Listen up, cousins! An important alert

The scrapbook editor, who you'd think would have better things to do than bother you-all, has come up with a brilliant idea to ensure that you read the scrapbook regularly, the whole thing, all more-than-1,000 entries, because, what do YOU have better to do? At next year's Burnt Wienie contest gala award ceremony and potluck, we'll have a 25-question quiz about our family, all of whose answers are available in the scrapblog -- IF you've read it. Two extra-credit questions will come from the scrapblog's archives and longer-document reading room site. There will be a fabulous prize, not to mention honor and glory, to the person who aces it best! Wow! Start studying now, cousins. (The scrapblog editor will exempt herself from this contest, because as you know, she's a know-it-all.)

Avamarie's orientation continues

New cousin Avamaria Felicity Xin Qian Miller continues to settle in comfortably and happily. Below, she got a lesson in American fashion from her stylish sister, Hannah Marie Miller, age 15, during a trip to the Como Zoo in St. Paul. We think Grandma Maria Augustine Sprick would be pleased and amazed at all the people who share her name. Inexplicably, nobody is named after Pamela or Alverna -- yet. Large eyewear, ala the late great Jackie O, is an important fashion accessory, Hannah explained.

The gangsta hat was courtesy of Till Engelmann, the pleasant young German teenager who is spending a few weeks with the Miller family, himself picking up important American tips about eyewear and headwear as well as the unique brand of English spoken by the Chris Miller family, including useful phrases such as, "Toilet paper on the main level, please!"

Noah and Jamie

Cousin Noah is seldom seen, except by his mother, who sees him every day when he's not working at the new TCF Stadium at the U. Understandably, he spends a lot of time with this lovely person, his girlfriend, Jamie.

Uncle Joe turns 82

Uncle Joe, aka Elmer W. Sprick, aka great husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa and uncle, turned 82 today (8/22/09). He showed off this stunning, priceless gift from sister Kate Kirkwood, a whirling fisherman sculpture, very impressive. Ask him to see if if you're at his place; it's very cool. Incidentally, Joe, a great fisherman and woodsman, got a shout-out recently in one of our favorite blogs, Red Wing Nature Notes. Click here to read it.

Mav 'n' Av

Brand new cousin Avamarie Miller has a big smile for everyone, but she took a special shine to Aunt Mavis this past weekend at Pam's Lake City place. Mama Mary looks happy too. Uncle Joe wondered: Is Mavis teaching Ava to patty-cake, or to pray like a Lutheran?

Tanya cleans up

Couldn't resist swiping these images of cousin Tanya Cook from her Facebook page. She's beautiful in both photos! By the way, we're so happy that Tanya's husband, Levi, is out of the hospital, where he was severely ill with H1N1 and pneumonia, and even working again. All best to Tanya, Levi, Sonia, Maria and Perrin!

The Class of '74 parties down

This photo is woefully small and we'll try to replace it with something better soon as we get it, but you can see that the Lincoln High School (Lake City, Minn.) Class of '74 had a great time at its 35th class reunion last week. Your scrapblog editor is the large, red-faced one cutting up at left, standing between wonderful Mark McKenzie, our saintly musical whiz, and the Rev. Karen Swanson, who is a scamp, don't be fooled by that Episcopal priest thing. One very important class member was absent -- cousin Jane Kirkwood Hagberg. Next time, Janie! Hatcha-doot!

Sending prayers Anna's way

We're all thinking of our dear Aunt Anna Sophia Sprick Smith this week. After a week of illness that included two trips to the hospital and some confusion, she's feeling a tad better at her new residence, the Lake City nursing home. It's a sad move, but we know Anna will be safe and well-cared for there, and will brighten the halls and gets lots of mail and noisy visitors, namely, you-all. Her address: Anna Smith, Lakeview Nursing Home, 500 W. Grant St., Lake City, MN 55041. We love you, Anna!

A beautiful day on the Mississippi backwaters

This past Tuesday morning ... ... was an especially beautiful day on the Upper Mississippi, especially on Indian Slough and other backwater areas of the river near the Wabasha bridge....

... and in one modest boat could be found wise and courteous fisherpeople Elmer and Mavis ...

... and complete fishing noob (at least in the past few years) cousin Pam ...

... Whoa! When the net comes out, you know something big is coming up! ...

... And sure enough, Mavis reeled this gigantic catfish out of the big river ...

... whilst cousin Pam reeled in this giant bluegill. (Yes, Pam did have a fishing license.) What a wonderful morning it was! And fish were only a small part of its wonderfulness. Thanks, Joe and Mavis, for taking me out!

Four wonderful old photos

Found these in one of Aunt Anna's photo albums. Click on an image to make it larger. The back of this undated photo says: "Nona B., Annetta S., LeRoy S., Arnold E., Emma S., Mildred B., Leslie J., Clarence S." Pretty special to find a photo with Clarence (Sept. 11, 1918-Jan. 20, 1929) in it.

This one, also undated, is marked: "Emma, Annetta, Mildred, Alverna, Marion, Anna, [last name hard to read, looks like Leonia]." There are eight kids in the photo, but only seven names in the caption.

Lots of familiar faces in this June 1936 photo: Adelaide, Marion, LeRoy, Alverna, Vi, Ed, Annette, Florence, Elmer, Anna and Katie.

This one says: "Family reunion, summer 1946. Annette and Hart Kulseth, Stegs, Spricks, Joe on leave, Alma and Mrs. B."

Annette-ah

Aunt Annetta Sprick Kulseth has a big, radiant smile in every photo of her we find. Adelaide and Annette were all dressed up for a July 1938 trip to Aitkin, Minn.

Hart and Annette looked extra spiffy in this 1942 photo.

A delicious mini-meal

The cousins got started early on family reunions featuring large, delicious food. Here cousins Patty Lou, Sandy, Cindy and Janie chowed down while little Karl looked on from a nearby bed.

This photo was taken in July 1961.

One very pretty aunt

Found this lovely colorized photograph of Aunt Emma "Tex" Sprick Krociel under a larger photograph of Tex in an old frame, along with the other photos below: This photo/painting was dated 1938, when Emma was 21.

An undated photo of Emma on the Lake Pepin beach.

Emma out on a pier, maybe in Lake City, Minn.

A wonderful dad and grandpa ...

... Charles John Kirkwood, that is! Uncle John with Janie and a dog Janie didn't much like in August 1957.

With incredibly cute grandkids Kelly and Paul Turner in June 1988.

The Schmidt kids

Love these sweet photos of cousins Karl and JoAnne Schmidt:

Karl Schmidt in June 1970. Karl died of complications from Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 1982.

Karl in the 1960s.

JoAnne in the 1960s. JoAnne now lives in the old Schmidt home south of Red Wing, Minn.

Avamarie is home

The newest little Miller, jaw-droppingly cute, arrived late Sunday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with her mom, Mary Miller, and big sis Moriah. Her reactions to the delighted people there to welcome her ranged from intense curiosity to abject terror, which is about right for anyone meeting the Millers for the first time. Seriously though, she is perfect in every way, and we couldn't be happier to see her. Congrats to Chris, Mary, Zack, Moriah, Hannah and little-sis-turned-big-sis Elizabeth!