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