New Year's at the Homestead

We decided to forgo our usual New Year's Eve Party with friends and spend the night with the kids instead. We made a last minute decision to stay overnight at The Homestead, packed everyone up and headed off.

First, there was a picnic on the bed:
Followed by movie watching:
And everyone in bed at an almost reasonable hour for New Year's. (Meaning long before midnight. I did however, wake up at midnight to the sound of fireworks, but I was the only one.)

We started off the morning playing in the pool. (This was a favorite for everyone.)

And then, because we have such a knack for choosing to do outdoor family activities on the absolute coldest days of the year, (it was 0 degrees), we went out. First we visited the Midway Ice Castles. (Similar to the Zermatt Ice castles we saw last year, but new location.) The warm December has put them way behind schedule, so this year, instead of showing up the day after they closed, we showed up a few days before they officially opened. Fun to see them at the beginning, though,and compare them to the end of last year's.


Now we're going to have to be sure to make another trip up there to see them again when they are bigger.

An artistic photo (or something):
We spent a little time playing snow hackey, and King of the Mountain on the huge piles of plowed snow. (Shawn and I remember playing this at recess at Uintah, although the piles of snow at the elementary school were quite a bit smaller, if I recall.)




A view with the sprinklers turned on. It was also cool to see where they were harvesting icicles for building the castles.
And we wrapped it up with a little sledding. Peter definitely had the system down. A ride down the hill, and a ride back up - totally lounging.
This one makes me think of Christmas Story. (I really don't think he could put his arms down.)



And how do you know the day was a success? When they all fall asleep in the car on the way home.Happy New Year Everyone!