December 2013

I started working at Cal Ranch around the beginning of November so from that point on I was already preparing myself to not be home very much during the Christmas break. I was feeling ok with that because I probably would have gone crazy just sitting at home for three weeks straight with nothing really to do. Any ways I did manage to make it home anytime something was going on so I was happy about that.

On Saturday the 7th good ol' Uncle Stan managed to get Heather, Derek and I all tickets to the NFR as our summer work bonus along with an extra ticket for each of us to bring a date or in our case a friend along ha. So the night before we all loaded up and headed down to Logandale. It was Heather, Tawny Caldwell (Heather's "date"), Alyssa (my "date") and me. The next day the 4 of us headed into town and hit up cowboy christmas for a few hours and then met up with Derek and Alana Pollock (Derek's actual date) to eat dinner. Hannah had work off early so she got to meet up with us as well for dinner and then we headed over to the rodeo. We were so lucky to get 2nd row seats right behind the bucking chutes! After the rodeo we all then headed over to the Mirage to go to the Casey Donahue Band concert that was free. It was jam packed in there though so we stayed for an hour or two and then headed on back to Logandale. 

The next Saturday was the Hardy Party! It was Uncle Mikes Families turn to put it on this year and they did a great job. We had lots of ham and potatoes, a fun wheel of fortune game that Grandpa Glens family dominated (were just that good), and of course fun hardy party songs to sing that we've collected over the years. Finally Santa came for the little kids and family pictures were taken along with our traditional 5 picture. The 5 group is made up of Heather, Megan, Alyssa, Analise, and I because we were all born in the same year and all within 5 months of each other! So every Hardy party we have to get together and snap a picture. The Hardy Party is always one of the best parties of the year and such a fun tradition that the whole town wants to attend, even though it really is just a regular family reunion. I love it so much and hope we keep it going for years to come. 

Finally Christmas eve came and it was time for the Christmas eve dinner and party at Grandma Shirley's and Grandpa Glens! This is thee party of parties when it comes to Christmas. It's so good even Derek likes going to it, and that's saying somethin. Anyway we always start with a steak dinner and then head over to the living room for a game of bad Santa. After we get done stealing or trading all the presents we then get to open our presents from grandma and grandpa which are always something good. This year the boys got gloves, tools, and money and the girls got either kitchen or sewing stuff and money. This year was an interesting one to say the least for our family and we definitely went through some good and bad times but in the end were all still healthy, happy, and strong. Grandma decided that this next year we all need to write our own gratitude journals because we really do have so much to be grateful for, so she gave all of us our own notebooks and pen. She asked us to write in it as often as possible and to go back and reflect on the good stuff as much as possible. I'm so thankful for her and grandpa in my life. Those two have become 2 of my biggest hero's throughout the years and my relationship with them both has grown even more than I thought possible just in the last few months. I treasure everything they teach me, tell me, and give me. 

After the party we then headed home to open sibling gifts with Cody and Mersadie and to also watch dad open his gifts because he had to work Christmas day. All of us kids pitched in together and got him a new 25-06 because his old one got lost. He was pretty tickled to open that one up, and had no idea he was even getting it. Once dad was done then we opened sibling gifts. I was shocked beyond belief when I opened a brand new red kitchen aid mixer from Hannah. I had no idea it was coming and excited to say the least! After the sibling gifts we then decided to go ahead and open everything cause dad really wanted to see us open our presents. The most important ones being Hannah and I's guns! Hannah got a lever action .22 and I got a .243 just what I had asked for. I was so excited and it even has pink splattered all over it which makes it even more fun. I was literally spoiled this Christmas and I don't think I can ever say thank you enough to make up for it. If I wasn't grateful enough for my family before I definitely am now. Every single one of my family members takes care of me in so many ways, I don't know that I could survive without them. They are all true blessings in my life and my best friends for sure.

Dad actually ended up with 2 guns this year. He was a happy camper for sure!