My Insanely Awesome Family

I kind of just wanted everyone to know that my family is the bomb.

Really.

We have two major activities--reunions, if you will--within a month of each other.

And I look forward to, nay, anticipate each one. Every. Single. Year.

Most people would shy away from such an audacious display of family spirit. Many would feign sickness or work.

But not us. We love it. I love it. Because I really, really love my family. So here's a quick update of the last 2 Lifferth shindigs.

#1. Ja Jawohl! -The German Dinner

Once a year, we get together to celebrate our Germanic (and sometimes Irish) heritage. That's right, people: I am one quarter German, which is pretty awesome, if you ask me. Even if it only helps me in loving sauerkraut and saying my only known German phrase: "Sehr lekker!"

This year's dinner was especially yummy and entertaining.
Four delicious courses and some rocking company.
And what's a German gathering without some underage drinking???
(note the German flags in her hair. Now, aren't we festive?)

It was everything we could have wanted it to be, and more. Plus, we got to keep those awesome beer mugs!

Story for the event: We had the opportunity to sit at a table with my Uncle Karl and his sons. We were enjoying our pork chops and potatoes when Karl let out a swear (something that is not uncommon in our family...). Leslie, always observant and poignant, said, "You just swear?" (we all know how Leslie talks...). It was shyly admitted that he had. To which Leslie responded, "That okay. Sometimes my dad calls me swear words."

Yep. That is my sister.

#2. Ruby's Inn

14 years ago, my cousin left on his mission. We love missionaries, so the fam drove all the way down to Henrieville (this Podunk town in Southern Utah) to see him off. We loved it so much that we just kept going back.

This year was filled with pure awesomeness.

This year I had my first ever experience with the wii (I'm serious. Hadn't played it before. Ever).

Just Dance. It was awesome.

And it wouldn't be a real Ruby's Inn Retreat if there weren't some good hickish model shots.

We also got a rocking deal on snow shoeing.
And this is Ranger Jim:
He really loved to talk. A lot. We would snowshoe for 3 minutes and then stop and Ranger Jim would talk at us for like 15 minutes. So we ended up hiking about 1 mile. But it took us 2 hours.

That's okay. I didn't mind, really. If it weren't for Ranger Jim, I wouldn't know that I am an elk and not a mule deer, because I have large hindquarters and can snowshoe up a hill. Crazy, I know. He also told us that the copper color of this tree means something. But I can't remember what. Sorry, folks. (the tree really was copperish...just not in the pic)

I also just noticed how this photo really defines my elk-like features.

But we got to see some really pretty Bryce Canyon scenery.
So Ruby's Inn was definitely full of some good times. Luckily, a handful of us got the plaid matching shirts memo for easy family identification (sorry for the blurry pic).

And of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without our visit to the Henrieville ward. It was fast and testimony meeting. Unfortunately, only one person bore theirs on the high school's basketball team. Usually there's at least 3 or 4.

So there you go. That's why my family is honestly pretty freaking rad.