Friends of the Elk

Yesterday we got together with about 30 of our friends and family and took a trip to Hardware Ranch. It is a winter feeding ground for elk. You can take a sleigh ride through the elk herd and see them up close. It was a lot of fun especially since we filled a whole sleigh with just our group.

Elia really loved playing with her cousins (Caden, Oakley and Emily) and sliding down the snow-covered hill before the ride (here with her cousin Caden):

She was really captivated by the animals. We were less than five feet from them during the trip.

Ethan never really told us he liked it, but at least he didn't freeze, though it was pretty cold out!
At the end, Elia got to pet the horses that pulled the sleigh. She has always loved horses especially since our time in Vernal.
Our ride home was made pleasant by a beautiful pink fog. A perfect ending to a great trip...
...but it was just the beginning of our fun for the day. After our sleigh ride we gathered for New Year's Eve games and treats. We ate lots of treats (which was a good thing because Eric and I have decided to eat no sugar until he graduates at the beginning of May. We even convinced two of his cousins to join us! Yeah!), and stayed up until 3:30. Even better than that, with the exception of a couple of baby feedings for Ethan, Eric and I slept until noon today! Since when can we do that!!!