Thanks for coming - See you next year!

A great big thank you to all the O'Bs for making the first reunion picnic a success. Even though the long list of the outdoor activities was shortened due to downpours of rain, it's hard to stifle a good time with this crowd.

As always, thank you to Robin, Gregg and the whole Brooksbank crew for beautifully hosting the picnic and rolling with the punches Mother Nature tossed our way that day.

Tim and Kate dug deep in the O'Brien archives for some truly eye-opening trivia questions. While the correct answers weren't always clear, they sure were entertaining. Kate also masterfully commandeered the whole group at the Egg Toss, which proved once again that the old standards really are the most fun.

Thank you to fellow planners – Alice, Nancy and Kate, for making it all look effortless. The food – delicious; the conversations – scintillating; and everyone looked mah-velous. A casual, hardly official poll was taken. Results show that this may become an annual picnic event. Sometime during the year, a tour of the William O'Brien house on Summit Ave might take place. We'll let everyone know. There were mutterings of a Sparta-Elroy trip for next year, too. Stay tuned!

Pictures provided by, who else?, Tomy (click the link to see them on Flickr.com).

Reunion Picnic – this Sunday at 12pm

The picnic is quickly approaching. Thank you to everyone for offering to bring the following:

Jenn: salad, croquet set, leg ties
Tim: salad
Alice: salad, croquet set
Terry: dessert
Laura: dessert
Robin: drinks
Deb: paper plates & utensils
Kate: chips & veggies, eggs for the toss
Tomy: watermelon

Please bring some cameras, and we can post pictures on the blog for everyone that couldn't make it.

Looks like we're all set!

Just in case:
Mapquest directions from St Paul

Brooksbank Tel #: (651) 433-5569

O'Brien Family Picnic - Sunday, Jun 22

Please join the clan for a streamlined family reunion potluck picnic.

• Sunday, June 22
• High Noon
• The Brooksbank's in Marine

The current headcount is an impressive 35 people!

We're asking each family to pick and choose from the following and bring enough for 10 people:

• 3 substantial salads/main courses (i.e. chicken salad, etc.)
• 1 chips/veggie sticks
• 1 paper products-napkins, plates, forks-enough for 35 (also help with drinks)
• 1 drinks (for 35 people – pop/water)
• 2 desserts (bring enough for 15 people)

Please rsvp your selections by Monday, June 16 either on this blog or to your clan's rep via email:
Alice (aberquist@comcast.net)
Kate (kmob1251@aol.com)
Jennifer (jennifer@catalyststudios.com)
Nancy (nancyobwagner@hotmail.com)

Also, be prepared for good old fashioned O'Brien competitions and games! Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Please pass along this blog to your family members.

Reunion Events and Schedules June 20 – 22

It looks like the weekend of June 20 works for more people. Most if not all activities are family friendly, so please plan to bring your children! We look forward to a fun reunion, and hope that as many as possible can attend.

Please tell us which of these events you would like to participate in.

PROPOSED AGENDA (Please let us know what sounds good to you):

Friday, June 20
7pm Bonfire and hot dog roast at Alvina’s in Marine

Saturday, June 21
Wildlife Walk at William O’Brien State Park?
Genealogy Share at 480?
Tour of William O’B House? – Time TBD or Art Presentation at MIA?

Sunday, June 22
9:30 am Canoe Launch from Log House Landing
12:00 pm Picnic at Brooksbanks’
Trivia Challenge organized by Kate and Tim
Possible skits of Great Moments in O’Brien History

We believe that this is how the RSVPs stand for the weekend of the 20th.

“Not sure” means that we haven’t heard from you. Maybe means that you have told one of us that your plans are tentative.

For the weekend of June 20th-
Nancy-yes
Caragh-yes
Tim-yes
Tomy-yes
John-yes
Alvina-maybe
Laura-yes
Alvina (aunt)-yes

Terry-yes
Jenn-yes
Siobhan-not sure
Gwen-no
Nancy-not sure

Robin-yes
Other Wilcoxes-no

Kate-yes
Alice-yes
Julia-not sure
Deborah-maybe

Please read this and get back to Kate, Nancy, Jennifer or Alice — your planning committee. Please also forward this blog link to your family members so they can check back for updates(http://2008obrienreunion.blogspot.com/).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Welcome, Cousins!

Hello Cousins, welcome to the 2008 O'Brien Family Reunion blog. We'll be posting information about events and schedules in the next few days so please check back frequently.