THE KOLLER FAMILY: The Jensen Symposium 2008

The Jensen Symposium 2008

In July we all met in Cincinnati at the Mizukawa's house for our family reunion. The Jensen Symposium (which was 18 months in planning) was a great success! Everyone came prepared with a class/lecture on whatever topic they desired. Everyone was SO creative and came with visuals, power point, handouts, gifts etc. The kids were welcome to attend the classes if they wanted to, but we also provided fun activities (and distractions) to keep them busy. The symposium was intermixed with July 4th activities and a triple baby shower for the three expecting moms - me, Kathryn and Amanda, all due in August. Everyone submitted topics and class titles ahead of time so we could have t-shirts and schedules printed. I was fortunate enough to be the organizer or "COPC" (Crazy Overzealous Project Coordinator) this year. Next year someone else gets to be the COPC. The position is still up for grabs. For our inaugural year, I went with a very inspiring theme, taking from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem Ulysses the line, "To Strive, to Seek, to Find and Not to Yield." The sky was the limit as far as picking topics. These were the classes for 2008...

(Summaries and pictures below)

The Uncommon Common Man: Harry S. Truman - Jenny Rebecca Mizukawa

Where's the Punch Line? - Kathryn Ojuka

Tibet: "What's Up on the Rooftop of the World?"- Doryl Jensen

My Time in Alcatraz and Other Things You Don't Know About Me - Shannon Detling

The First Week of Leukemia - Benjamin Mizukawa

A Taste of Something New: It Doesn't All Taste Like Chicken! - Amanda Detling

Rabbits, Radishes and Rural England: The Life, Art and Stories of Beatrix Potter-Emily Koller

"The Mother Land" - Ken Ojuka

A Doll, a Snuggly and a Good Book: Rocking Chair Moments with the Jensen Girls Thanks to Eloise Wilkin Watercolors - Kathy Jensen

Marathon Training: Running Faster Than You Have Strength - James Koller

A bonus I didn't count on was being awarded the very prestigious and coveted "Betty Lou Award." (An award in honor of our amazing grandmother, Betty Lou Anderson. A few years ago, Jenny, Kathryn, Amanda & myself decided to circulate this award between the four of us when we did something "Betty Lou worthy." Jenny had it previously, but each of us has had it at some point over the last six years.) So the future COPC has something to look forward to!

Proud to have the Betty Lou.

Adult Shirt - Front

Adult Shirt - Back (Hard to see in this picture, but we had the classes listed on the back)

Each family got a bag loaded up with their shirts, binder, supplies, etc.

The bags were a gift from me and James.

Our binders for schedules and notes.

Kids Shirts - Front

Kids Shirts - Back

Some pictures from the classes...
(Summaries still to be added)

CLASS #1:

The Uncommon Common Man: Harry S. Truman - Jenny Rebecca Mizukawa

Jenny presenting on Harry Truman with her book, flags and whiteboard.

Class #2:
Where's the Punch Line? -Kathryn Ojuka

We got to sample a million drinks. Some of Kat's favorites: Vitamin Water, Ginger Beer, Sangria, Yoo-hoo and Ginger Ale.

Class #3:
Tibet: "What's Up on the Rooftop of the World?" - Doryl Jensen

Class #4:
My Time in Alcatraz and Other Things You Don't Know About Me - Shannon Detling

Class #5:
The First Week of Leukemia - Ben Mizukawa

Class #6:
A Taste of Something New: It Doesn't All Taste Like Chicken! - Amanda Detling

We had to close our eyes while Amanda gave us food samples. We recorded each of our guesses and to nobody's surprise dad had the most correct answers. (Some of the samples: capers, Greek yogurt, soy nuts, really strange olives, candied ginger and seriously stinky cheese)

Amanda frying Cream Cheese Wontons

Beef Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef)
Bulgogi literally means "fire meat" in Korean (this refers to it being cooked over a flame, rather than if it were spicy.) Bulgogi is traditionally grilled, but broiling or pan-cooking is common as well. This dish is sometimes served with a side of lettuce or other leafy vegetable, which is used to wrap a slice of cooked meat, often along with a dab of ssamjang (a thick, spicy paste), kimchi, or other side dishes, and then eaten as a whole.

Kat enjoying her wontons.

*SCROLL TO END FOR RECIPES

Class #7:

Rabbits, Radishes and Rural England: The Life, Art and Stories of Beatrix Potter - Emily Koller

My Beatrix Potter display.

Class #8:
"The Mother Land" - Ken Ojuka

Food from Uganda:

Matoka: Mashed African Plantain (Curried Banana)

Cassava: Yucca Root with Spinach in a Peanut Sauce

*SCROLL TO END FOR RECIPES

Class #9:
A Doll, a Snuggly and a Good Book: Rocking Chair Moments with the Jensen Girls Thanks to Eloise Wilkin Watercolors - Kathy Jensen

Mom brought an elaborate display of Eloise Wilkin books and art.

Class #10:
Marathon Training: Running Faster Than You Have Strength - James Koller

James with his power point and demonstrating something with his good old running shoe.

Triple Baby Shower:
We had a family shower during the symposium for me, Kathryn and Amanda - all due in August. It was fun for everyone. The babies were born within three weeks of each other and also weighed within three ounces of each other!

8/8 Henry James Koller - 6lbs 6oz - Louisville, Kentucky
8/22 Nora Kay Detling - 6lbs 5oz (Born on her daddy's birthday.) Stamford, Connecticut
8/26 Julius Otim Ojuka - 6lbs 3oz - Provo, Utah

Getting ready for Baby Bingo. This was a first for the dads.

Beautiful baby blessing outfits made by Juanita Dunlap!

Me looking crazy excited about the cute outfits from Carolyn Yow.

Daniel in the Bumbo Amanda and Shannon gave us.

The race...

The dads had a race to see who could dress and change the baby doll, pack the diaper bag, etc. the fastest. It was a close and competitive race, but...

Ken came in first, Shannon second and James third. Although James claimed that if you look at quality ("having changed more diapers than his brother-in-laws") his baby doll would come in first. All in all, it was a great show.

The baby name game. We divided into groups and made posters of baby names for each family. The dads had to throw darts for first and middle names. The results... Daphne Rachel Detling (Fortunate enough to avoid names such as: Frederika, Paprika, Brunhilda, Rosalie Hale and Jane of the Volturi)

Results... Darrel Denmark Ojuka

Results... Lamar Tyreze Koller

JenSym Story Time For the Kids:
Throughout the symposium, the kids could pick from the following (true) family stories for bedtime. They were posted on the wall by the basement stairs. Wow! What a successful activity. The kids LOVED it and have been retelling the stories ever since.

Story Selection:
"There's A 'Possum in My Kitchen" - Amanda Detling
Grandpa Doryl Slugs A Pickpocketin' Gypsy! - Doryl Jensen
Snakes Alive!! - Grams
Aunt Jenny and the Angry Beehive - Jenny Mizukawa
Aunt Emily and a Horse Named Buck - Emily Koller

The Hungry Chipmunk - Shannon Detling
The Cat and the Bat - Grams

Grandpa Doryl telling about the gypsies. Now that's a story!

Grandma telling a story.

Daniel VERY interested.

July 4th at the JenSym:

Jenny's "Flag Cake Making 101" for the kids

Sam likes to do the mixer.

This cake is amazing! (A Martha Stewart recipe)

Amanda and Daniel

It was SO humid that the guys could only get a few of our dozens of fireworks to light.

Jenny, Amanda, Kat & Me - Waiting for the fireworks

Seth in his Fourth of July outfit. An outfit that belonged to Ben's brother David.

Cincinnati Waterpark:

Leah, Ruth and Daniel and somebody we don't know.

Annie and Daniel

Maya and Kate

More Pictures:

Two Jensen family favorites. Mom's Almond Rice Pudding with Raspberry Sauce and Mint Drink!! Served at the Jensen Symposium opener... while I introduced the theme and talked about "Ulysses."