On the last day of 2012 we headed up to Los Olivos to be with friends.
Ocean on our left...
Cows on our right.
The drive to Santa Ynez is gorgeous.
You missed some good scenery Thatch!
We arrived to the most gorgeous ranch house that you can rent here known as Bar Z Ranch. Our friend Leanne owns Santa Ynez Vacation rentals. Check out the link (and the pictures of the house since mine don't do it justice), the property is amazing (all of the properties she rents are)!
The kids danced, played soccer, Simon Says and ran around and around and around the property.
All the while the adults drank excellent wine and relaxed.
Bill and Thatcher were in charge of the BBQ.
Gwendolyn got the best seat in the house!
The surrounding property is 900 acres!
As we approached the EVE, we got busy in the kitchen preparing a special dinner.
While we were prepping, we got the kids fed in hopes that they would be ready for bed soon (hopes....)
Victoria made butternut squash risotto and it was my favorite part of the meal!
That and the fabulous wine. You should have seen the line-up of spirits that were brought, wow!
Nice job Bill on the lobster tails, kudos to you for starting that BBQ so early on in the day, you obviously knew what you were doing ;)
While the kids entertained themselves in another room, the rest of us got down to some serious eating (and drinking)!
The Paskins graciously shared their magnum of Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir they won as a gift for being the top fundraisers for Team GSF.
I think it is funny (or actually not that funny) that Todd took pictures of the girls cleaning...
And the boys not cleaning....
Look at these crazy kids after having a cookie or two for dessert.
Next up, a family game of charades that was the most hysterical thing ever (well not as hysterical as the adults who played later which I thankfully don't have pictures of but I know someone who does....) Hi Sarah, be nice ;)
After the kids passed out, the rest of us continued on late into the night, way past midnight and way past too much wine and then good champagne, really good champagne, like too good to open when you didn't need to drink anymore.....
And that is where my pictures stopped but I will say we had the best time. We played charades and then the game Cranium which Todd and I had never played before and we actually own it. I recently put it in the Good Will pile but removed it when we got home. It was so much fun!
I could get used to waking up to this view every morning.
Dearest Mike, thank you for the coffee delivery that morning. You saved us all ;)
And the trooper of the morning, these two, already game for another round of charades.
Guess what Sam is?
Not sure what this is. I will say the kids were really creative making things up. Sometimes too creative where it was impossible not to ask for a hint or two or several....
It was nice to have the Delio girls join us on New Year's Day.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Reese. Gorgeous!
I will say that I wish these boys hadn't found these harmonicas in the house :)
And just like a Disney movie, a family of deer appeared outside.
And obviously these aren't my pics (can ya tell?) ;) Marina brought up some delicious muffins that the kids devoured and took such beautiful pictures.
We enjoyed a peaceful lunch outside of much needed breakfast burritos and then sadly said goodbye to one of the most beautiful properties I've ever been on and hands down the best New Year's Eve I can ever remember having.
Goodbye Los Olivos, so glad we live so close!
