Since it was lunchtime, we stopped at the local BBQ place, Natty Flats, to grab lunch to take to the ranch. This is by far my favorite BBQ restaurant. I've been once before, but it's been several years, so I had forgotten how much I like it! After lunch, we played around outside for a while, watching the boys throw rocks and sticks. Then we took the scooter out for a ride around the property before our friends arrived. A few pics I took on my cell...
Once Jessica and Bryan were settled in, we drove around some more on the scooter and four wheeler and then started dinner. Jessica made an excellent enchilada casserole, along with chips and queso for dinner. Then the guys (Matthew and Bryan) went down to the fields and put on a firework display for Jessica, Hudson and me (Luke who was exhausted was already sleeping). Jessica and I enjoyed the show, while we visited and drank our coctails (vodka cherry limeades) from the deck up at the house (Hudson sat on my lap the whole time). This was a perfect place to watch the fireworks because they were eye level. After the show, the guys joined us back at the house, and we did sparklers. Hudson loved this! I totally thought he was going to be frightened, but he was begging to do them all! With all of the fun, I didn't get any pictures of this. Which was the case for most of the weekend- I figured if we're having fun then there's no time for pictures, right! Although, we did stop to take a few on our usual picture bench...
Jessica and the boys (it was a little windy, which gave us girls some trouble with our hair!)
I love this one!
After the fireworks and sparklers, Hudson was off to bed. Then us adults made smores cones. I saw this idea on Pinterest, and I've been wanting to try it! I brought all different ingredients to fill waffle cones. I have to say that they were awesome! I think I even like the cones better than graham crackers. All of us pretty much stuck to the classic ingredients- chocolate chips, marshmellows and the cone. Although I did bring peanut butter chips and a few other things, nobody ventured away from the classic smore taste... you can't beat that!
After eating smores, we had about an hour before midnight, so we watched TV the last hour, wished each other a happy new year and were off to bed minutes later! At least we made it to midnight right?
Matthew and I shared the bed with both boys that night, so we were all up bright and early (7:00) on New Years morning. I made breakfast burritos and Jessica brought pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. We then got all bundled up (since a cold front came throught the night before) and went down to the fields to feed the donkeys. Jessica and I took the boys to feed the donkeys, while Matthew and Bryan burned some brush piles that Larry needed done. Both boys loved the donkeys!
Luke feeding Darlin'
Hudson feeding Darlin'
Darlin' smiling at me!
Bryan and Matthew doing "ranch work"
I'm sportin' Larry's ranch work coat, and I have hat hair from it being in a beanie. Hey, I was going for warmth over fashion that morning!
Then we headed back to the house where we visited out on the deck, while watching the boys play. We were excited to head back to the BBQ place to grab lunch, only to find that it was closed for New Years. The only other place close by for lunch was Taco Casa, so Mexican it was. After lunch, Matthew, Bryan and Hudson went fishing, trying out Matthew's new fishing pole. Matthew caught 3 fish while he was down there! I managed to get some decent picture of them even from up on the deck.
Matthew caught 3!
It was an absolutely perfect day outside, so we stayed out on the deck all day! When the sun started going down, we pack up and headed home. I love that the ranch is only an hour away even though it feels like a vacation!
We went to the ranch a few years ago for New Years, and I forgot how perfect it is. We will probably try to make this a tradition every year!
2011 was a fabulous year, and I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring!
2011 was a fabulous year, and I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring!
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