Memorial Day Weekend 2007: Sunday in Iola

As family reunions go, Sunday was the main event. Church was in the morning, followed by the big meal of fajitas (we were in Kansas, so we pronounced them fuh-jai-tuhs). I cooked 28 pounds of the stuff and there was plenty for all.



I was deeply honored that Pop let me borrow his designated cooking area. You know, not just anybody gets to use Pop's grill...



When the bell rang, people started to line up - but I'm not sure who some of these people are, come to think of it.



To the inexperienced onlooker, it probably looks like I'm in deep thought in this picture. The bitter reality was that I was cursing my freakishly small bladder which mixes poorly with beer.



The auction was a hair-raising experience for Pop. All in all we raised about $2600 to go back into the reunion fund, which is great! Amy's "The ABC's of Kansas" scrap book went for $135, and then she sold 4 more for $130! Not bad for a Weseloh-by-choice!

Monday morning we had our traditional Arkansas Pie (biscuits and gravy) out at Pop's and then we set off for home. It rained on us again the entire way and by the time we got back to Austin, we were so glad to be home!

Memorial Day Weekend 2007: Saturday in Iola

After almost dying 3 times in 5 minutes in Fort Worth thanks to the rain and an apparant lack of drains on the freeways, we had a pretty easy trip up to Iola. For the reunion, Kristi and I were in charge of the food among other things (let's face it, the food is what counts) and Saturday night was chili (with hot dogs, frito pie, etc.) at Mark and Deanne's house.

For some reason, when Bryce and I were grilling the dogs, we just couldn't get them done enough - they weren't cooking! But when Mark took over, they cooked quickly to perfection. Perhaps our shorts just weren't emitting enough ultraviolet radiation...

The afro-twins, Brigham and Gavin.

Two rules: there's no crying in the country, and kick ball is only played with boots.

I was kicked out of the kick ball game because I didn't have any boots. Jordan is antagonizing me all the way to the porch trying to give me a "flat tire".

Jaylee and her dog, Bud. I thought this was a real cool picture and it just might show up an auction one year...

Briann trying to ... wait, does it really even matter? This picture speaks for itself.

Memorial Day Weekend 2007: Granbury

We kicked off our Memorial Day weekend on Friday - I took the day off and Amy had to finish up her last day at school. Gavin was supposed to play his last baseball game that night, but the rain started on Thursday night and didn't show any signs of stopping. So about 3 PM we decided to leave for Kansas early and stop off in Granbury for the night, where Amy's family was gathering for the weekend.

Baby Alex gets a bath in the kitchen sink.

Camdyn's theory is that you never know when you're going to need a spare piece of candy. In this case, she had a sucker standing by on her blanky, just in case...

In the morning, nothing beats a good cup of coffee for Grandmommy and a good thumb for Alex.

What a hottie. And Alex doesn't look half bad, either!

Of course, no trip to Granbury (however short) would be complete without a trip to Mi Familia's for margaritas and a little porch sittin' with some cold beer and a good pipe. It was still raining, so it was extremely relaxing to sit on the porch with Don and just relax, listening to the rain fall. If we didn't have Weseloh reunion plans in Kansas, I'd probably still be sitting there right now, but we had to get up on Saturday morning and after coffee and donuts, we hit the road with plans to be in Iola by about 4 or so to start working on dinner. It was raining when we left, and it would pretty much rain on us all the way to Iola.

Get Your Deutschen On!

Since we've moved to Pflugerville, we've been hearing about the Deutschen Pfest, which happens in May of every year. We didn't really know what to expect, but in my mind I envisioned men walking around in Lederhosen, drinking beer and playing tubas. If you want to know the truth, this is what I envisioned:



Oh wait, I forgot the beer:



MMMMmmmm... beer. That beer looks good, doesn't it? I could look at that beer all day long...

But evidently, Deutschen Pfest is none of that, except for the beer (Budweiser is German beer, isn't it?) As we got closer to the grounds, I didn't hear any polka wafting through the air, but I did start to see signs in German pointing to the "Bier". As we got closer, I even saw the German flags waving in the breeze. I could hardly contain my excitement. I couldn't wait to see the beer! I frantically searched for the booth to buy lederhosen...

But it just wasn't to be. Instead of merry polka music with German men dancing with mugs of beer in their hands, I was greeted by the sounds of carnies tyring to lure me and my family into their evil clutches.

That's not to say that it wasn't fun, because it was. It was simply just a case of bad expectations on my part. But let's be honest - with a name like Deutschen Pfest, wouldn't you think the same thing I did? The truth is that it was a little more Pfest than Deutschen, but that's okay.



The bottom line is this: if you're somewhere and somebody is cooking Smoked Turkey Legs, Grilled Sweet Corn, and Kettle Corn right in front of your eyes, you're in the right place I don't care who you are.



All in all, a good day at Deutschen Pfest 2007 and we'll definitely be back next year. Now - does anybody know of a good Oktoberfest I can hit up?

2007 Weseloh Reunion Update and Agenda!

This should be the last update before next weekend's reunion and should contain just about everything you need to know. Just a general note that this year we won't have a large group of people until Saturday night. We're still going to have activities, though, so don't let that deter you from coming before then!

Friday Dinner

Whoever is in Iola on Friday night, head on down to the Country Lanes where there will be Pizza and Bowling! Prices are very reasonable - I think a few bucks a game. So if you're in town, head on over. Besides, you have to leave the motel room so they have time to put mints on your pillow and make those little animals out of your wash cloths. Start time is around 6:00 PM.

Saturday Breakfast

I have heard it said by many of you that the waffles at the new motel are the best culinary treat that Iola has to offer. I'm anxious to find out, but if you haven't had a chance to experience them, Saturday morning will be your chance. Breakfast at the motel (free), or on your own (probably not free). After breakfast, there will be a mini-tour of Iola for the little ones to pass on our fond memories to them - including a trip to the cemetery and ending up at the park, where the play equipment is still the same (in some cases) as it was when I was a little boy (no fat jokes, please, I'm sensitive). The motel is the starting point for all of the morning activities.

Saturday Lunch

After the park, the clan is heading over to Mark's for a little bit of sammich building and some swimming. Speedo's are optional, but let's just come right out and say it - if you're a blood Weseloh, PLEASE wear yours. Let's show everyone the rich German specimens that we are!

Saturday Dinner

More and more people will be trickling in on Saturday afternoon and we'll congregate for dinner at Me B and Pop's deck. Menu includes a little bit of Texas, Clarkson-style: Chili (Frito Pie, Chili Dogs)! After dinner there will be speed boat racing in the pond, unless all we can rent are canoes and paddle boats. We don't have a final cost for this meal just yet, but think in the neighborhood of about $5 for adults and older kids.

Saturday Night

Snipe hunting in Mark's bedroom from 8 PM to 5 AM. Cost: free. Bring your own Country Mart brown bags and sticks.

Sunday Breakfast

Breakfast on your own (mmmmm... waffles) followed by Church. Immediately following Church, change clothes and head back out to "The Deck".

Sunday Lunch

(Have you noticed by now that I'm using meals to lay out an agenda? God bless my Weseloh heritage...) Lunch will be on "The Deck" and will be a trip to Fajita-ville, which is not too far away from Margarita-ville, but much less known. Again, we'll be doing it up Texas-style, although Fajitas have definitely become an all-around favorite everywhere by now. Again, I'm not too sure of the cost just yet, but like Saturday night, think in the neighborhood of $5-$10 for adults and older kids.

(Fajitas have been a weekend staple at the Clarkson household for about 30 years now. Be sure and ask Grandpa Tim to tell you about how he used to get skirt steak for 2 cents a pound.)

Following lunch, Keely will be doing the dishes and we'll get the annual business meeting underway. Please don't forget to bring your auction items and a few extra bucks to give some money back into the reunion fund. When that fund runs out, reunions will be much more challenging to plan and get off the ground. Just a quick note, but the BIG Weseloh reunion is back in Iola in 2008 again, so be thinking about your ideas. Last time was a hoot and we got many compliments from our non-Arnold Weseloh cousins.
After the meeting, some folks will be heading out. For those that are left, the big kids will go on a scavenger hunt while the bigger kids will do some other fun activities on the deck, such as planning the big 2008 reunion and a Weseloh grandson strip-off (I think Chris is leaving Sunday afternoon, so he goes first.)

Sunday Dinner

On your own, but just in case you haven't had enough chips and queso at lunch, join us for some Mexican Food on the Square.

Monday Breakfast

For those that are left, come and build up your strength for the long drive/flight back home at "The Deck". Menu TBD, but the traditional Memorial Day exit breakfast has always been Arkansas Pie, a Pop Specialty.

That's about it for 2007. Before I forget, please visit the Yahoo! Group if you have time. As many of you know, getting a reunion together for 50-something people spread around the country can be challenging and ends up being more challenging than it has to be because of all the changing addresses and contact info. Please take just 5 minutes to register with the site so that we can communicate with each other not only during the reunions, but throughout the year as well. After you register, it's as easy as sending an email to the group email address. Send me a note if you need the information.

See you next weekend!

(For those traveling, travel safely and sanely.)

The 2007 Weseloh Reunion Committee (Ronny and Kristi)

Home Runs and Hot Wings!

Today was a pretty sweet set of milestones for Gavin. In his baseball game tonight he hit his first Home Run. In addition he hit a single and a double, along with 3 RBI's and as a result he got the game ball. He hasn't gotten a game ball since playing in Pflugerville so he was pretty excited about that.



The emotional high carried him right through to dinner at the local pizza and wing joint. I ordered some HOT wings and after about the fifth one I think I realized that I was in over my head. Not truly thinking he would accept, I challenged him to a wing eating contest. Ten-foot tall and bullet-proof at this point in his day, he DID accept.

Two bites into the contest I was wishing that I hadn't opened my mouth. My lips were on sweet, sweet habanero fire. I looked up and Gavin was chowing down on his wing like a man on a mission. If the pain wasn't affecting my ability to see straight it probably would have bothered me that his mission was to destroy his old man, but all I could think about was the pain on my lips getting worse with every bite.

He won.

And about 5 seconds after he finished his wing (mine was only half-eaten) the heat set in. 30 seconds later and the tears finally started squeaking out. I wasn't really sure where I was - I think there was actually some sort of tree frog poison in the wings.

He survived and I survived, but I know the worst is yet to come. Oh, the blessings of being totally oblivious to Habanero Hot Wings, the Sequel: Burning Ring of Fire. That oblivion ends tomorrow.

Mother's Day 2007

Mother's Day 2007 is upon us and that means two things: Olive and Garden. Back in Houston we would go to early service and then hit an early lunch at about 11:00, beating the crowds. I had it all worked out to military precision back there. Being in a new town, I was a little bit nervous this year. We decided to skip church this year and have a relaxing day at home, which turned out to be a very wise decision.



Amy wanted a watch this year, so I went all retro on her and got her a Swatch.



Cheese (and squint)!



We got to Olive Garden about 10:45 and there was already a huge crowd! I'm not sure what the balloons were for, though. Evidently either people in Austin generally get hungry earlier or they are as anal about being organized as I am. Probably a little bit of both. The real problem was that the knuckleheads at Olive Garden evidently didn't really think that they would be swamped by about 200 people right at 11:00 when they opened. What a mess!



We did get a table, thanks to Amy flashing her, um, Swatch.