Dahl Family Reunion

This last weekend was the Dahl Family Reunion.  The Dahl family is my grandma's (on my mom's side), mom (her parents and siblings).  At the reunion, were my grandma's cousins (from her mom's side) and their kids/grandkids.  My grandma, her sister, and their cousin planned this family reunion.  The event started on Friday night at my grandparents', who live in a condominium.  Their building is well equipped for entertaining - a party room, game room (more of a not-so-formal party room with a tv, pool table, and foosball table), and an indoor swimming pool & hot tub with locker rooms.  Relatives could stay in a near by hotel if they needed to.

On Friday evening, relatives were welcome to my grandparents' game room for appetizers.  Saturday started with an optional breakfast down at a restaurant a few blocks from the condo and hotel.  Relatives were given ideas of what there was to see around the city.  The list included museums, parks, and some Scandinavian places (for the family's ancestors come from Norway).  On Saturday, the [formal] party room was rented out.  Relatives could also hang out in there for the afternoon.  That evening was the main gathering.  Beginning at 4:30, relatives started coming for the reception.  

The party room is located between two floors of the condominium, but is split into three levels.  There is a bar, tables and seating areas around the room, and an attached kitchen.  An event organizer was hired to come and help with the reception.  She made sure food was out when it was supposed to be and helped clean up.  My grandparents also asked for me to help her with whatever she needed.  A caterer was hired to prepare the food.  The food was delivered to the party room, ready to eat, in disposable serving dishes.  The caterer dropped it off and then the event organizer got it set up.

Appetizers were served at the beginning of the reception, followed by the meal.  The meal was ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, salad, and dinner rolls.  There were desserts and then a little program.

While the reception for adults was going on in the party room, children were playing down in the game room.  The children were served pizza for supper.

On Sunday, relatives were invited out to a family's house in a suburb for brunch.  The home had great outdoor activities for the children - a basketball/tennis court, a play set, a pool.

The table settings. 

The coffee pot actually wasn't out until the desserts were put out.  It was sitting here when I took the pictures and then it was taken away.

The appetizers were chips, guacamole, herring, salmon dip, cashew clusters, crackers, cheese, peanuts, and grapes.

Relatives could go there the line to dish-up.  I thought it was funny how the event organizer put out the food - completely opposite of what I would have done.  For the whole reunion, we just used disposable plates and utensils.  It made for easy clean-up, and worked great! 

On the top level of the party room, a board with a family tree was made.  There were also lots photo books to look through.

Now, for the desserts!  My grandparents made me in charge of the them.  I got to make them, prepare the dessert table, and replenish them as they went.  I made frosted brownies, raspberry crumb bars, and spritz.  I also made the kids some cookies.

I added fresh sprigs of mints to the table, along with labels of what each bar was.  I decided to leave  the cashew clusters and grapes out too.

I made the spritz into the shape of a 'D' for Dahl.  I think the spritz were the biggest hit!

The flowers were added after I took the pictures.  They were a great addition!