Oktoberfest

It was a fine Saturday morning.  We had spent a few hours relaxing on the couch, coffee in hand and discovery channel on the tv.  Then, I saw THE Facebook post.  THE post that changed our Saturday.  The Heinemans were in Vail at Oktoberfest.  I commented something along the lines that we should be there, or why weren't we there, or something of that nature.  I didn't think much of it, until... until my phone went crazy.  I'm not sure what was first, the Facebook response or the Text Message instructing us to get in the car and join them with a sales pitch of blue skies and only a 90 minute drive.  I was sold at the four letters that spelled V-A-I-L.  Vail is my ALL TIME favorite mountain town (and ski mountain).  Blue skies sealed the deal.  My only challenge was to convince Keith that it was a grand idea.

Keith had planned to finish the back yard bar.  It's basically done, but there is some finish work that needs to be done.  We have had more fun enjoying the summer than finishing the project.  I walked into the garage to find Keith setting up shop to work but he didn't seem very motivated.  I informed him that the boys and I were going to Vail and then I proceeded to beg him to join us.  He said Yes.

50 minutes later, the garage was back in order, we were showered, dressed, snacks were packed and we were in the car and pulling out of the driveway.

It was that easy!

90 minutes later, we were in Vail, stein in hand and entertainment front and center.

Jennie demonstrating double fisted steining.  Yes, this is a real thing, when you're steining at Oktoberfest.

What would Oktoberfest be without a few (yes, there was more than one) round of the Chicken Dance?

Owen and Oliver loving Oktoberfest and the Pretzel's

Oktoberfest Alpenhorns.

Pretzel's that take a strong arm.

These two were cutie patootie!

They danced and danced and they reminded me a bit of Mr and Mrs Claus.  Take a close look because this isn't the last you'll see of them.

Mommy and Kellan enjoying the great company and fun entertainment.

What would Oktoberfest be without the Chicken Dance and a Brat Eating Contest?

Having fun watching the Brat Eating contest.

The girl behind me doesn't look like she's much of a fan.

Eating, Eating, Eating.... UGH!

Kellan looks a bit disgusted himself.

After a final tie-breaking round, the skinny guy won.  The only one that was opting for water over beer.  Maybe, he's a minor and still has a metabolism of a teenager.  That's our only conclusion.

After all of the fun of watching strange men shove brats into their mouth one after another, Eric decided to take the boys on a gondola ride.  He and Owen had ridden it earlier in the day so he wanted to get his money's worth on the pass.  Unfortunately, it was closed for lightning and there was a threat that he could get stuck at the top for four hours with three boys.  He opted out.  This also meant that our 80 degrees and sunshine may be coming to an end.  Regardless, Kellan felt quite comfortable on top of Eric's shoulders, which put him over 7' tall.  Notice, he's not even clawing his fingers into Eric's forehead like he does with Mommy and Daddy.  Clearly, this is his happy place.

If you can't ride the gondola, you might as well have a dance party...

... and eat SUPER EXPENSIVE ice cream.

Oh yes, when I saw the credit card statement I said "Really? $23 for 3 ice cream's?" Yes, yes it was true.  That's the price you pay for one day of vacation ice cream in Vail.  Oh wait... it wasn't ice cream, it was gelato.  

I told Keith, if I would have known that it was a $23 investment, I would have invested in a few more stolen bites instead of letting it melt before my eyes.

At the end of the day, the boys loved it, so who cares.

We won't talk about how much each beer cost.  That's not the point and that's my story.

Aren't they super cute eating that fancy ice cream (gelato)?

Oh yes, give it up for MORE CHICKEN DANCE!

As if a few Chicken Dances weren't enough, there were Conga Lines too!

Chicken Dance, Conga Lines, Storm Clouds.... Erch... Storm Clouds?

Yes, the storm clouds came rolling in like clock work.

It dropped the temperatures but fortunately, it didn't drop more than that and a few sprinkles.

How can I resist a photo bomb?

Mmm Hmmm  Eric is in there with that fun crowd.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get over far enough to see him very well.

There he is, after he was discovered and the crowd broke up a bit.  See the tall guy out of costume in the back.  Mmm Hmm that's Eric.

More Dancing!

Cutest Oktoberfesters in Vail.

Owen, Oliver and Kellan

More Dancing... if that's what you would call this.

You should be afraid... very, very afraid (or smitten... I prefer smitten)

Rockin Oktoberfest is always more fun with upside down Babiators.

There was even a costume contest.  When people line up for a costume contest, I might as well take their photo.

The Cute Pie Girls.

Honestly, these are really the cutest pies there, but they didn't enter the contest.

They don't look too thrilled with it either.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!

The Ladies

The Gents

The two adult winners.

Remember the cutie dancers?  Mmmm Hmmmm There they are again. Taking home the stein and title of best Oktoberfest costumes.

I still think this guy could have won, gymboree turtle shirt and all.

Hey Hey Single Steining at Oktoberfest.

Be afraid! Be very afraid!!

Love Jennie and LOVE LOVE LOVE that she convinced us to jump in the car and join them.

Oh no, that wasn't the end of the fun.  There was even keg bowling and our boys had front row seats.  See them in the orange, blue and gray clinging to the fence?

Eric and Jennie enjoying the festivities.

Eventually, the gondola opened up and the boys jumped aboard.

As Keith, Jennie and I sat back and relaxed, we got this photo from Eric.

There was a full on party going on in that gondola.

Whew!

Everyone survived the gondola ride and had a blast.  They tried to crash a wedding at the top but thought better of it.  They would have definitely been the main attraction.

Really, when do you see a couple of grown men wearing witches hats while carrying beer steins?  Ok, maybe Halloween and now we know, Oktoberfest in Vail.

We ALL had a GREAT time!!

Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we live in a vacation destination.  In only 90 minutes, we can be in another world where the gelato is outrageous and so are the great times.

Thanks to the Heineman's for getting us out of the regular routine and up to the mountains for a day of vacation.