Christmas in Big Rapids & Holland

Here are some highlights of Christmas with the Dad's side of the family.



December 2008

Christmas in Brighton & Muskegon

Here are some highlights of Christmas with the Mom's side of the family.



December 2008

Christmas Picture Taking

One annual tradition in the Hollywood Four household is to corral the kids in early December to take Christmas pictures that will be sent to family and friends. As tradition has it, Andrew always complains, gets in trouble, drives Mom crazy, gets a time-out and until which time he returns with a much better attitude. This year was no exception. Any ways, here is the behind-the-scenes look at Mom in action.



December 2008; Starring Abby and Andrew

Happy Turkey Day!

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving Day at the Hollywood Four studios. After dinner (and after the Lions got thumped), the kids played "pin the hat on the turkey."



November 2008

Columbus Weekend

The Hollywood Four took a trip to Columbus, OH this weekend. It was a low-cost anniversary weekend get-a-way (with children) in which I cashed in Marriott points for the hotel and United points for Restaurant.com certificates. Didn't get much video footage; but here are the kids swimming in the pool on Saturday.

Novemer 2008; Starring Abby, Andrew

18 Years Ago (part 4)

Here is part 4 of 4 posts from our wedding 18 years ago. This is the slide show that was shown at our reception.

November 1990

18 Years Ago (part 3)

And now for the wedding ceremony ... well, actually just a few clips of the receiving line afterwards (it was dark and our wedding ceremony footage is hard to see).

November 1990

18 Years Ago (part 2)

Okay, today we look at the poofy dress, big hair girls ...

November 1990; Starring Mom, Kelly, Kathy, Molly, Susanne, Jessica, Callie

18 Years Ago (part 1)

As a follow-up to yesterday's post (our wedding anniversary), the next couple days will be a few wedding clips out of the family archives. Today, the baby-faced, full hair, mustache guys ...

November 1990; Starring Dad, Drew, Brit, Hersch, Wibs, Steve

Happy Birthday MOM!

Well, today Mom Hollywood officially turns _0 years old (you fill in the blank). So here is a walk down memory lane in case she has forgotten (the music in the background is Karen's Theme by The Carpenters).

October 1968-Present; Starring Mom

Ott Family News

Here are a couple news items from the Ott family (Karen's side).

Shawn Ott catches 37 inch pike. Received photo last night. I guess it took 45 minutes to land.

Ricky, Gina, Riley & River launch new family blog at

http://the-ott-family.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday Dad!

Yes, today it is Daddy Hollywood's birthday. Last night I was greeted with some extra-special large chocolate chip cookies, a new pair of Detroit Lions pajama pants and this little video from the kids. It's so nice getting old.

September 2008; Starring Abby, Andrew

Happy Birthday Herbie!

Today is the 95th birthday for Herbert Lawrence Ott (Mom's grandpa; Abby and Andrew's great grandpa). Here are a few photos of young Herbie as well as some video footage taken at a recent visit a couple weeks ago.

September 2008; Starring Abby, Mom, Herb, Minnie, Dick, Barb, Don, Joy, Rick, Shawn, Kathy, Erica

Blackout Lifted

Well, we finally got our power restored. Here is a short video clip of the kids running around outside as the remnants of Huricane Ike were pounding northern Ohio. Our power went out a few minutes after this segment was filmed.

September 2008; Starring Abby, Andrew

Mom in China 1988

Nearly 20 years ago, Mom (Karen) went to Beijing, China to visit her Grandma and Grandpa (he worked at Beijing Jeep). She also visited some cool places like Hong Kong and Thailand. Here are a few brief clips I found in our family video archives (nice glasses!). 12 years later the Hollywood Four would go back to China as a family.

1988; Starring Mom, Grandma, Grandpa

Jake's War

Or make that, Jake's Revolutionary War re-enactment. My sister-in-law asked me to edit and burn some footage of "cousin Jake" onto a DVD for her. I figured while I was at it, I would post a little highlight clip to the blog.

Early 2008; Starring Jacob

Family Reunion (part 3)

Part 3 of 3.

August 2008

Family Reunion (part 2)

Here is part 2 of 3.

August 2008

Family Reunion (part 1)

This past weekend was the Wiechmann (our old country name) family reunion. The next three days I will be posting some video that was taken at the reunion. Special thank you to Rodney and Crystal for hosting this year's reunion (click here for highlights from 2006). Also special thanks to cousin Mike for all of the geneology research on our family roots (and for the neat binder containing his findings to date). My only regret is that we did not take a all-inclusive family photograph at this year's event. Well, I guess we'll have to wait until 2010.

August 2008

Correction: Mike told me that I have improperly labeled some historic footage in the film I posted a few months ago. That is Gary, not Jeff, in the scene with Uncle Jerry in the military outfit.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Attention: We interrupt this string of vacation highlight posts for this important message -- Happy (9th) Birthday Andrew! We will continue with more vacation video footage tomorrow. But for now - here is a short slide show of pictures from Andrew's Birthday party today (beginning with a sad walk down memory lane).

August 2007; Starring Andrew (and friends)