May 17, 2007

by Janine Calsbeek

Sioux County Capital-Democrat (reprinted with permission of Pluim Publishing, Inc)

Four graduate. One weds. Everybody's at the Fest.

ORANGE CITY – This weekend, last weekend, next weekend... they're full. There's a weekend off, then the June wedding.

That's graduations for four family members, a wedding for one, and Tulip Festival for everybody.

It means green slushes, rusk buns with dried beef cheese spread, and Sneuw cones. They're family traditions.

Candace's friends have been wondering if her mom still makes those rusks at Tulip Fest, she said. Of course.

It's the Kuiken / Brunsting family, four girls ages 18 to 24, and two Tulip Queens, Rebekah and Alicia. Of course, Carissa wasn't allowed to be on the court, since the family moved from Alton to Orange City two days too late, she said. And Candace? "I have no talent," she said.

Carissa and Candace were homecoming queen instead.

The three oldest sisters went to Northwestern College, and last weekend Candace, Alicia and Carissa's husband Austin graduated. Rebekah, the youngest and always ready to try something different, is headed for Taylor University in Upland, Indiana to major in international business.

Rebekah, Alicia and Carissa are the travelers of the family, Rebekah to Thailand, Alicia to Mexico and Guatemala and Carissa to Guatemala and Nicaragua. "I don't leave," said Candace with a smile. Of course, both Carissa and Candace have worked as nannies in Rhode Island, and had some brushes with the rich and famous. Candace played with Tom Hanks' kids, Carissa met Mark Wahlberg.

Rebekah is headed for Rhode Island this summer.

Candace is getting married to Blayne Van Marel June 9, and hopefully moving to South Carolina, she said. Carissa married Austin Janssen in December, and is studying physical therapy at Des Moines University. Alicia is keeping her options open for this coming year... but does plan to marry Doug Gunderson one of these days.

The talker of the group?

Candace.

"Not any more," said Candace.

Rachael: "She's the talker."

The competitive one?

Austin, especially at Rook.

Who's the smartest?

Candace: "I'm the dumbest."

Rachael: "They're all smart."

Also, they're all the same size, more or less.

Which means that they fight over clothes, said Austin – i.e., who is wearing whose clothes, whether or not certain clothes may be worn by others, which clothes should be returned to the owner immediately.

When Candace gets married and moves, it'll be tough for her sisters and their wardrobes.

Of course, Rebekah has lots of shirts. She seems to buy a new shirt every time the Tulip Court goes somewhere, said Candace.

"We shop a lot," said Rebekah. "Tulip girls do."

Talents in the family?

Candace and Austin can curl their tongues and cross their eyes. Alicia is the champion at rolling her r's and translating Spanish into English. Candace can belch. Almost everyone bikes and/or runs. Carissa and Rebekah ran the Joan Wilson Memorial 5K in Le Mars the morning after prom.

Who is the favorite daughter? Is there one?

Alicia: "Yes, but I'm not going to say."

Candace will. "It's Rebekah. I couldn't drive to Sioux City when I was a senior. She drives to Des Moines!"

On the other hand, Candace butters up their mom, said Rebekah. "Candace picks out clothes for Mom."

Rachael: "There's no favorite."

Austin: "I'm the favorite."

Rachael: "You're my favorite son-in-law."

Only son-in-law too, of course, said Rog.

Kind

Rog works for Vogel's E-Z Liner. Rachael's on staff at Landsmeer retirement community, and loves it.

"It's relaxing. You're everybody's child. They're so proud," she said. Every time something hits the paper about the Tulip Queen, Landsmeer residents clip it for Rachael.

And when someone new visits, Landsmeer residents introduce Rachael. "Did you know she's the mother of the Tulip Queen?"

But the Brunsting/ Kuiken household on Juneau Avenue will be quiet this fall. Rachael is not sure how she's going to manage.

As her daughters remind her, she'll have lots of places to visit. And she'll feel a little richer, they tell her, with most of the girls out of college.

"That's what you raise them up for," said Rachael, to send them into the world.

Tulip Festival?

Carissa and Austin won't make it... she has to study for finals, he has to work. They saw Queen Rebekah at Pella's festival instead. But the rest of the family will be here. Traditions include riding the tractor with Grandpa De Jong in the parade and watching Grandma Kuiken march with the MOC-FV alumni band, pretending to play her French horn since they didn't have marching band when she went to school here.

Rebekah likes the new windmills in the park, and the new Dutch fronts... some of which Austin helped build and Doug helped paint.

With two Tulip Queens in the family, plus Austin's sister Haley crowned 2005 queen, it makes one wonder... What's their secret?

They're talented, said Rog... all of the girls are.

"They're both kind," said their mom, "kind and genuine."

Sister queens and their family

Rebekah and Alicia Kuiken were almost the first sisters to be both crowned Tulip Queen. Actually, the only other sisters to ever be named queens here, according to Orange City records, were Marjorie Brower, 1941, and her baby sister Freida Brower in 1958. Rebekah (front, left) is the 2007 Tulip Queen and Alicia (front, right) was queen in 2004. Their family includes (back, l-r) their sister Carissa and her husband Austin Janssen, their parents Rachael and Rog Brunsting, and their sister Candace. Their father Bruce Kuiken died 14 years ago. (Photo by Janine Calsbeek)

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