Our First Email Reply - from Auntie Mae

On August 23rd the Ystenes Reunion Committee received our 1st email reply:

Received a surprise gift the other day in the form of a huge envelope filled with wonderful, exciting goodies. Thanks to all of you for getting the reunion off and running. A family our size needs to gather like this.

I am very impressed with all that you have accomplished so far - and so early. I had not expected to hear much until the winder of 2008! And I am super impressed with the quality of the material - the layout, the spelling, the organization. Way to go! Aren't we a smart family! I was pleased to see that the hospitality room is rented until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. I hope most people can stick around until then - rather than leaving in the morning. For someone like me who comes from such a distance those few extra hours mean more than I can express. Encourage them to take Monday off so that they are not in such a hurry to get back home early.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know I had received the envelope and have already sent things off to Kyle and Melissa.

Thanks again so very much. It will be something to look forward to all winter. Take Care.

Love & Blessings, Auntie Mae

Flyers! Get your flyers here!

For the dinner, write checks to Cindy Hazen. Please get the money to Cindy by May 1 and mail it to 655 Apollo Dr., Racine, WI 53406. Cindy needs to have the total count of people attending the dinner to the hotel by May 26th at the latest. Thanks!

Grandpa, tell me bout the good ole days

Tell us a story or share a family memory. Do you remember any favorite sayings by Clara or Obert? How about your favorite memories of the Fertile Fair? We want to gather all those stories and memories and put them together for everyone. Please send to: Debbie (Rindahl) Trabert via email debbiety@juno.com or via mail 2341 Green Haze Ave Racine WI 53406.

Send those stories in right away - don't wait until November 30th!

Jean, LuVerne, Doris and Ashley

Wouldn't you agree that Ashley Trabert (top) - daughter of Debbie (Rindahl) Trabert- has a striking resemblance to her Grandmother Doris (bottom right)?

Reunion Update

The Ystenes Reunion Committee meeting on July 31st lasted into the wee morning hours. Well, not quite that late, but lots got done even with all the reminiscing. Next meeting is August 14th at Heidi's house.
From l to r: Debbie, Jodi, Caren, Heidi and Cindy.

Ystenes Family Cookbook

As part of the 2008 Ystenes Reunion, we are creating a Family Cookbook. A collection of favorite recipes from everyone in your extended family. Whether old farm recipes or new favorites, main courses or desserts, please send them in. You can email recipes to pjemmons@sbcglobal.net or mail your recipes to: Jodi Emmons 1112 Echo Cir, Racine, WI 53406. And include a note if a recipe has an anecdote or story related to it - if you always make it for a special occaision or it's someones favorite, etc.
NOTE: Jodi would like to receive recipes by Nov. 30th.

Got pictures?

Send us your pictures - your funny pictures, your old pictures, your new pictures. Email them to ystenesreunion@yahoo.com or mail them to: Heidi Vlach 5020 Indian Hills Dr Racine WI 53406. Include information if you can about who is in the picture and when it was taken. We will show the pictures in the hospitality room at the reunion and post some on this blog. We'd really like to see some of the old farm pictures - so send 'em in!

NOTE: All pictures will be returned to everyone at the Reunion.

Next Meeting July 31st

Next meeting of the Ystenes Reunion Committe will be July 31st at 6:30 pm at Heidi's house.

This picture is from the meeting at Cindy's house on July 17th - from left to right is Cindy (Rindahl) Hazen, Jodi (Ystenes) Emmons and Heidi (Ystenes) Vlach.

Family List from 2002

Here's the list of Ystenes family members from 2002. We know there are new Great-Grand Kids and Great-Great-Grand Kids and some have gotten married, but we need your help to update the list for 2008. Please email us at YstenesReunion@Yahoo.com with your updates, so we don't miss anyone.

Reserve Your Room

The Ystenes Family Reunion returns to the Plaza Hotel and Suites (formerly the Ramada) in Eau Claire June 26-29, 2008.

Contact the Plaza Hotel and Suites at 800-482-7829 or directly at 715-834-3181 to reserve your room with the Ystenes bloc (refer to group #5743).

The Hospitality Room will be available Friday through Sunday from 8 am to 10 pm.

Check out www.plazaeauclaire.com for more details.

Watch Out for the Giant Snake in the Pool!

Remember how much fun all the kids had playing with that huge floating snake in 2002 - I wonder if that snake is still floating around.

Louie's Gang

LuVerne and LaDonna Ystenes and family at the 2002 Ystenes Reunion. Wait til you see how much those grandkids have grown!

Ystenes Reunion Returns to Eau Claire in 2008

June 26-29, 2008

Eau Claire will again play host to the Ystenes Family Reunion.