Septemblender XI - 2008

We're very excited to announce the 11th Annual Septemblender will be held in Indianapolis at Carribbean Cove from Friday, September 5 to Sunday, September 7. Most guests will be staying at the Holiday Inn Select North Indianapolis @ the Pyramids.

Stay tuned to this site for further announcements, but we're very excited to announce that no one will have to bring extra toilet paper. And you can all rest assured that there will be plenty of fellowship.


Caribbean Cove Water Park Features

	50,000 square feet of indoor water recreation including Holidome® recreation center
	Connected on 2 levels to the 344 room Holiday Inn North
	Tropical Twist and Jungle Rumble Aqua Whiz body slides 40' tall by 292' long, 40' tall by 267' long
	Raging Rapids Super Flume tube slide 40' tall by 388' long
	Plunge pool
	Boom Bay sports activity pool
	Kastaway Kidz Island complete with water bucket dumping station, wading pool and kiddie slide
	Leisure river
	2 spas
	Jet sprays
	Calypso Cafe snack court including Noble Roman's Pizza and more
	Crazy CoCo's Arcade featuring over 50 state-of-the-art games
	Ticket/prize redemption center
	Merchandise shop
	Ample lounging areas

Septemblender X - 2007

Organized by Matt and Michele, the 10th anniversary of Septemblender took place at the Michigan City location.

Highlights
- Connor's boogie board
- Lil' John and Darrin's pitiful attempts to use boogie board
- Connor's sun burn
- More redneck golf
- The Beach
- Shopping at the Lighthouse Outlet
- Men watching football
- Colts Blenders being fed pizza by Bears Blenders (not literally of course, though Kemp would have preferred that)
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever

Septemblender IX - 2006

The first Septemblender planned by the children, this year Debbie and Kemp were in charge.

Highlights
- Gift baskets care of Debbie
- Saturday night dinner
- Matt burning treated wood in the side yard
- The Beach
- Redneck golf
- Jason and Kemp's (lucky) whiffle ball dominance
- Shopping at Lighthouse Outlet (Matty needs a new pair of pants and some lotion)
- Giant sand hole created by children
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever

Septemblender VIII- 2005

2nd year at the Michigan City location

Highlights
- Allison's Saturday night dinner - I believe it was mostacolli.
- The announcement that the children were now in charge of organizing each year's event (What?!)
- Shopping at the Lighthouse Outlet
- John the Elder sneaking upstairs to watch Notre Dame (I think they were good this year?)
- Guys and children walk and play at the park
- Children creating sand castles, mountains and burying each other.
- Blenders are refused admission to crappy frat dude bar near zoo. Meg chews bouncer out. After we leave, single tear drifts wistfully down bouncer's cheek.
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever

Septemblender VII - 2004

Septemblender VII was the first at the famous Michigan City location
Highlights
- The Beach, of course. The water is freezing, but this doesn't seem to bother the children or Darin.
- Everyone under one roof
- The coffee shop just around the corner
- Shopping at the Lighthouse Outlet
- Beach sandals on everyone’s bedroom door
- Detail assignments by Grandpa ( Debbie brought the bathroom scent.) Whoever was assigned toilet paper lets the whole house down. TP iwas rationed like cigarettes in prison.
- The first wild party Saturday night around the bonfire outside the “elders” window. Elders learn more about their children then they ever wanted to know.
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever

Septemblender VI - 2003

Septemblender VI took place on a campground near Lake Michigan

Highlights
- Pizza and Ceil attacked by bees. Ceil is quite the trooper after getting bit.
- Some sort of very bad teenage rock concert
- Matt forgetting to put the top on his tent, and getting a rainy surprise in the morning
- Kemp and Julies tent that was bigger than John and Katy's current apartment
- Several wonderful plays by the little kids
- Darin and Allison seem brilliant by renting the only cabin within 20 miles. Everyone is envious the next morning.
- Generally considered to be the Most Adequate Septemblender Ever

Septemblender V - 2002

Septemblender V took place in Wasatch Lake
Highlights
- A giant pig.
- Taking boat rides around the lake.
- Fishing
- Debbie announces after the first night that she is tired of being the single mom because this leads to sleeping on the pull out couch.
- Grandpa’s pancakes on the outside grill.
- The conference center with the huge bear and ping pong. Kemp and Grandpa dominate the small balls competition.
- Misquitos
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever

Septemblender IV - 2001

Septemblender IV took place at Turkey Run.

Highlights
- Most famous for the attack of the raccoons, who circled our cabins and made some parents very nervous about Connors affinity towards them
- Lots of rain
- Games at the lodge, including Trivial Pursuit
- Great hikes down between rocky cliffs and caverns.
- General beautiful scenery.
- The picture of the gang on the rope bridge.
- Ceil sings “Who are you – who, who?” as she and her mom led us through the dark
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever

Septemblender III - 2000

Septemblender III took place in Manteno/Bourbonnais

- The distribution of doo rags, which were quickly turned into gang regalia by Matt.
- A trip to some of Manteno's finest bars.
- Lunch and group picture at Green Briar in Bourbonnais. Lil' John is embarrassed to realize photographer/waitress is ex-classmate.
- Swimming at Manteno hotel, famous for Grandpa going topless, if you know what I mean.
- This was the first year that some fellow named Jason showed up. The general consensus was that he would never be heard from again.
- Generally considered to be the Most Manteno Septemblender Ever

Septemblender II - 1999

Setpemblender II took place in Indianapolis

Highlights included
- Special visit with Gazi
- A visit to Chuck E. Cheese
- John's conspicuous absence from the photo due to stomach issues.
-First Septemblender for someone named Katy, who gets lost in the tubes at Chuck E. Cheese and is never heard from again.
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever

Septemblender I - 1998

The first Septemblender took place in a cabin in central Illinois

Highlights included:
- A fire in the front yard
- Grandpa’s first traditional pancake breakfast
- Great euchre card competition
- Darin's uncles' record collection
- The creation of the Darin Orvis award
- Kemp's constant infatuation with Sammy Sosa
- Keepsake notebooks that were supposed to return for notes every year (I still have mine)
- Generally considered to be the Best Septemblender Ever