Party day! Everyone was very busy setting up for the party – a caterer and a beer keg were ordered and about 20 guests came in addition to the ~20 family members already here. Renate had many people to celebrate with her, including her former coworkers who performed a skit poking fun at the career counseling service they all worked at. Conny prepared a family cookbook for Renate with recipes from families and friends from all over the world, including a large amount of material from Monika’s old cookbooks. The party went late into the night with several bonfires going at once, music playing and much beer consumed. 
Shown in the first picture above are Renate’s friends in the “dirndl” traditional dress.
Cousins Susann and Winny, with King Ludwig II on the stein lid
The gift table
The buffet table – first course
Everyone settling in for the (first) meal in the late afternoon
Monika (Chris’s mother and Renate’s twin sister) was there in spirit. Shown here is the digital photo frame that had dozens of photos of Monika running in a slideshow.
Chris and Sharon in the party tent 
Jazz obeying her daddy Marcy’s command and staying put despite the swirl of party activity around her.
The family cookbook, organized by Conny