Have You Seen This Outfit??

Posting on behalf of my mom...

Has anyone seen the Dutch costume modeled in the picture above (last seen on Anna Gesch circa 1997)? Apparently, my mom is looking for it and can not find it.

While my mom didn't ok this, I'm offering up a fabulous mystery prize for the person in the family that finds this outfit. I can't say what the prize will be, but it will come directly from the Brian and Kathy Gesch household.

Van Drunen Heating Rules!!

Oh... and I almost forgot. Keith and Nick saved the day in the post-flood Gesch household. Nick came by on Tuesday and fixed our furnace and our water heater. After a day of 89 degrees INDOORS as we worked to clean up our basement... and a day where we had to take freezing showers, air conditioning and warm water were a very welcome.

Thanks to Keith, Nick, and Van Drunen Heating!

Caught on camera...

Sawyer continues to love all things Elmo. She also refuses to hold still to have her picture/video taken... unless you sneak it in on her.

The first video is one of many Elmo-on-YouTube videos that she loves- Jason Mraz on Sesame Street.

The second video is a video that I secretly took of her watching the first video. I recommend turning the sound off on the first and playing them both at the same time. You can watch her react to several key points in the video... most notably the appreance of Elmo 0:59.

House Sitting Anyone?

We're going to head south to Florida in order to recover from all the laughing done last weekend. We're leaving on Sunday, August 8 and coming back probably on Thursday, August 19. Is anyone interested in watching our house? Toby, our wonderful lab will be here to keep you company. She will only need to be fed twice a day and let out a few times.

Let us know! Thanks for a great weekend!

55th Anniversary Song (Yous Kids)

What a great weekend- great to see you all again!! As promised, here's the re-broadcast of the 55th Anniversary Song. Enjoy... I DID happen to catch a bunch of you humming this song on your way out today. For those of you interested, I'll post song lyrics in the comment section below.

Oh... and Becky and Kim would like all of your pictures from this weekend. They're putting together a book from these pictures- I'm sure we'll be hearing more details from them on this book in the near future. I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures from this weekend!!

You Might Be a Van Drunen If...

Confession- I'm getting pretty pumped about this weekend at Blue Harbor. Can't wait.

To help to build excitement as this weekend approaches, I propose that we get creative and compile a list:

"You might be a VanDrunen if..."

Blue Harbor Information

Condo #1 - Nick & Karen, Jason & Kristin & family, Kyle & Kelly & Keelan

Condo #2 - Jim & Kelly, Dyke & Karyl, Keith & Cheryl, Mike & Kim, Craig, Alex

Condo #3 - Most of the grandchildren

Condo #4 - Grandma & Grandpa, Brian & Kathy, Rudi & Stephanie & Sawyer, Lee & Jean

Suggested items to bring - breakfast food, snacks, games, etc.

We registered family names at the desk - you will need this for pool passes.

Pictures will be taken at 7:00 on Friday evening.

Golf tee-off time is 2:00 on Saturday at the Town & Country Golf Course, W1943 County Road J, Sheboygan.
We played here 5 years ago.

Let Grandpa know if you need clubs.

On Sunday we will go with Brian & Kathy to their church. At noon we will have a picnic lunch at their home.

Please call with questions or suggestions.

Blue Harbor Weekend Information

Condo #1 Condo #2 Condo #3 Condo#4
Nick & Karen Jim & Kelly Most of the Grandma &
Jason & Kristin Dyke & Karyl Grandchildren Grandpa
& Family Keith & Cheryl Brian & Kathy
Kyle & Kelly Mike & Kim Rudi & Stephanie
& Keelan Alex & Sawyer
Craig Lee & Jean

Bring - Breakfast food, snacks, games, etc.

We registered family names at the desk. When arriving on Friday register at desk for pool passes.

Check-in for rooms is 4:00 - maybe we can get in earlier if they are cleaned.

Tee off on Saturday is 2:00 p.m. at Town & Country Golf Course - same course as 5 years ago. If anyone needs clubs, let Grandpa know.

We hope to take pictures at 7:00 on Friday evening.

Sunday we plan to go to church with Brian & Kathy. Following will be a picnic lunch at their home.

Questions or suggestions are welcome.

Take a Listen

This used to be all over the radio so a lot of you already know this song...but this is for those of you who don't. You may just want to listen to it - the tune will show up somewhere next weekend.

All Set for Blue Harbor!

Restaurant Reservations

This post is on behalf of my mother. On Saturday night, July 24, people will be going to Rupp's Restaurant in beautiful downtown Sheboygan after the golf outing. Rupp's is a nice sit-down place (with fabulous steak, FYI). This little dinner is not required, so no pressure whatsoever to go along - going back to the hotel is great too. However, if you desire to do so, please comment below and let my mom (Kathy Gesch) know by Monday, July 19 how many from your family are going. She would like to make reservations there and needs a number to tell the restaurant. Thanks!

Motocross Travels

My last two weekends have been spent following the 2010 Outdoor National Pro Motocross circuit. The first race was held in beautiful Lakewood Colorado. The track setting was in between two mountains, hence Thunder Valley Raceway. The track had some challenging elevation changes which made for some fun racing. I spent the weekend in Denver with the Wories cousins (Kent, Sarah, Luanne, Larry). For Independence Day weekend I spent with my friend Matt Morris in gorgeous Buchanan Michigan. The track, well known as, RED BUDDDDDD has been a tradition for the past 9 years. We camp and watch the pros for three days straight. The weekend also has a cool fireworks show. Red Bud is one of the oldest and most popular motocross tracks in the country. So anyone wanting to camp out and wake up to the wonderful smell of race gas next year is more then welcome to come.

GOLF TEAMS - 2010

Dear Family,

Since the media frenzy of the NBA free agency is over, we feel the next big news item will be the announcement of the teams for our golf outing. We are not sure this warants a one hour TV special, but it is big news to us. (Each player needs a bag and clubs.)

Team 1 - Alex, Karley, Kelly, Nick
Team 2 - Brian, Cher, Dyke, Karen
Team 3 - Casey, Jim, Keith, Rudi
Team 4 - Conor, Kathy, Korie, Scott
Team 5 - Craig, Emily, Kristin, Mike
Team 6 - Elmer, Eric, Kim
Team 7 - Georgian, Mark, Jason
Team 8 - Karyl, Kyle, Liz, Taylor

T-Shirt $$$

Hey everyone! The t-shirt order is in and I got word back that the shirts will come out to $10 each. So you owe that for the number of shirts from your family. Please either send the money to my mom now OR I can get the money from you when I hand out all the shirts the weekend of the reunion. (This excludes Keith's family, because they are ahead of even me and have already sent their money. Cheryl, you never cease to amaze me.) Excited to see you all!

Zucchini Bread Recipe

Recipe by Helen Myhre (original owner of the Norske Nook)
Makes two large loaves

3 cups flour
l tsp. baking soda
l tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3 tsps. ground cinnamon
2 cups sugar
3 eggs (beaten)
3 tsp. vanilla
2 cups grated unpeeled zucchini
1 cup peanut oil (don't substitute)
1 cup walnuts (optional)

preheat oven to 350 f.
1. in large bowl mix 6 dry ingredients
2. add eggs, vanilla, zucchini, oil, nuts
3. mix well with wooden spoon
4. pour into 2 generously buttered and
floured loaf pans
5. bake for 50 minutes until a toothpick
inserted in the center comes out dry.