertime!! I'm not sure who had the most fun.

Soon we leave for the Rau Cottage for a week of pure blessed nothing. Too much food, drink, sunshine and water. A perfect summer vacation for sure!

Then...August brings a family reunion, a trip to the U.P. and the annual family Camp Osto extravaganza!

HAPPY SUMMER!

Chooch is SIX

My baby turns six today! I can't believe it. He also lost his first tooth this week, so lots of big events. Yesterday his brother caught a bunch of tadpoles for him for his birthday. They are now living in the garage in a fish tank. (what a great gift)!

Tonight, Chooch and Cal both have games, then we are having cake and presents!

A friend party next week, followed by a White Caps game with 18 family members.

Happy Birthday Choochie...now quit growing up so fast!

Community Garden

Found out yesterday I am "IN" at the community garden. It is a 20 X 30 plot. My plan is to get it ready this week and get the early crops in since I am already behind. Hit up my dad last night for some tips as he was a farm boy!

Crop plans include: corn, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, beans, peas, cukes, carrots, onions, and maybe some pumpkins (that's what the kids REALLY want)!

Any produce we don't eat will be donated to a local food bank. Its a WIN-WIN!

Chooch's first T-Ball Game!

Chooch's first game! There are pictures of his good friend Quinton too, who is on his team. Chooch (number 10 wearing the red striped socks) did a great job, hitting twice and playing short stop, first base and right field. Not sure who had more fun, us or him! (Special thanks to Grandpa "T" (aka Bobarazzi) for most of these great shots).

Pizza With Everything!

She sings, she flip flops, she dances, she plays softball, she is a straight A student, she is a poet and an author...and now she can officially add "artist" to her list! Her piece, titled "Pizza With Everything", is currently being shown at her school district's Art Fair! This is an honor to be chosen and she did a great job!

Tyler at Bat

Here are some clips from T's second game. Even though his team lost 7-3, he was able to score twice, once after each of these highlights. Great job!

Duck

So last week I opened my front door to see Mr. and Mrs. Mallard duck walking down my front walk...

Then two days after that I saw Mrs. Mallard again in my front yard.

Today, I discovered Mrs. Mallard is really Mama Mallard and she has laid five eggs under a bush by my front door. I accidently scared her off (I didn't know she was there) and then the dog chased her. I hope she comes back.

When I grow up...

...I want to be a Solid Gold Dancer! Bad!

Easter and Spring Break

We had awesome weather (for some days) and a great time (all days) on this year's spring break. We traveled to Bay City for Easter with Mom, Dad, Gramma, and Great Uncle Buck and Great Aunt Peg. Then we stayed local for two fun filled "Kids Rule" days. These included Frederick Meijer Gardens, Dairy Queen, Strikers mini-golf, Craig's Cruisers (for laser tag, go carts and video games), How to Train Your Dragon (Movie), Sonic burgers! whew!

Talent Show

Pause the blog music, then click HERE to see Calli singing in the school talent show! She did great even with the technical difficulties (not her fault)! So proud of her.

Room Re-Do Pics

Here are the first pics from the new room! Just need to finish the desk, get some new lamps and accessorize!!! Turning out so cute.

Room Re-do

Every nine year old girl wants a room that is her heart's desire. My baby girl's heart's desire is a more grown up, but fun room, that is blues and greens. We found a comforter we loved(!) and matched some colors to it ~ spring green, cool jazz and gem turquiose ~ to be exact. More like lime green, aqua and turquoise, but very cute indeed! I found a little old desk at a resale shop that was already "shabby chic" and cute as can be, but when baby girl saw it she didn't like! She didn't want anything "old" in her "new" room!!! I told her we could paint it turquiose and that seemed to be OK.

I have painted and need to do one more wall and then we are set. The dresser will be another day. I am hoping to find a girly chandelier and some fancy lamps. We are going to put up a shelve and make a chalkboard, put up the photo board her fairy godmother made her, and some other accessories.

I think its going to be great and she is already in love! At least it is only with a room....for now....

Let the Games Begin!!!

Well, April and May and some of June will be a little league extravaganza! We have three kiddos playing this year (look for your emailed schedule soon) and Osto is coaching Cal's team, so it will be busy busy busy! Thank God Osto is working a day job now so he can be around to enjoy this! It will be gone so soon. Chooch starts t-ball, which will be a blast!

Can't wait! If you need me, you know where I'll be....at the corner of No Family Fare and Main Street!!! =)

Feb into March

WOW! What a blur of activity over the last few weekends! First of all, I turned 38! How can I be 38? I still feel like I am 13.

The weekend of my birthday, Osto and I went to see Tim McGraw. He found our friends who hooked us up with front row passes and it rocked! I love Tim...

Then, the kiddos went to visit Nan & Pop for a long weekend (the next weekend). Osto and I went to see Rain - A Tribute to the Beatles, a special gift from my employer in honor of my 10 years of dedicated service(!). That was a lot of fun too! That was Friday night. On Saturday we had a seafood extravaganza, since Baby Girl has a seafood allergy and she was outta town, we cooked up a mess of shrimp, lobster, scallops, and risotto and yum yum yum!!!

THEN, this past weekend, Nana came home from FL for a kid fix. She took the kids all weekend. Osto and I went to dinner on Friday. On Saturday, I went up to TC with my mom, and my great friend Gretch. We spent the day shopping, eating, gambling and drinking. I had a great time, even though I didn't win any money.

Weather is turning nice...not so much rain as sun in the past few weeks. Grass is turning green and the damn time changed! Won't be long before my thoughts turn to plants and flowers!

I've had a great few weekends...now I'm ready for a little down time this next weekend.

Victory???

By now, many know the ongoing saga about the grocery store they want to build in my neighborhood, replacing little league fields that have stood on the ground for decades. You also know how much I oppose this project.

This past weekend the store announced it is dropping its plans to build!!! Feels like a victory, but I am cautiously optimistic. I have a feeling this isn't the last we've heard on this, but for now I will do my happy dance! YAY!

For the details click...HERE or HERE.

Dear Osto

You are getting old. I know, I know, I am WAAAAYY older than you, but you are OLD! Love ya!

Me

February

Beautiful sun shiny day today...makes me feel happy. Almost 40 degrees, which is just down right balmy for February.

I really want to go skiing or figure out something fun to do with the kids. Maybe a little ski trip or trip to Great Wolf soon. Too much work, not enough play!

My birthday is next weekend and Osto and I are going to see Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, and the Lost Trailers in concert. I can't wait! Should be a great time. I've seen Tim before, but Lady A is so hot right now they might steal the show.

Chooch finishes up flag football on Saturday and Bird has tryouts for baseball on the 27th. Other than that...no new news with kids.

Just trying to get beautiful for my 38th birthday, for the summer and maybe my 20 year class reunion! *gasp*

All is well in the world!

Cabin Weekend

The whole crew

T-Bird and Papa after a run on perfect trails!

Osto and Cal on the Piper Lake Trail.

Me, Cal and Chooch posing for a shot!

Happy Birthday, Papa! We love you!

Rau boys fryin' walleye (caught by Papa last week)! YUM!

Baby Girl's Poetry

Some of you enjoyed Cal's poetry so much that I decided to "publish" some of her other works. She is quite prolific for a 9 year old, as you will read. Of course, the apple doesn't fall far! =)

Calli

Laughing, Loving, Kissing, Hugging

Daughter of Amazing Parents

Lover of Family, Friends and Chocolate

Who Feels Happy, Hyper, and Stress

Who needds Love, X's and O's

Who Gives Cheer, Joy and Gifts

Who fears loss of Family and Friends

Who wants to go to the Bahams and Poland

Resident of MI

Gymnast

My Bedroom is where I feel safe

I feel safe to do anything I want

Like Singing,

Reading Great books,

And listening to all the sounds that fly,

Fly past my door or run through my vent

I wish Maggie was still here

She was an Amazing Dog

I only knew her for four years

Because she had cancer,

Cancer in her chest so

She had to leave and we never even

got to say Goodbye

Although I was only four

I cried and so did my

Family, It was very sad but,

Everyone and Everything has

A time to leave

We LOVE and MISS you

We always will

GOODBYE

Friends are Dependable

Friends are nice

Friends are amazing

Friends sometimes fight

Friends go through the ups and downs of life

Friends to everything TOGETHER

Having fun doing whatever

FRIENDS

There once was a tree

that stood there

there was another tree next to it

they were like brothers

and in the spring came a

lightening storm

that knocked its borther down,

with a flash of light

there was a CRASH!!!!!

And down on the ground

half a tree, so sad

and that tree stands

all alone

through all seasons

but doesn't she its leaves in fall

winter, leaves are on the ground

looking like flowers across the white

white snow

Alone

Alone

Alone

37 years

Happy 37th Birthday Osto!

I hope this year is filled with more of the best things in life...all the little things that become the stuff of memories and turn into the dreams come true.

Like I said before, you just keep getting better!

I love you!

Cowboy Kid

Mexican Ninja?

Chooch was pretending he was a ninja. He said that ninjas say "muchacha" - which is the Spanish word for "chick". Hmmmm....a mexican ninja?

Funny kid!

Blessed

I feel really blessed. Thanks if you contribute to that feeling. Especially you, Osto!

Gum in the Dryer

So..............
if you happen to be the gleeful owner of a brand new lovely front load washer and dryer............

AND

......you discover that SOMEHOW there is GUM stuck all over the drum of your brand *spanking* new dryer...../gasp/


WHAT DO YOU DO?

a) Interrogate members of your family with the evidence (an Extra wrapper)?
b) Scar your children with the amount of f-bombs and GD's you can drop?
c) Call your husband and proceed again with a) and b)?
d) All of the above?

True story...the answer is "D".

How do you remove gum that is all over the inside of your dryer, like a sad interpretation of a county fair cotton candy machine?

Take a dryer sheet, wet it, and vigorously scrub. Add some straight up liquid fabric softer and scrub and scrub. Miraculously this does the trick!!! I used a little Mr. Metal for the last bit of clean up and sanity is resored.

Amen!
(sorry God, about those GD's)

Sweet victory!

Sweet victory! HA, I couldn't resist! 515,750 has to live on in infamy!

(Plus, I'll probably never see it again).

It's not about the little things

Sometimes the best things come in small pretty packages, tied up neatly with bows.

Any sometimes they arrive on the back of a large delivery truck in a cardboard box and have to be installed by men with names on their shirts.

Meet my new bliss...