New Year's Fun at the Ranch

Last week, my men and I retreated to the ranch where we were met with beautiful sunrises,

Brisk mornings,

And lots of mud.

The first part of the week was spent with our youngest daughter and her husband, along with their two dogs. Dayton was eager to shoot a little skeet.

Not one to be outdone, I made sure I got in on the fun.

My grandpups, however, were not so impressed.

While we were shooting, number one son was busy transforming this cedar log into a work of art.

He works with a gallery that uses the pieces in high-end homes. 

Things really got lively when our oldest daughter and her family showed up, though.

Brycen is the oldest.

Then Caden.

And Gavin.

Then there's this little mischief maker.

Elijah was ready to have fun.

So, we went for walks.

Watched the cows.

Watched the cows watching us.

There were puddles to be jumped in.

And hikes with a big brother.

Do y'all have any idea how much food one must prepare when there are FIVE teenage boys to feed?

I made multiple pans of biscuits.

A gazillion pancakes.

And countless other items, culminating with a big ol' smoked brisket on New Year's Day.

Have I ever mentioned that the ranch sits outside of a very small town? So small that when you visit the grocery two days after Christmas expecting to pick up some frozen garlic bread, you may find yourself having to improvise because the shelves have yet to be restocked.

But necessity is the mother of invention, right? So I grabbed a package of brown-and-serve rolls (it was the best I could do), brushed them with melted butter infused with garlic, then sprinkled them with a bit of shredded Parmesan and Italian seasoning and voila.  

They were gone in a flash.

Speaking of flashes, I forgot to mention New Year's Eve.

How's this for a bonfire?

I'm not sure what number two son is reaching for, but this looks suspect to me.

 Yes, we had a fantastic week. 

And from where Big Daddy stands, 2016 is looking pretty bright, too.