Hardware Ranch

First off, let me preface this by saying that I LOVE SATURDAYS!! Having Jake all to ourselves on weekends is heavenly. Thank goodness we are done with those studying days of long ago.

So this weekend we went to visit Hardware Ranch, which is right up our little canyon by our house. It is a game reserve where they feed the elk so they won't wander into our yards. The elk were a little shy, so we only got to see them from a distance, but we did get to go on a sleigh ride, visit with Santa, and have hot chocolate and cookies.

Oh, what fun it is to ride on a two-horse open sleigh, hey!

Actually, we were freezing.

Gracie and the Clydesdales

Thawing off and eating cookies in the visitors center after visiting with Santa.

Sophie, frozen solid.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Yeah for Christmas!! It was quite the exciting day as we put up our tree and decorations. Gracie was so excited that she officially declared that she would not be playing with any friends that day because we had LOTS of work to do. I think the tree was un-decorated then decorated ten times this week between the two girls. Here's some scenes of it all...

The crowning moment of the whole evening.

O Christmas Tree


Nothing helps you feel all festive like a huge dumping of snow. Gracie and Jake made a cute snowman. Take note of Jake's cool furry Russian mission boots.