Crazy life

Spring and summer came and went and fall is closing in. When did that happen? I went back to work full time, so I suppose that is what happened. Life is very busy these days, and it feels like "sink or swim, baby!!!"

Kid life is in full swing with lots of sports activities, especially football and cross country. Chooch scored his first touchdown and T scored for his team! Very proud! Baby Girl is still flipping around the gym 4 days a week.

Osto went back to nights, poor guy. That schedule is insane. I'll leave it at that.

I am trying to keep my sanity, not sure yet if I am succeeding...but I know it will get better.

Winterfest Meet - Farmington Hills

Cal Trish had her second meet on Sunday. She placed 6th All Around and her team took 3rd place! It was a lot of fun watching these competitive little girls shine!

The team: Coach Ashley and Coach Alyssa

Cal, Sarah, Natalie

Sydney, Olivia, Jada

The 3rd Place Winners & First Trophy!

6th Place All-Around!

Bar Routine: 8.425 (8th Place)




Beam: 8.600 (8th Place)


Floor: 8.775 (5th Place)


Vault: 8.25 (3rd Place)


Vault 2

Snowmageddon 2011!!!!!

Blizzard 2011 is set to arrive this evening. The weather reports say this will (perhaps) be the biggest storm in 40 years. It is going to hit 60% of the country. We'll see! I'll post the before and after pics to capture for all posterity. I had to shovel this morning, no Here is the before:

Appliances

Well the beauties arrived. They are as pretty and shiny as expected. Three of the four buggers wouldn't fit. That's right. Insert swear words {here}. Now, if you know me, you know I am slightly handy. This is only due to genetics and really no talent of my own. If you know Osto, he is compromised in this area, chosing to hire out the work to provide jobs, and thus a living, to those who know how to do things such as installation work. This is economy stimulation you know!

WELL....after 20 cuss words, 20 pleas to the installation guys, 20 phone calls to various "handy" people (darn you), and 20 pep talks to each other, 2 of the 4 beauties are now installed and working. The stove needs a pipe moved (WAY over our heads) and Papa Bob may be able to handle that this weekend. WE (yeah, you read right), WE installed the microwave. And the dishwasher is a project for later. That involves tile removal. UGH!

We are close. I can use all but the dishwasher. I love them so far. Osto is awesome!

Re-Published on 2-1-11 with pics and our new wall in the LR. It is called "Tropical Nut".

First Meet

Baby Girl had her first gymnastics meet on Sunday. She is competing at USAG level 5. Overall she finished with a score of 31.75, not bad for her very first go! We were so proud of her! Nannie and Papa rounded out the cheering section.

Beam 8.05
Floor 7.15
Vault 8.40
Bars 8.15


BEAM



FLOOR



VAULT 1



VAULT 2



BARS

Next Steps

Osto and I bought new appliances yesterday. They are coming next Monday. Something about that makes me feel like a big girl. I rarely spend money on myself, let alone my house. (I know, it shows). But I'm trying to grow up. My house needs it. The microwave handle fell off. Again. The fridge makes a loud humming noise. Then the stove stopped working. Time for these 20 year old appliances to go bye bye. Some will appear on a Craigslist near you soon, if you are in need of a great garage fridge for your beer or sodas.

Now, you know when those pretty babies arrive, all shiny and sparkley, the rest of my kitchen is going to look even more tired and crappy in comparison. I really want to be brave and paint the grainy, golden oak cabinets a really dark almost black brown, but I am a total chicken. I've been talking about it for about 4 years. But its like some forbidden taboo to paint oak cabinets, isn't it? Plus, I'm cheap so I want great professional results that I'm not sure I can pull off myself, so I guess I will have to mull it over for a while longer. Or until Osto kicks me into gear. (I'm the thinker, he's the doer!)

And we are going to paint our accent wall a burnt orange color. For some pizzaz or pop or something. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

Recapping 2010

Well 2011 sure got here in a hurry! I feel like I am a couple of weeks behind! 2010 was a great year and it ended with a bang at the Griffin's game on New Year's Eve. It was our first NYE ever with our kids, as they have always spent it with Nana and Papa. We had a great time and hope to plan more fun events in the years to come.

Highlights of 2010:

• Celebrated Matt's 37th bday in Traverse City with Geno and Amy
• Annual Rau cottage winter trip to celebrate Papa Bob / my bdays - Feb
• Chooch played flag football
• Osto plays his last basketball game (long story short)
• Tim McGraw Concert!
• I celebrated 10 years at my job at the Rain Concert (Beatles Tribute)
• Osto decides to coach girls softball - Calli's team (the Cobra's) / Chooch starts t-ball / T pitches his first little league game!
• Marley makes her debute and retirement in Dock Dog Jumping
• Cal Trish stars in the school art show
• Osto plays in a golf league with his high school buddies
• Family celebrates all the May/June birthdays at the West Michigan White Caps game! A new tradition?
• T plays lacrosse
• Tall Ships celebration in Bay City
• Rau Cottage summer time fun!
• Camp Osto becomes a 1.5 star resort with the addition of power!
• Cal joins a new gym and begins her competitive gymnastics career
• Rau Reunion on the River
• Super awesome UP Trip!
• Annual Camp Osto Labor Day festivities
• Tyler shoots his first deer at Camp Osto on September 26
• Duck hunting on the Bay
• Chooch becomes a Cub Scout
• Wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations with family (as always)

We talked about our goals for 2011 and Osto is going to run a triathalon, the kids want to go to Mighigan Adventure and / or Great Wolf. My goals are simpler...work harder, move more, eat better, sleep easier and of course, HAVE FUN! Should be a peace of cake right!? Happy 2011!

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!