marathon blog post #2 -- German Day.

Tradition is big in the Hotzel fam.  Two Christmases ago Devin's mom initiated what we like to call "Hotzel German Day."  Obviously the last name Hotzel is about as German as you get and these boys are big on their heritage.  Nancy orders imported meats, sausages, saurkraut, red cabbage...(you name it... if it's German, we eat it) for Christmas and then it's up to the three boys to pick which day to celebrate.  They also pass this crock of mustard (don't ask) down each year to the new "host" and this year it was Devin and I's turn.  So, with out further ado, feast your eyes on many piles of man-meat, mustard, and all of our friends and fam enjoying it all.  Oh, and beer, did I mention that? Lots of German beer. 

Of course our BFFE's stopped by for a bit.  Pretty sure no one can wear that Alpine hat like Slade!  So stinkin' cute that little chunkamunk. 

Nancy, my mom, and sweet baby Jake/my parents/Nancy and Blake/Tyler and John (John is an honorary Hotzel and therefor the only other one allowed to don the German hat)/Nancy and her boys/passing of the crock - I know it, they're strange. 

Katie and Lauren with their babes/Stegs and Eddie/Molly and Chris/sweet nephew Jakers!/my BFFE Rox was in town! so glad she got to come/boys playing washers outside.

Poor S had a stomach bug and was laid up on the couch most of the day.  She fell asleep at FIVE PM and didn't wake up until the next morning!  She also slept through all the late-night German madness which means you KNOW she was not feeling good.  Apparently she had a great time while she was awake though because even now, a month later, she always asks me "remember when everyone came over for German day?! That was like SO.FUN.MOM!" (she absolutely talks like she's 13 and its scary)

Okay so I didn't take good pictures of the food.  Just imagine every type of sausage there is, various fermented vegetables and the most glorious german apple cake ever made. And beer. Lots. 

Next year it's Katie and Tyler's turn to host at their house. Thank goodness because once every 3 years is about all I can take I think.  

On to the next...our trip to Orlando...