Tyler's homecoming

A belated Happy 18th Birthday to cousin Tyler Broberg, son of Sam and Bridget. Tyler, a senior, is a star with Eagan High School's football Wildcats. A couple photos from Eagan's homecoming:

With his homecoming date. With proud younger brothers Alex and Zachary.

Tyler excels in sports, academics and kindness to others. We're proud to claim him as a cousin!

The chain-saw gang

Cousin Dave and his dad, Elmer "Joe" Sprick, sure know how to have a good time. These zany madcap loggerheads like to get together on weekends and cut out culls. Here they are at Dave's Eau Claire estate after a hard morning's work.

Playing soccer with Elizabeth

Anyone who knows young cousin Elizabeth Miller knows that even at 7, she's a go-getter. Check out these photos of her playin' soccer: Run, Izbee, run! Being cheered on by her best pal, Sophie. Just try gettin' past her! Elizabeth's dad, Chris Miller, jokes that when she plays goalie, they call her the "Great Wall of China."

Happy 90th Birthday to our dear Aunt Anna!

No Sprick sibling of her generation has lived this long. Happy 90th Birthday, Aunt Anna (born Oct. 16, 1920, in Lake City, Minn.)! We love you! (If you want to send Anna a card, she's at: Anna Sprick Smith, Resident, Lake City Nursing Home, 500 W. Grant St., Lake City, MN 55041). A few photos from her long and lovely life: On the porch at the L-shaped farmhouse in West Albany Township, Minn., with kid sister Marion Sprick (later Broberg). Anna's at right, in the jaunty cap. Poverty was general then, but the Sprick kids were well-loved, so they thrived.

With siblings Clarence and Marion Sprick.

Anna Sprick, confirmation photo.

With handsome brothers Elmer (Joe) and LeRoy Sprick.

Anna, far right, after her wedding to Hal Smith, with relatives Vi Sanders Sprick (wife of brother LeRoy), Marion Sprick Broberg, Adelaide Sprick Detlefsen and Hal.

Anna with her very first niece, little Leah Sprick (later Davidson).

As a WAVE during World War II with sister Alverna Sprick (later Miller) and Marion Sprick (later Broberg) and niece Leah Sprick (later Davidson). Anna, the lovely and noble WAVE, during World War II.

After World War II with siblings Edward Sprick and Marion Sprick (later Broberg). All served their country during that great and grim war.

With nephew Christopher Edward Miller and niece Pamela Marian Miller in 1958.

With sister Alverna Sprick Miller, her dear sibling and friend. With great-nephews Nick and Marty Broberg. At the Berlin Wall.

Noah and Jamie visit Old Frontenac

Noah and Jamie spent this past weekend in Lake City and Old Frontenac, where to Noah's mom's delight, they visited all the great places -- the marina and Bronk's in Lake City, the park, the beach, my land, the old Miller house and the memorial benches in Old and New Frontenac. They shared a few snapshots: Noah by Grandpa and Grannie Miller's old house, where he spent many happy days playing as a little kid. By the very fine outhouse on his mom's Old Frontenac land, where this immortal, oft-quoted exchange took place when he was a little kid: "Grannie, I don't want to use an outhouse!" "But Noah, why not? There are 50 years' worth of history in that outhouse!" Jamie hugged one of my sugar maples. Beyond, the grapevine windbreak and the Old Frontenac field.

Noah and Jamie took a break on Grandpa and Grandma Miller's memorial bench, which sits in the northeast corner of the Old Frontenac field.

Noah ran across the field, just as he did when he was a little kid, and just as his mom, uncle and aunt once did when they were kids.

Jamie and Noah at Frontenac State Park.

Amid the prairie plants at Frontenac State Park.

Noah on a park trail.

Jamie on a park trail. Watch for deer, watch for birds, watch for Lakota ghosts.

Honoring a senior Sprick

On Oct. 16, 2010, our dear Aunt Anna Sophia Sprick Smith will turn 90, making her the longest-living Sprick kid of her generation. Life isn't easy for Anna now -- she's living in the Lake City Nursing Home, struggling valiantly with mobility and memory problems. But her sweet good nature remains intact, and she seems content. This weekend, a few folks visited her to welcome her birthday month: The surviving Sprick siblings: Florence, Joe (Elmer), Katie and Anna.

Anna has a smile for every visitor.

Cousin Britta Augustin, from Germany, was a very special guest.

Seven 'n' seventeen

Life being precious and all, your scrapblog editor believes in celebrating every birthday. Also, birthdays involve cake, and what is better than cake? This past Thursday night, a few of your Miller cousins gathered at Auntie Pam's Robbinsdale place to eat large amounts of pink cake, oops, we mean to celebrate two very important birthdays, Hannah Miller's 17th and Elizabeth Miller's 7th. Some snapshots (most by wonderful photographer Mary Miller, which means that once again, to our horror, we don't have any photos of lovely Mary herself, ack): Our birthday princessas, Elizabeth, 7, and Hannah, 17. Let's get this fire, we mean par-tay, started! Bring on the matches! The pink cake was made by Auntie Pam, who reluctantly agreed to share it with the other people at the party.

Cousin Noah lit the candles.

Luckily, the smoke alarms did not go off.

Making a wish or two.

Why yes, the pink cake is delicious, especially with pink ice cream, opined cousin Avamarie Miller, 2. May I have a third piece?

Elizabeth then commenced to open a pink card. The card's theme was Dora the Explorer, who looks somewhat like Elizabeth.

Elizabeth displayed some of her gifts, expensive children's books that Auntie Pam got dirt-cheap at the Star Tribune employees' book sale (don't tell anybody!).

This Barbie doll looks just like Elizabeth!

And this Barbie doll looks just like Hannah! Actually, Hannah is prettier -- and better dressed!

Avamarie and her older sis, Hannah, cuddled on the big red couch.

Awwwww. What a great big sistah Hannah is! (We missed other big sister Moriah Miller, who was away at Minnesota State University-Mankato.)

Handsome young Zachary Miller with Auntie Pam, she of the very square face and ... mismatched eyes??!! Good heavens! Is Auntie Pam turning into Marty Feldman??!!

Whew! That's a little more like it!

Suddenly, a small child butted in on Zack and Pam's portrait, considerably increasing the cuteness quotient.

Cousins Noah Johnson, 21, and Zachary Miller, 22. Wish Grandpa and Grandma Miller were alive to see their beloved grandsons, all grown up! Cousin Chris gave a few speeches. Everyone listened closely!

After the hubbub died down, Elizabeth, now a first-grader, did some seriously excellent coloring in her new Barbie Princesses coloring book. Even better, she read that all-time classic, "Go Dog Go!" to her mom, dad and Auntie Pam.