The month of June in Minnesota is always particularly crazy,
and not because it’s wedding season everywhere but because every Saturday and
Sunday are packed with back-to-back grad parties that are a particularly “big
deal” in the state of Minnesota (and quite possibly throughout the Midwest).

Families with a recent high school graduate can expect to
visit anywhere from five to twenty other parties, along with throwing a party
for 200+ people in their own home/back yard/garage. Everyone tries to get more
and more creative with ways to serve meat to the masses, pulled pork , sloppy
joes, and pig roasts are popular (I had BBQ chicken at mine). Beers and cakes
are consumed, and the grad walks away with a pile of personal checks to start
off their college career with book and beer money.

Last weekend was my little sister Madina’s party, which was
decorated with matryoshka dolls (she was born in Kazakhstan) and anything to do
with the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (including over 200 brats!) where
she’ll be attending college in the fall. Here are some pics from the weekend
(my favorite being Shawn at the grill obviously).