Oktoberfest



I just googled images of Oktoberfest beer, and I think I saw more images of boobs than beer.  We'll stick with the beer.  You're welcome.

Two weeks ago our family celebrated Oktoberfest for the first time.  It was a gorgeous fall afternoon - albeit a little too hot, but that just makes the cold beer taste even better.  My Dad just celebrated his 69th birthday, it's Oktoberfest time, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner... a good reason to have a party.  What?  Thanksgiving?  Well, we usually have a pretty big gathering for Thanksgiving, but this year it is different.  Half of the family will be in NYC, standing amongst the other few hundred thousand people who will come to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  My nephew Connor is playing his trombone (Bruce!) while he marches along with his high school band.  Watch for Legacy High School from Broomfield, CO.  They are awesome!  So, because half the family is gone (and we will be in OKC) we aren't getting together for Thanksgiving this year - so we had it early. 

How does this food combination sound?  Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, rolls, baked beans, hot German potato salad, sauerkraut, brats, fruit salad, garden salsa & tortilla chips and Halloween cupcakes?  yep.  That's my family.  We love food and there is always way more than we could ever possibly hope to eat.

My dad and step mom hosted the event, and thought that a good way to entertain the kids would be to set up several different games from the Minute-to-Win-it website and let them have at it.  The kids had a good time... and ate all of the M&M's when no one was looking.



Rylan and her second cousin, Milton, competing to land their M&M's on top of the straws




My aunties and my dear, sweet grandma...




Jordan straw sword fighting with cousin Alex.  Second cousin Greg is in hot pursuit




The infamous bee picture...

If you are not up to date... my grandma passed away quite unexpectedly five days after our get-together.  We are all grateful we got to have this afternoon to be together as a family.  I love my bee picture (yes Dean - this one is mine).  But what I should have really been doing was taking a picture of what was going on behind me... grandma was holding Colin on her lap, where he was sitting quite contentedly... which is unusual.

I hope that we make this a tradition.  I like it better than a hot summer afternoon/early afternoon bbq where you fight the heat, sun and mosquitoes.  This was quite nice.  But maybe we should nix the Thanksgiving fare....