Happy Birthday to Uncle Joe!

Happy, Happy Birthday to Uncle Joe (Elmer Sprick), who is a very young 83 today! Among the relatives helping him celebrate this weekend were two granddaughters.

Zachary Broberg is the 2010 Burnt Wienie champ!

Congratulations to Zachary Broberg, who at age 11 is one of the youngest-ever Coveted Burnt Wienie Award winners! He bagged it for a little business involving a well-aimed snowball and a very, very irate truck driver. Above, Zack received the precioussss 'dog from Hannah Miller, last year's winner. Here's how the day went... Despite the steamy weather, the crowd at cousin Pam's Lake City party pad was large and enthusiastic. Hey, look at that kid in front! He thinks he's going to win! The excitement grew as the gala ceremonies opened. Special guest Zack, Katie Sprick's boyfriend, probably wondered what the hey he had gotten himself into. Niece Hannah was my special assistant during the ceremony, keeping me on task, ringing the bell when the crowd got out of hand and passing out priceless prizes before the big event. Look at that kid in front again! He thinks he's going to win!

Hannah and I are both former winners of the preciousss 'dog, and in fact were nominated again this year, Hannah for ending up in Des Moines, Iowa, when she meant to drive to Mankato, Minn., and me for, er, accidentally swallowing my dental bridge, which is now back where it belongs, thank you very much. But nothing could stand up to Zack's stellar snowball feat.

Zack had been nominated by his dad, cousin Sam Broberg, who upped the ante with a hilarious, rhyming and slightly bawdy nomination speech.

Chris Miller also did a nice job nominating daughter Hannah, but then he told the crowd not to vote for her because she won last year. Even so, every other nominee was simply out-Burnt-Wienied by young Zack Broberg.

Among those in the audience was cousin Sarah Broberg, who wouldn't let just anyone near her prize, an eight-pack of Diet Cokes, her fav pop, but she couldn't resist sweet little Avamarie Miller, 2.

Avamarie watched the glamorous proceedings with her aunt, Cathy Miller Northrup, who was a special guest, along with her husband, Michael.

Among the glittering attendees were Chris Miller, co-star of the www.startribune.com cult classic video "Sidcast," and ever-lovely cousin Jane Kirkwood Hagberg. Both are past winners of the Burnt Wienie, we believe.

The star-studded crowd

Your scrapblog editor tried to pose with as many of the glamorous Burnt Wienie attendees as possible: With cousin Sarah Broberg.

With cousin Nick Broberg, a tall and handsome lad indeed.

With niece Hannah Miller.

With second cousin Marty Broberg and nieces Hannah Miller and Moriah Miller.

Cousins Hannah Miller and Noah Johnson are always happy to see each other.

Hannah, Moriah and Marty.

Noah with his Uncle Michael and Auntie Chats Northrup.

Cousins Elizabeth Miller and Noah Johnson plotted some mischief.

Chats and Michael come to visit

Had a great visit with sister Chats and brother-in-law Michael last week. We spent a couple days in the Twin Cities, then went to Lake City for the Burnt Wienie extravaganza. Visited some favorite old spots: The Old Frontenac beach...

... and Frontenac State Park.

Honoring his father

Last week, cousin Monty Leiser, son of Cindi, grandson of Elmer and Mavis, carried on a tradition created by his late dad by hosting a musical event in Wisconsin. Some snapshots, courtesy of Uncle Joe and cousin Cindi:

We know Richard Leiser, who passed away last year, was very proud of son Monty, who spoke to the crowd here.

Monty's uncle, Dave Sprick, pitched in on the drums.

The Cragars played. Wish we had video!

Mavis, Monty, Joe, Cindi and Dave.

Mavis, Monty, Joe, Sarah and Dave.

Mom's musings

Mom (Alverna Sprick Miller, July 23, 1924-April 24, 2006) would have been 86 this week. To mark the occasion, here are three of her poems published in the Winona State University newspaper's literary edition when she was a student there in the early 1940s. World War II was raging, the Great Depression was underway, the family farm was going bankrupt and her pa, Claus Sprick, was near death. The pensive tone and subjects of these pieces reflect those hard times, but they also reveal the dreams of a bright, hopeful young woman. (Click on each image to make it larger and easier to read.)

So true!

Thought you all might enjoy this drawing by my friend L.K. (Larry) Hanson, former Star Tribune illustrator (you may remember him best from his "Farley at the Fair" series), featuring a lovely, true quote by one of my favorite writers, the great Henry James. So true, eh?

Katie turns eighty!

Say, who's that glamorous lady in the sporty golf hat in the hot Corvette? Why, it's Aunt Kate Sprick Kirkwood, of course, who turned 80 on July 6, 2010. Happy Birthday, dear Kate! Katie is the youngest of the 12 children of Claus and Maria Sprick, and always will be. The jaunty chauffeur is her youngest, John (Tuck) Kirkwood, who granted his mom's wish for a birthday ride in a Corvette. Tuck drove her down to the Wabasha Eagle Center, a lovely drive indeed. Sisters Jane and Sandy at the Eagle Center.

Three lovely Kirkwoods: Sandy, Katie and Jane.

Cousins go to Olive Garden

Thanks to awesome cousin Sandra Kirkwood Hagberg for sending this fine photo of a bunch of cousins eating lunch at the Oakdale Olive Tree restaurant last week. It was great fun to see Sandy and her kids, who came up from Texas for a few days to celebrate Kate Kirkwood's gala 80th birthday. From left: Kelly Turner, Katie Hagberg, Jane Kirkwood Hagberg, Teddy Hagberg, Sandy, Jessie (Paul's girlfriend), Paul Turner, Pam Miller and charmin' Ariana (Jessie's daughter). A good time and large food were had by all.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller and children go to Washington

The Centerville, Minn., Millers (sans Zachary, who has a job at home) have been on a long vacation out East. Here they are in Washington, D.C., all smiling at once: Moriah, Hannah, Mary, Avamarie, Chris and Elizabeth. Future U.S. Sen. Avamarie Miller. She'll give them the old what-for! They also went to Gettysburg, Pa., site of the great, bloody Civil War battle. That's Moriah, Hannah and friend Amanda, who almost qualifies as a Miller, flying off the old stone fence. On the way to Washington, they stopped at the Hershey's chocolate factory in Hershey, Pa., where they took this exciting tour. Let's just hope these knuckleheads brought back some delicious chocolate souvenirs for Auntie Pam. Love this sweet photo of Elizabeth's reunion with the little girls in her adoption group. They're growing up! Avamarie takes it all in...

Millerorama (again)

Once more, your scrapblog editor is pondering the highly intellectual question of whether it's really possible that she can be related to such good-looking people as (Noah, also, and) Chris and Mary's five lovely kids. Recent photos: At Hannah's confirmation at the St. Paul Cathedral: Hannah, 16; Zachary, 22; Moriah, 18; Avamarie, 2, and Elizabeth, 6.

They look real nice standing up, too.

Hannah with her proud big bro, Zachary. Zack just graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Hannah got her braces off a couple weeks ago, making her look even more grown up. She's learning to act and model. Auntie Pam is very proud!

Note to auntie self: Must hire security guards to watch over lovely nieces!

Proud grandparents and their awesome grandkids

John (CJ) and Kate Kirkwood with their grandkids: Kelly, Katie, Paul, Teddy and Jeff.

Leah's lovely family

Delighted thanks to cousin Leah Sprick Davidson for forwarding these family photos: Leah with granddaughter Chloe Davidson and Chloe's parents, Colleen Benken Davidson and Richard Davidson. Chloe, a Florida State student, had just won a regional award for an art project.

Richard and Colleen. They live in Gainesville, Fla.

Christopher Sands, son of Leah-Jean (LJ) Davidson Purtee and grandson of Leah, celebrated his 27th birthday with his wife, Haley.

Mark your calendars for the Burnt Wienie gala!

The invites are in the mail. Click on this one to make it larger and easier to read: