Rockstead Reunion in Wisconsin

August 6, 2007

This is the 1st annual Rockstead Family Reunion in Wisconsin.

The past few days have been pretty good. So many different languages, it's interesting to know they all came from the same family. We are staying in a sort of beach house, but not really on a beach. Like a lake cul-de-sac. The house was built by a monsiour (reverend). Upstair today is not like it was. I'm guessing it was one big meeting room. Today, there's a shower/bathroom and 4 bedrooms. A bathroom under the stairs and a master bedroom with a walk-in shower (we hear). The place has a mini boat ramp with a canoe with no oars and a paddle boat. Temperature is pretty nice. Only this morning, the heater was running. Guess that would explain some humidity yesterday.
Azucena has been showcasing her dancing talents. Marcus has been trying to keep up and doing a nice job of it. Marcus and Doug learned Spite or Malice and spited each other the rest of the night and today. We had lunch yesterday at the location of Azucena's grandmothers house. Only now it's a mocha place (Mocha Moment (www.mochamoment.com)). Like a Starbucks wannabe, only better. We had cookies baked for us (I mean US
since they opened the place just for us on Sunday)(Monster Cookie was probably the best), Apple Cider -mmmmmm, small sandwiches - mmmmmm, Fruit with yogurt and fruit without yogurt. Coffee - mmmmmm, brownies - mmmmmm. Chess and Checkers. Fireplace, couch, rockers, tables, wireless connection...We took home the extra brownies, sandwiches and fruit. A whole batch of brownies were brought out just as everyone was leaving, so we took them. We'll be back. See their blog. It tells how it got started and pays homage to Azucena's Grandmother. www.mochamoment.com/mochablog/mochastory.html

We relaxed today, Doug/Marie and kids left by car for Texas. Cousin LeRoy (le Chef) headed back to his billion dollar family he cooks/nannies for. Mr. Doug and Ronald should be by on Friday. Rockstead kids of Cecilia Rockstead (where Mocha Moments now resides)... Douglas, Alana, Susan, Ed (went out with the flames last year), Sally and Roger. Sally, Doug and Ed weren't here. Probably 20 or so showed up for the reunion luncheon.

We'll probably do the water park routine tomorrow and other parks after  that. Right now, the few of us are telling stories. Maybe we'll go bowling later tonight.

August 8, 2007

I guess I should start at the beginning. We arrived at the airport 1 hr  15 min early. We caught our flight as they were shutting the doors. We  picked up our luggage 2 hours after we arrived. (Lines were unusually  long and my travel guide thought First Class check in would be the  fastest, not the slowest. I guess we shouldn't have stopped at  McDonalds. Me thinks they cancelled an earlier flight and that was  causing all the delays)

 It's Tuesday and we are all alone. The last of the original guests for  this place have left us. They are headed back to Michigan. I also found  out that Uncle Rocky is part of Cecilia Rockstead's husbands' brothers'  family. His wife is from Australia. By the way, the Rocksteads have been  here so long, they named a county after them. ROCK. The Rocksteads lived  in ROCK county. (I made the story up about the county being named after  them, but they did live in Rock county. Actually named for Rock River in  1836, about 70 years before the Rocksteads came over)  Ronald should be here Thurs or Fri. Mr. Doug Rockstead might show up on  Friday. We leave on Sat. Aunt Susan and Charlie will be back this  afternoon, bring their camper and spend the next few days here.  Cousin April and David are in and out. They live an hour away and with a  few dogs and infant, they are more comfortable going back and forth.

 It's Wednesday and we are all alone. The last of the other orginal  guests for this place have left us. Aunt Susan and Uncle Charlie. They  left around sunup. Yeah, we get the big bed....  We might do the paddle boat thing this morning around the cul-de-sac  lake. Later probably putt putt and don't know what else.

 Till later, bye.

August 9, 2007

Didn't I just email everyone yesterday??? I can tell you are waiting with bated breath (whatever that means).

Since the last of the reunion had left by 8am Wednesday, we are almost alone. We did a boat tour and some putt putt at Pirates Cove. 5   courses to choose from and enjoyable. Winner from your group gets an ice cream cone, then you can play the next 18 at 1/2 price. Cousin April, Dave and Amelia stopped by around 2 and we visited Water World, less than 10 minutes down the road. Had a splashing good time. Got a bit red around the neck and arms, but isn't that what   vacation is all about? Water World is not quite as big as Noah's Ark, which   claim to be the largest water park in the world. Hmm, does Schliterbaun know about this? Mt. Olympus is a real large water park with about 1/2 indoors. This little 1 mile strip reminds us a lot like a mini Las   Vegas with their glamor and ads and themes (see Mt. Olympus). Water World/Riverview Park has 9 racing tracks. Most are real small, but one looks good enough for a trial run. May do that before we leave.
Thursday is another day all to ourselves here at the "LightHouse". Azucena picked up cousin April and David and Amelia and went to church at Holy Hale, or Holy Hell, wait, it's Holy Hill. Sorry, can never remember. So, now I get to walk around the place nekked. What a   riot. No one telling me what to do, what to wear, what to eat. Pies, brownies, pizza, hmmm. Ok, so I'm not nekked and no I didn't eat any pies or brownies, but   now that I think about it, it is time for dessert. Then I'll hit the   WII for excercise. I think there might be a drive-in movie in our future.
If you want to know more about what goes on, tune in for our next episode of "ROCKSTEAD FAMILY REUNION" (did you get the big voice/echo feel?).