Sosey's Annual Hay Ride

One of our Christmas traditions is the Sosey's Annual Hay Ride. Walt owns an old John Deer tractor which he hooks up to 3 flatbed trailers covered with hay bales each year. They invite friends, family, and friends of friends and family. Hilary makes up some of her homemade chili (which Kevin made me get the recipe for years ago), macaroni and cheese, and hot dogs. The kids eat and play and the adult relax and talk.

Then it is time to take a ride. Adults and children pile on and sign Christmas carols as the hay ride heads down the street to a neighbor's house.

The Eastman family provided cookies, frosting, and sprinkles for all of the kids to decorate...this year there was 54 children.

After cookies, it is time to hit the pinata. Randy Eastman figured out year ago that with so many kids we need more prizes than can fit in the pinata itself. His solution 10 extra boxes of prizes held by different dads to dump when the pinata breaks.

It was funny to watch Ella as she picked up her prizes this year. Since she is allergic to chocolate and we don't really let her have candy, she picked all of the animal toys, pads of paper, bracletts, and pencils she could find and left the rest for the other children. It is all great fun and something that Ella (mom and dad too) looks forward to!