Winter Doldrums...or not.

Hello, hello everyone.  While it's been more than a week, it is less than two and so I'm not perfect, but I'm getting better (go ahead, think Monty Python, that was my intention).  There just hasn't been a whole lot going on this past week and a half.  I guess that isn't completely true.  Just not much picture-worthy, not much exciting, not much astounding.  We've been living along though, and with life, has come growth, experience, and something new every day.

Last week was a busy one.  Todd was working, working, working.  Over the weekend (prior to Valentine's weekend), he was full-time Captain Hardy at work with the 419th Maintenance Squadron here on Hill AFB.  The base was having a readiness exercise and it's a lot of work when you're martialing active duty guys around who work with their equipment and status every day of the work week.  Imagine, preparing guys to deploy to war when they only think about the military 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year!  While I'm sure that these guys and gals would be great in an active theater...getting them there is another story.  They aren't used to having their equipment prepared, their records updated, or their bodys in the right place at the right time.  Todd was ready to blow a gasket every time I talked to him all weekend long.  It wasn't just the reserve troops he was struggling with either...the active duty folks were making things doubly difficult because they are used to having immediate access to all military personnel whenever they want them.  Apparently reserve folks aren't always that accessible.

All in all, he was a great leader and got things done.  However, it wasn't without some yelling, goose-stepping, and threatening.  He didn't have the nickname "Ray Liotta" in Basic Training for no reason.  In addition to his UTA work on base, Todd has been pouring, shooting, and testing body and vehicle armor for the newest Phoenix Alloys project.  They are working with two big armor contractors to land sales contracts or maybe, even limited partnerships, to work this armor.  This stuff is pretty amazing.  It's stronger (by far) and a third lighter than anything our military and/or law-enforcement personnel are using right now.  We are anxious to get it out the door and into practical use.  Not just because of the money it will bring in, but ALSO and EQUALLY important are the lives it could be saving this very day.  Keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers...this stuff is miracle stuff, I'd love to see it get out there on our real life heroes.

Todd, Jeff, and I all had the (in)famous Blue and Gold Banquet last week.  With Todd as Cub Master, me as Bear Den Leader, and Jeff, our token scout, it was a family affair.  I had no idea how much time and attention it would occupy.  Luckily, my mom and dad watched Logan and Jackson while we scurried around, decorated, and ran the thing.  We had so many big to-dos that night!  Four boys received their Arrows of Light, not to mention plenty of awards in the Bear and Wolf dens.  Thankfully, we had lots of help from the other cub scout leaders and from some parents.  At the end of the night of "Presidential Celebration and Learning", we knew a lot more about our past and current presidents, had bellies full of lasagna, garlic bread, and salad, and a bunch of happy scout families.  Can I just say I'm so glad it only happens once per year?  What an ordeal.

With Todd running around like crazy working several jobs (how many does he even have now?), I was re-living my days as a military wife/single-married mom.  Only, I never did do that job with THREE kids.  Three is hard.  A lot harder than two and vastly harder than one (not even in the same ball park).  As a friend of mine once said, "When you have three kids, you switch from man-to-man defense, to zone."  No kidding.  I have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, two hands...when what I really need is NOT three but at least five of each!  These boys are all over the place all at the same time.  It has been an adventure but not one I wish I could change.  I am growing into a better mother (I hope) and have spent a lot of each night evaluating how to be a better parent.  It is going to require my growth and adaptation as our family makes this next transition with Todd gone most of the time.  One thing is for sure, Jeffrey is going to have to step up and be the oldest (and most helpful) child.  I do enjoy watching him embrace his role as biggest brother.  He is a mother hen to Logan. He follows his around way of his risk-taking and

worried about catastrophe.  He enjoys watching Logan learn new things and develop new skills but he's just certain that each risk he takes will be his last.  As a result, Logan refers to Jeff as "No No!".  That's what is always coming out of Jeff's mouth at him, "No, No Logan!"  I think it's really funny.  Jeff walks in the room after returning home from school and Logan smiles and yells, "No No!" and points at Jeff.  Snicker, snicker.  The joys of parenting abound.

As far as Logan is concerned, Jackson's name is "Jack!"  Both brothers have earned exclamation marks after their names.  That is how Logan says them.  His two big brothers, "Jack!" and "No No!"  We also have "Da!" (Dad), and "DoG!" (the dogs) who also often get told "Go!" when he says their names.  As in, "DoG!  GO!"   Shouting all the way.  He is now asking for more of any snack or drink by saying "Mmmmoe" which I think is adorable.  We have been working on that for a while in order to curb the screaming he WAS doing.  Some times he screams a little and then remembers and says, "Mmmmoe".  No exclamation.  "Mama" doesn't have an exclamation either.  I prefer to believe that is because he has tenderness in his experience of me.  Just let him have it.  Let me have it.

Logan is walking.  He doesn't walk ALL of the time, EVERYWHERE but he does really well.  He can walk several dozens of steps at a time, catch his balance, and change direction.  He has trouble when his giant head gets behind him and sends him onto his bottom.  Most often, whether he walks depends on how safely he wants to get to where he's going.  He's equally fast at crawling and walking, but his walking style is pell-mell and results in occasional big crashes.  His walking, however, is becoming "more controlled" and it won't be long before crawling goes the way of the dinosaur for him.

Both Jackson and Logan were sick last week.  After fighting off a cold (colds?) for more than two weeks, we had two sleepless nights, lots of sadness, and one fed-up mom.  I took them to the doctor on Friday last week and good ol' Doc Eberhard determined that Jackson had an ear infection, a sinus infection, and a bronchial virus.  Logan had infections in BOTH ears, a sinus infection, and RSV.  Needless to say, we filled the Amoxicillin and spent Valentine's Day, President's Day, and the Sunday in between, at home.  Jackson was pathetic.  He didn't even care that he missed his first Valentine's Day party at school.  Jeff brought his Valentines home for him and he spent the weekend reading (and eating) them.  He carried a particular Spongebob Valentine around all weekend.  How cute!  He loves Spongebob.  I guess that's okay?  Spongebob is weird but oh well.  They are both much better today and Jackson is outside with Jeff as I write this making a huge snowman in the massive amounts of snow we have been getting.    Logan is currently chasing "The Girls" (Saffron and Daisy) around the living room with a lawn mower walking toy my mom gave him for his birthday yelling, "DoG!  GO!"  Oh, they love it.  Trust me.

I have a new job.  It is something that is, I am sure, an answer to a prayer.  I have often felt frustrated this past year and a half at being a stay at home mom. I think that this is partly because of the years I HAVE worked out of the home and because I am uncomfortable not contributing financially when we really could use more.  I felt particularly frustrated earlier last week and then an opportunity fell into my lap as I met a dear friend for lunch.  I will be working for a company called My Veterinary Career

doing what we call "Match Making" for veterinarians and hospitals nationwide.  I will begin by helping the company recruit hospitals for us to take under contract.  Sort of a "let us be your matchmaker" kinda gig.  I have such a passion for the veterinary industry.  I have, as most of you know, worked in that industry for a great deal of my adult life.  I worked as a technician for nearly 7 years and have many long-term relationships with veterinarians across the western US.  I also have a very special sisterhood with a veterinarian on the East Coast.  The industry, while critical to so many of us in the US, is way behind schedule and is due an upgrade.  I will be working from home about 2 hours a day, 5 days per week, and will be able to make a significant contribution to the veterinary industry as well to my own sanity and our family's financial coffers.  I am really excited!  I will finish training this week and should be hard at it by next week.  I will have to update you on my progress.  If you have questions, you can visit the website at www.myveterinarycareer.com and I would be more than happy to answer them as well!  It is such an opportunity and, as I said earlier, an answer to a recent prayer.  Wish me luck!

Well, even though I said that not much was happening, you can see that there has been a lot going on.  This week promises more growth as Todd pours more metal on Thursday, enters negotiations with Winchester about the development of "non-lead shot", and prepares for another exercise on base.  I will continue my training with My Veterinary Career and will be the best mom I can, and the boys will be boys...I'm sure they'll do something raucous.  I will be hosting a bachelorette party for my friend Andrea this weekend.  We're planning some good clean fun, I'm sure to have more pictures next week.

Love to you all!

Oh my gosh....where did the time go???

So, even though I made a commitment to post once per week...I haven't this past 6 weeks.  I have posted twice.  Not twice a week, twice in the whole last six weeks.  Dreadful me.  Bad, bad word-breaking liar.  Oh well.  I am a legend in my own mind and like to think that you all just wait on baited breath to read my blog each week anyway....but you don't all.  I have to harrass my parents just to get them to read it.  I don't really even think my Dad does.  I think he acts like it when I ask, but the genuineness isn't really there.  I've decided to stop asking him...ha ha ha.  Save myself some approval cup drainage.

To update you all, you can be assured that even though I haven't been posting, we've still been living.  We've been super, super busy kids.  After going to Nevada to attend Todd's sweet Grandma Hardy's funeral and connecting with lots of family and cousins, we came back to the routine that is our lives.  A routine with lots of kinks, additions, snags, and surprises.  Over the course of the last 6 weeks, several things have been going on.  To list them they are:

• Todd's attendance, with my Dad, at the "2009 Annual Shot Show" in Orlando, Florida for Phoenix Alloys.
• The celebration parade for the University of Utah's Football team, fans, and undefeated season/2009 Sugar Bowl win.
• Logan's 1st Birthday!  Yay Lo lo Bear!
• Jeff earning his Wolf badge in Cubscouts.
• Jackson becoming a kick butt reader.
• Saffron getting so sick she might die and then miraculously (with antibiotics) perking up and becoming a pain in the butt again.
• The chickens producing a million eggs.

There are so many other things that have happened.  So many details I am leaving out.  I hate to do it.  I brings me pain to list just those above life events in such a blithe way.  As if they are ho- hum, as if they don't warrant a blog each, as if they aren't monumental in one way or another.  All of them are SO monumental.  If I did do much more than list, this blog would be 9 miles long, if not longer.  I will say a few short things.

At the Shot Show, Todd and my Dad got some great interest and leads in their alloys.  They came home with renewed faith and vigor.  They have a new project they are working on with

excitement, partly because of great interest on the part of First Choice Armor and partly because they both feel passionately about it.  They are developing (have developed?) an armor (for use on body and vehicle) that is lighter and stronger than the stuff our law enforcement and military members are using now.  It could mean everything in so many ways.  GO GUYS!

The celebration for the U football teams was so fun!  13-0 and Sugar Bowl Champs.  We couldn't wish for more.  The boys and I went to the parade and pep rally in downtown Salt Lake with my Mom, Jeff, and Jen and had such a great time!  Go Utes!

Logan was so fun on his birthday!  I swear he knew it was a special day for all of us because we got to re-live his birth and celebrate his life.  He was happy all day long (even when he was tired).  We took him to a toddler soft play land at the mall, rode some quarter rides, gave him real chicken (not baby food) and ice cream.  That night we had a small family party with dinner and cake and boy did he love his cake!  He was so much fun.  He still plays with his birthday toys more than any others and enjoys his new skills.  He'll be

walking in a matter of days and often stands alone for long periods without sitting down.  He has taken up to 6 steps before falling.  He now has 8 teeth and is always looking for ways to escape out of the play area we have created called "The Arena" by Todd and the boys.  Go Lo-Lo!

Jeff earned his Wolf badge for scouts this month.  We are so proud of him!  Just in time to turn 9 and go into Bears.  He worked really hard on it and earned it honestly.  He loves scouts and with parents who have callings in scouts, even if he didn't love it, he'd get to do it regularly.  I am so glad he does like it though.  Scouts is very important.  It teaches valuable skills and lessons, and is critical in the endeavor to raise our sons

to be contributing human beings.  I love it, love it.  Go Jeffrey!

The lights have come on for Jackson.  He can read like nobody's business all of the sudden.  Blending sounds, remembering what

 sound each letter makes, and combining words to make up sentences that he understands, are all skills he wields every day.  I am so proud of him and his success.  He is quite proud of himself.  He was getting frustrated but he soldiered on and is glad he did.  Go Jackie!

Saffron, who suffers from a chronic and congenital skin disorder that results in massive and multiple hives all over her body, is starting to head down hill...unfortunately I don't know how long we've got her.

To make a long story short, she is on several medications to try to control her symptoms.  She used to go into remission but doesn't seem to be able to do that

anymore.  She is coming up on 10 years old this summer and so she has had a long and good life with us.  However, I don't know that we'll see her 10th birthday.  She gets sores now that don't heal well due to her medications and she often gets infections.  I give her antibiotics but that won't last forever.  She became quite ill this week, she wasn't able to eat or anything.  I thought we might lose her but she rebounded with another round of antibiotics.  We bought some more time and she is happy again.  As long as she is happy, I will keep her around but if she gets depressed for too long and I'm unable to revive her, we'll have to send her to Rainbow Bridge.  That's the bad news about our pets....rarely do they outlive us.  That's one reason we have a parrot.  With a 70-80 year lifespan, he may make it beyond our years.  I don't know that I like that he's yelling "Grandpa Bird!" at the top of his crop right now, but oh well.  The rest of the animal farm is great and is scratchin' around with fervor.

The chickens, while bound in their wire coop/yard, are at it.  They are so self-important it cracks me up.  I can't get enough of it.  I watch them strut around and cackle and they just think that the world revolves around them.  Maybe they have something.  Maybe they are secretly geniuses and can solve the world's problems but no one will give them a chance?  NO...that's not the case.  I'll tell you a secret...they are the STUPIDEST animals on the place.  That's why

they think they are so great....they have NO idea.  Now that the days are getting longer, they are starting to lay eggs again with regularity.  With 12 hens, we are getting 5-9 eggs every single day.  That's a lot of eggs.  What happens when it's summer and they are all laying?  Please buy eggs people...I promise you'll love them.  They are yummy!

So that's 6 weeks in a (relatively) short post.  I will post again next week.  The hard part is getting back in the grind.  I'm there now...so you can count on me.  Ah, I'll probably just be here by myself.  Reading and laughing at what I write.  Getting a bigger kick out of it than anyone.  I'll make Todd read it....but that's enough for me...I guess.

Love to you all!

2009, What's New!?!

Happy New Year everyone!  I knew I wouldn't be blogging during the holidays.  Too much going on to take the time to sit and do it, along with everything else.  I don't even really have a lot of time today, but I thought I would squeeze in a quick note about our holidays, along with some new pics, so that I don't have this nagging at me.

The Monday before Christmas, we took our family's annual trip to Temple Square to see the lights.  What a beautiful adventure this always is.  The children really enjoy the festivity and they are also always keen to talk about the Savior's birth.  I am happy we have this tradition and that we are blessed to live so close to Church headquarters so that we can do it every year.  My camera didn't have a memory card in it so I wasn't able to get pictures for you all.  I guess that means we take some next year.  I really am such a dork.

Christmas was wonderful!  We had my parents, sister Denise and her family, and brother Jeff and his wife Jen for Christmas Eve dinner and we had a great time opening presents, eating Honeybaked ham, and reflecting on the year together.  There were some really funny moments of note.  Denise's boy Roman, who is 7 weeks older than Logan, is just getting good at walking.  Logan is getting good at cruising.  So, while Roman struggled to walk around, Logan struggled to use Roman as an object to cruise on.  Sort of a mobile cruising device, if you will.  Watching the two of them struggle to remain upright and balance each other was a lot like watching a couple of Navy guys on shore leave coming out of a bar at the end of the night.  "Hey!  Hold me up man!"  "I am holding you up, hold me up!"  It was pretty funny.  Very cute too.  I hope my little analogy doesn't turn into a reality for those two, they are close in age and I am afraid that they could end up being partners in crime down the road a few years.  Logan, of course, was fascinated with wrapping paper.  He spent most of his present unwrapping time playing with the wrapping...

After Denise's family went home to see what the Elves brought them in jammies, my mom and dad, Jeff, and Jen, and the rest of Me Hardys found Elf gifts in our beds!

 After opening them to find a haul of awesome pajama wear, the boys bathed and showered and went off to bed and we stayed up a while playing Texas Hold 'Em and watching Jeff kick our butts.  Jeff and Jen stayed over Christmas Eve and we woke up early Christmas morning (the older boys were up at 5:00 am but we made them wait until 7:15 am) to fresh snow and Santa's haul!  Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Dorothy joined us for the festival of present opening and "passing out" because the gifts were so good.

They moved on to Denise's to witness her present festival around 9:30 am and we cooked a big breakfast and spent the rest of the day playing with new gifts, reorganizing old toys, cleaning up wrapping paper, and contemplating the Savior's birth.  

I love our family traditions because each Christmas Eve night we watch a short video on the Nativity and read the passages in Luke that describe the circumstances of Jesus' humble birth.  What a story!  To think that the greatest human being to ever live, and our personal Savior was born, like we are, to a woman, in a stable and slept in a manger of straw.  I'm sure it wasn't hay, hay is much too scratchy...unless it was grass hay, then maybe.  Anyway, somehow, for me to consider His birth in such a way causes me to feel hopeful that maybe I may be able to be more like Him.  Such a time of hope Christmas is.

After Crazy Christmas, we settled in for the 3 day preparation for Jeff's 9th birthday.  I can't believe my child is 9 years old.  He's super tall too.  He's up to my shoulders these days.  How in the heck did that happen?  Jeff lost the opportunity to have a big friend-invite birthday due to some behavior issues at home and school but we had lots of fun anyway.  Todd's parents (Nana and Papa, Lorna and Rick) came up to visit just for Jeff's birthday and what a great time we had!  After Jeff went scrambling around opening his multiple gifts (and "passed out" some more due to their fabulousness), we had a big breakfast at home and then went to Fat Cats for pizza, bowling, and arcade gaming.  Jeff went crazy.  I bowled the game of my life.

It was a good birthday for both of us.  Jackson is quite the bowler too...who knew?  Logan doesn't do so well.  Actually, he kind of sucks.  After a while we took off his bowling shoes and took the ball away and occupied him with other pursuits.  I'm kidding...Logan didn't bowl.  The afternoon of Jeff's birthday involved going to Barnes and Noble and picking out some new books (he reads at a 6th grade level) and going to dinner at Tepanyaki.  He loved it!  We had a great time.  My parents were there, Todd's parents were there, and there were the Me Hardys.  It was so much fun!  A more apt celebration for a special 9 year old boy was never had.  We love our Jeffrey and are so grateful for him.  I am sure, after his birthday celebration, there is no doubt of that.

We took another quick trip to see the Zoo Lights at Utah's Hogle Zoo on December 30th.  We went with Nana and Papa.  We all had a great time seeing the animals in fresh snow and marveling at the great job the zoo does making this event one we are definitely going to add to our yearly holiday traditions.  Rick and Lorna had recently been to San Diego Zoo and, if you've been you know that it is the BEST ZOO EVER, but I think Hogle Zoo impressed them with the Zoo Lights.  Way to go our little zoo!  In addition to this event, Logan got his first hair cut, and his first "being mobile" war wound.  You can see both here...our poor little carpet-rashed baby!  He's gonna be walking in days.  I am terrified!

New Year's Eve was spent at a party with our neighborhood plus at our dear friends' Brad and Stacey Jackson's home across the street.  We had so much fun eating grilled Bratwurst and Chicken and playing Texas Hold 'Em.  It was a lot of fun to ring in the New Year with neat friends and their abundant children.  At midnight, we set off some of Brad's impressive collection of illegal fireworks.  We brought 2009 in with a BANG!  It was funny to note that my horses are all completely conditioned to the fireworks now.  Living across the street from Brad has made the well-prepared for hunting, bombing, strafing, and general war use.  What a bonus!  I don't think any of them even opened an eye to see what the noise was about.

As we moved into the New Year, our beloved University of Utah Utes beat Alabama (yes, ALABAMA!) 31-17 in the 2009 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 2nd.  This means that they end their season 13-0, undefeated, and some of those games were against super tough teams.  We are so proud of our Utah Utes and await the verdict...will they get the #1 ranking they deserve, being as they are the ONLY undefeated team in the nation?  It's not likely, but it may, at least, cause the "powers that be" to reflect upon whether the current system for Championship College Football is working...I can only hope.  It was a great game and I love my Alma Mater!  One last note, Utah governor John Huntsman Jr. declared January 5th Utah Utes Day here in Utah.  How cool is that?  BYU doesn't have a day...  GO UTES!

Today, as I sit and relay the highlights of the last two weeks and our holiday and birthday celebrations, I have one last bit of not so good news.  Todd lost his Grandma Mary Lou Hardy this morning.  She has already been fighting off several different ailments over the past year and has been gradually deteriorating in her health.  It has been hard to watch such a strong, independent, and vibrant woman struggle with the ravages of time.  The day before Christmas Eve she suffered a fall when visiting Todd's aunt and had a serious head injury as a result.  Since she was in Salt Lake when she fell, we were able to see her regularly through out the holiday weeks as she struggled with her injuries and existing conditions.  Unfortunately, her health was poor enough and her injuries severe enough that she wasn't able to fight off a serious lung infection and ultimately passed with pneumonia.  We are so sad to see her go.  She will be greatly missed!  It is times like these that I am so grateful that we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we know our families can be together forever.  I have no idea how people get through these times without that knowledge.  We will  be attending her funeral in Alamo, Nevada sometime within the next week.  I ask that you consider Todd and his family in your prayers and that you all remember to enjoy your loved ones while they are here for when they are gone, they will be missed!

Well, that's it!  I hope you are all having a wonderful New Year!  I hope you enjoyed Utah Utes Day and that you realize what a great team they are and that you just go ahead and join the fan club!  My New Year's Commitment this year is to get myself back in shape.  I am physically stressed with post-baby weight (and then some), too much worrying, and yummy (yet not so good) food.  I commit to get my body back to healthy and liveable and I challenge you to take on growth yourselves in this new opportunity 2009.   May you all be blessed with health and abundance this year!  Much love to you all!!

December Traditions...

As next week descends, I am feeling more and more "ready".  I got a lot done yesterday with Todd as the fuel.  He was so tired of not having presents under the tree, he just got sick of it and said, "We're doing our Christmas shopping today."  That was that.  So, while the boys were at school, we did some and then, after we picked them up, we did the rest.  I really think one more trip out for a few last minute things and we are done!  I am contemplating getting gift cards for the rest of the presents needed.  People always like those.  They can get what they want.  I don't know, we'll see.

In the meantime, we are looking at the last full week of school before our 14 day break, the preparations for Christmas dinner, and the celebration of our Savior's birth.  I am excited.  Finally.  It seems like there is so much going on, I have to get close to it to enjoy it.  This last year has taught me that it is best for me to live as "in the moment" as I can.  It cuts down on my tendency to "worry" about stuff and it allows me to fully appreciate where I am in any given moment.  It's a good trend for me.  The bad news about it though is that it seems like I can't really ramp up to anything.  I don't know if that's really bad, it just is.  So, now that Christmas is 9 days away, I am beginning to see it come around.  I am, finally, excited for Logan's first Christmas, for Christmas Eve dinner at my house with my family, for all the traditions that mean Christmas for me Hardys.

This past week we were in Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo.  It was so awesome!  Thanks to Laurie for getting me those tickets!  I love it so much every single year.  Jeff and Jackson went to Alamo for two days and spent quality time with their "Papa" there.  Logan stayed with Todd and I and went to the rodeo.  He was such a trooper!  Between the rodeo and the Cowboy Christmas trade show, he was way off schedule, shorted several naps, and ridden hard, but he hung in there and even had a GREAT time!

Turns out that he really likes the show, the music, and the rodeo.  He was riveted by the events, danced whenever there was music on, and loves arena food.  It was so fun to have him along.  My parents were our companions as were my friend Andrea and her fiancee' Jason.  They were all so much fun to have along!  I don't celebrate well alone so, the more, the merrier!  I am glad we did it, and after 5 straight years of attendance, I am pretty sure that it is now one of our fully-entrenched December traditions.

Today I am ordering our Honeybaked Ham and our eggnog from Winder Dairy.  My family will be coming for Christmas Eve dinner and I am excited to have them.  I need to prepare!  This week we will be attending tithing settlement, some more choir performances, the temple, and my nephew Jake's birthday party celebration.  Jake turned four last week but we were gone.  We will be going to Salt Lake on the Frontrunner train and will be having dinner and seeing a movie with him.  I can't believe he is four years old!  I remember his birth, I was so blessed to be there!  I sent out our Christmas cards yesterday and so you shall be receiving one soon.  I hope.  So, choir performances, tithing settlement, Honeybaked Ham, Christmas Eve dinner, the NFR, Jake's birthday, Christmas cards, these are all December traditions that we are participating in and we are so glad to have you along.  There are more, I'm just not there yet.  Still in the moment.

On a "farm" note, the chickens are pretty boring.  They are all alive and are surviving the colder weather and the periodical snow we are having here.  The new chickens (Feathers Kaboom-Pellet and Parmesan) are starting to fit in, though one of them keeps dorkily laying eggs outside.  What is that about?  We did inherit a new family member yesterday.  Right after I wrote, printed, and copied my annual Christmas letter too!  Oh well, he'll be on there next year.  His name is Levi and he is a naughty indoor cum outdoor cat.  He has joined our other two mousers Charlotte and Tom.  He is actually their litter mate.  He was peeing in the house and shredding stuff and so his owner asked me if we would add him to our crew.  Todd and I figured that we would be the best home for him, even if he is declawed, because he can be in the garage if he needs to.  Besides, what's one more cat?  I draw the line at three though.  It's three more than I ever said I would have.  But for the mice, I wouldn't have any.  I'm not really a "cat" person.  I hate the mice though.  They better do their job.  That's all I can say about that.  So Levi looks just like Tom only he's not as fat.  He's scared and cute but I'm sure he'll fit in eventually.

That's it folks!  Watch for your Christmas cards and please stay in touch!  We all love you so much!  Have a great week...

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

I woke up this morning to see an awful lot of snow falling outside. Dare I get excited? Don't get me wrong, most of you know I'm not a die hard ski bunny (anymore) but once it gets cold, I figure it oughta just snow. My perennials won't grow or bloom, the leaves are off the trees, the horses are all fuzzy, and the dogs bring in dead leaves every time they go outside. It's time to cover that dead and yellowing grass and all of those leaves with beautiful, white, and cozy snow. Besides, I love watching my animals work with the snow. They often enjoy it the way we would, and sometimes they play in it. I love to watch that. My dogs will roll and roll in fresh snow. Especially Daisy. She enjoys it at 100%. The horses will weather it as it falls and then, once it has stopped, they get out and play in it. They run, buck, kick, and rear playing and playing. They like to watch it fly around. They love the crisp air. For now, they are weathering the storm.

It is something I can stand and watch for hours. It may look boring but, to me, it is not. I don't know if that makes me weird. It doesn't really matter to me if it does. It's one thing I love about living where I do with all that I have. Truly something that causes me to reflect on my blessings and to feel grateful. Who knew that the weather would call forth such a reflection? Either way, I am grateful for the weather change and all it brings.

This week has been standardly busy for us Hardys. Jeff and Jackson weathered another week of school with flying colors. They are getting along at school and making good grades. Things seem to be evening out. We attended another choir performance for Jeff on Thursday. They performed at Ogden City's Christmas Village and did 5 songs. He was in the front row and we could see him SO well! I am sorry I didn't bring the camera this time. He did a great job and was so much fun to watch. He is such a performer. Is there anything that kid doesn't do well? I guess sit quietly. He doesn't really sit quietly. I don't think any of us do though, I can't really point fingers. As Jackson tells me, "There are no faults Mom."

Jeff performed tonight at the Joseph Smith Memorial in Salt Lake and at Utah's Hogle Zoo for the Zoo Lights display. We went down to watch him and I took lots of pictures and video of this extravaganza. It was so much fun! For one thing, I think it's awesome that Jeff's choir teacher takes the time to set up such neat performance venues! What an awesome lady! The Joseph Smith Memorial was typically opulent and beautiful and our little choir made the vestibule ring with Christmas cheer. It was fun to see the kids gawking at the decorations as they sang. It also brought such warmth to my heart as I watched the passersby stop to partake of the season in such a beautiful place while they listened to the innocence and joy of these children as they sang. Considering the location, I would say it was a great missionary tool as well. My son Jeff has such a strong testimony. I know it was special to him that he got to sing in such an important place. It was also fun to listen to Jackson shout, "Look, it's the temple!" as we walked by the west windows. Our family still needs to make the time to walk Temple Square this season. It is an important tradition for us, maybe next Monday we will spend our FHE that way.

The Zoo Lights at Utah's Hogle Zoo were awesome! If you haven't been, you gotta go. They have begun to do it every year from December 1 to December 26th. It truly was magical. I know that sounds cliche, but it was! I told Todd that it was like a "Layla Christmas". Christmas lights and animals, how can it get any better. The new snow added a special magic to the whole scene and I really think it was as good as any Disney theme park. That's saying a lot. We are Disney junkies. Watching Jeff sing there was lots of fun but I know that the choir director set it up mostly to get the kids in for free because they didn't have many people to sing for and they spent an hour walking through the zoo to see the animals and the lights. What a special occasion. I can't wait to see the video I got of the whole thing. I hope it does the place justice. The best part was the segment I think I'll be sending to American's Funniest Home Videos. Jeff kept sticking the end of his electric candle in his mouth instead of singing and it was pretty dang funny. You'll have to watch AFV for him sometime in the next year.

Jackson is getting dang good at all of his letters and their sounds. He says he feels like the letters are "tricking" him sometimes. He tells me that "g" and "c" don't sound like they "should". I just tell him to be patient with the tricky letters, being able to read is a power he will have his whole life. He is hanging in there. He had quite the time at his last wrestling meet this weekend.

He took his first 1st place of the year! For someone who is wrestling for the first time against some kids who are their second year, that is impressive. I would say he's a chip off the old

block and I don't mean me. He pinned the first two boys he wrestled outright and then won on points with his third match. I am so proud of him. Even though his coach wasn't there (Todd) he wrestled better than I've ever seen him. Todd wondered to me if he needed to just stay away next year. I don't think that's the case. I think it was just a good day for Jack.

Jeffrey wrestled his last tournament this past Saturday as well. He wrestled two boys he has already met up against (and beaten) and then a new kid. The new boy was a wrestling progeny. As I watched his family

line up around the mat I saw his brother, who wrestles for Weber High (state champs the last 3 years), and his dad who is an MMA fighter with a wrestling base. Jeff picked that moment to come to me, quite forlorn, and say, "Mom, this kid's been wrestling for 5 years!" I told him not to worry, to work as hard as he could, and to have fun. He gave it his best shot but in the last of his three bouts against this boy, he was pinned. It was his first time being pinned and meant that he finished this tournament with his first 2nd place medal. He was pretty frustrated, considering he's had 1st place medals every other week. I think it is good for him to find out what second place feels like though.

It gives him something to work toward for next year and supports him in learning that he isn't invincible. I say, overall, they both had a successful first season and they have told me that they want to do it again next year. I am happy to provide them with that. I, however, am very excited that this is the end of their sports until this summer when they go back into baseball. Mom needs a "sports" break.

Todd had his first "UTA" Drill Weekend at Hill AFB this past weekend. He was getting "oriented" on being in the military. Ha, ha. It was good fun for all. He was on Cloud 9 all weekend long as he was back in uniform and back in the boys' club. What more can I say? He got all the details of his military record/life organized, added Logan to his records, and reinstated our life insurance. So now we can all die and leave somebody something. You can

make a bid on who gets our life insurance. The will goes to the highest bidder. Good luck. Just kidding. What else can I say about it? It's nice to have that kind of security back in our lives again. I can't really overstate that at all. We have health insurance, we have life insurance, they are with a stable "company". It is (almost) all good. I think with the couple of "big" contracts that are still outstanding with Phoenix Alloys are signed and the guys are delivering on them every week, I will feel "totally" secure (whatever that means). Until then, I am grateful for my blessings, for the abundance we are experiencing every day, and for the continued blessings of the Lord.

We are headed out to Las Vegas this week. We are going down to our annual run at the National Finals Rodeo. Laurie got me tickets for my birthday this year and we are going with my parents and with Andrea and Jason (Andrea's fiancee'). I am really excited! This is the one really special thing I get to do EVERY year with my parents and Todd. It has become a tradition that we all enjoy and it truly is the best damn rodeo you have ever seen! I love rodeo, I love looking at horseflesh, and I LOVE shopping at the Cowboy Christmas trade show that happens at the Las Vegas Convention Center every year. It is Layla heaven. I am so grateful that my family "gets" me such that they support me in this thing that I love. I know they don't all love it, but they support me, and what more can I ask for? Besides, I think my parents and Todd have become quite the rodeo junkies anyway. Todd would say that he has always loved rodeo, and I know that's true, but he's way more invested now that he has surrendered to his roots. Bless him. We will see Laurie while we are there and kiss her face (and the baby Russ' face too!). Jeff and Jack will go with "Papa" to Alamo for a sleepover as Grandpa Rick will be watching them while we rodeo fan. We'll keep the Lolo with us. He needs to go to the NFR since he's free. It's gonna be a nice vacation and I am grateful for our babysitter/petsitter Courtney for taking care of our critters while we're gone.

As far as "The Chicken Letters" are concerned, there just isn't much to share. Our chickens are safely living in captivity now and, it seems, they don't have much drama unless they are roaming around "free range". They've been "cooped up" (ha, ha) since Thanksgiving week and all are healthy, happy, and fatter. We're getting 5 to 8 eggs per day (do you need any?) and they have worked out a semi-humane pecking order. Even our new ladies, Feathers Kaboom-Pellet and Parmesan, are getting along well though they are on the bottom rung. Sorry there just isn't more to tell. I am disappointed though relieved that I don't have more drama. I am sure this spring, when we are letting them range a bit again, there will be more to come. Who knows, maybe something else will happen? I pray they all stay alive and that all our critters stay healthy. We have to knock on wood around here, we have some old horses (25 and 18) and some old dogs (11 and 9). No one needs to head over Rainbow Bridge just yet.

Well, that's it. I will do more Christmas shopping when I get back from Vegas and intend to wrap up (I'm really hitting the puns today) my holiday preparations next week. I am sure we'll have stories to tell about our time down south. I hope this finds you well. If you want a Christmas Card/Letter, email me and I'll get you one. You can always catch me at laylahardy@gmail.com.

Love to you all!!

Nevada and other stuff...

Oh you're so lucky.  We won't be talking about wrestling in this week's post.  I guess that isn't good for those of you who LIKE to talk about wrestling but for those of you who don't care, GOOD FOR YOU!  There wasn't a meet because of Turkey Day.  We didn't do much in the direction of wrestling at all, so you're safe.  The truth is, this weekend is the last tournament so we're nearly done anyway and I'm looking forward to the break.  I love watching my boys go to town but seriously, it would be good to have a weekend off.  So-to-speak.

Todd got notified that his application for the Reserves has been processed and he is now "in".  The computer hasn't finished putting all the tabs into all the slots yet so he won't get his new ID card until Wednesday or Thursday but that's just the shouting.  It looks like we'll be able to go onto military insurance which is so freakin' awesome I can't even tell you!  I'll give it a shot.  Can you imagine paying $180 per month and not having any other medical costs at all?  I'm serious.  NONE.  No prescriptions, no copays, no deductibles.  NOTHING!  Awesome!  I'm so excited.  We should be covered by mil insurance by the start of next week.  Todd has his first "drill weekend" this weekend (because the processing went faster than we thought) and we're about 90% sure he'll be in Texas for all of March.  It's going very fast.  I couldn't be happier.  Things, all things, having been going so slow for about 2 years now and it's good to have something go fast.  (Well, except my kids' growth, that is really super fast.)  I'm relieved.  Yay Todd!

We had a busy week last week.  We went to Nevada to spend Thanksgiving with Todd's family in Alamo.  It is about an 8 hour drive for us.  That's not too bad because we like road trips.  Unless you're Logan, than you hate road trips.  He is anti-car seat today.  He hates car seats.  Don't give him a gun because he will shoot the car seat.  It wasn't just the end of the week that was crazy though, the first part was as well.

On Monday last week, we had the Roy City Christmas Lighting concert that I told you about.  Then Tuesday night was Bunco night for me.  That made things hectic because we had to get everything ready to go before Tuesday night because I was gone for 4 hours at Bunco (which  I love).  Bunco is a lot of fun in itself, but I actually like the "hanging-out-with-the-girls" part of Bunco more.  I love those girls.  I always have a great time.  Sometimes I laugh so hard I cry and sometimes I just have great conversations with a bunch of really amazing women.  Either way, it is something I am so grateful for and I will continue to attend as long as they will have me!  I hope they will always have me.

So anyway, after Tuesday's getting ready and my going to Bunco (there is more, but it is for the "Chicken Letters" part of this post), Todd and I passed out cold.  We got up ready and raring to go on Wednesday morning, all aboard the Mayflower.  We drove to Alamo via I-15 but had to stop in the Salt Lake area to run some metals around for Phoenix Alloys.  It is the kind of stuff that takes time and is a pain in the neck but is so valuable and important to the company.  So, while we wished we could have just hit the road straight up, we were glad to have metal to run around because it means Todd is working.

When we arrived in Alamo, we were immediately set up to do family pictures.  That's our 2nd round in less than 4 days.  I'm telling you, some of these pics we've had done have GOT to turn out...there have been so many taken!  I'm hoping to have them soon.  I'm anxious to see

 them!

After taking pics with tired, anxious, and excited kids, we retired to dinner and then staggered off to bed.  We weren't the only ones either.  Todd's sister Tawna and her husband Matt (shouts out to you seals!) have four kids and were just as whipped!  Todd's brother Rick and his wife Kristi and his sister Taura and her husband Scott were sports and helped out.  It was a lot of mocus (that is commotion and ruckus all rolled into one word) but we got 'er done!  On Thursday we woke up and had a great breakfast thanks to Todd's dad Rick and settled in for "the big cook".  We played cards, smelled the turkey and watched/listened to the kids tear up Nana's house.  It was a combination of fun and crazy.  Isn't that what family time and the holidays are about?  Once the food was done we fed the kids and fed ourselves and then fed and fed some more.  It was a lot of feeding I tell you.  I ate too much.  Todd filled up his "fat tummy" pants.  Logan was even full and I didn't feed him anymore than I normally do.  I think it was in the air.  We took some very cute pictures of Logan and Tawna's baby Ethan who is 10 weeks younger.  Here they are, working in their baby cubicles.

Logan is in the blue jammies and Ethan is in the green.  Thursday night ended around 10:00 pm for the kids via a movie and around 1:00 am for the adults via cards and food comas.  It was a good Thanksgiving, lots to be grateful for.

On Friday morning we woke up to get ready for a day in Las Vegas.  Alamo is about 90 miles north of Las Vegas and that means that Vegas is the nearest city.  It's really the nearest settlement of any size.  There are a few very small towns about 40 or 50 miles north east but they don't have anymore in the way of amenities than does Alamo so you know Vegas is gonna play a critical role.  Tawna and I woke up early to get our kids showered and dressed so that they would be out of the way of the other adults.  But something went haywire, and there was a mad scramble for showers and hot water and the like.  I don't know why.  Tawna and I thought we had a good plan but I guess all the kids getting up and getting ready spawned some kind of mad dash.  The whole thing was really silly because we didn't even need to leave for Vegas until about 10:30 am.

So here we are, fighting to stay alive in the bathroom as people give you "the look" because you are in there and everyone is working hard to get the showering done before the water goes to ice.  Seriously.  It was like calf roping and showering and hygeine all rolled into one event.  I've never seen anything like it since I moved out of my parents' house.  Even then it wasn't that crazy.

After we were all done "getting ready" there was all this sitting around and wondering what the hurry was.  Todd will want me to emphasize that he wasn't hurrying.  He was the only one in his right mind.  I think Matt was in his right mind too.  To be fair.  So anyway, we're all sitting around and thinking it's gonna be a long time before we leave.  What do we decide?  We decide to take some pics of the kids.  This is because they are all dressed up in the outfits that their "Nana" got for them when she went on an Alaskan cruise earlier this year.  Here are some of what we got...

Aren't they all adorable?  I think they were definitely done with pictures by the time we got done though.  Check Abby out in that middle pic.  All you can see are her legs.  I don't blame them.  I was done as well.  While this was all going on, we (the adults) were hungry.  Our Thanksgiving dinner-stretched stomachs were growling for MORE and most of us were pretty sure that we wouldn't be able to wait until Vegas.  Todd noted that all the cereal had been decimated by the kids and that we needed a Plan B.  I just suggested that we eat the left over rolls with peanut butter on them.  That idea went over like wild fire in southern California so people descended onto the kitchen and began the mad spreading of peanut butter upon roll after roll.  After a few minutes of chewing and groaning noises, Tawna mentioned that the peanut butter tasted a bit "different".  I said that I thought that it tasted like maybe the peanuts had been seriously roasted before being made into "butter".  There was some general shrugging and then more chewing and groaning until the rolls were gone.  Matt and Taura watched from a distance, not being tempted or hungry for our improvised breakfast.

After we were done eating, I headed to the kitchen to throw my styrofoam away and walked by the peanut butter.  I picked it up wondering what the label was, thinking that maybe the taste could be attributed to a "no name brand" type label or something.  Upon seeing that it was, in fact, "Western Family" peanut butter I decided that maybe that was why it tasted so different.  However, I turned the jar over to look at the expiration date just the same.  It turns out that our particular jar of peanut butter had expired in January of 2007.  Nearly two years ago.  Rick and Lorna (Todd's parents) don't eat peanut butter.  It doesn't agree with them.  So, they hadn't had a reason to check the date.  It didn't affect them.  It did, however, affect 4 out of 6 adults in the home that day.  Todd, Tawna, Scott, and myself were all burping, vurping (those are the little burps that make you throw up in your mouth a little bit), and tasting expired peanut butter for the rest of the day.  Suddenly, a Vegas buffet didn't sound anywhere nearly as good as a Sprite did.  Despite the "after-tasting" that went on all day, as well as the many trips to the bathroom, we survived.  Turns out that expired peanut butter isn't anywhere nearly as dangerous as other expired foodstuffs.  I wouldn't recommend it though, it whacks out your digestive tract for a few days.  Layla is thankful for fresh peanut butter.

After we got to Vegas, we went to the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History.  We all had a great time.  They had lots of neat stuffed specimens, some live sea life, hatching bamboo sharks, and dinosaurs!  It was awesome!  The kids were screaming, yelling, and running all around stuffing their little brains with knowledge.  I don't think I've ever been so fortified in Las Vegas.

If you want to see more pics, and I took a lot of cute ones, check my Facebook out.  After the museum, we caught a movie and braved TGI Fridays on Friday (it wasn't as busy as you would think) and basically had a nice day out.  We got back to Alamo late Friday night and put the kids to bed and commenced playing cards.  We were totally slap happy and it turns out that Tawna snorts when she laughs really hard.  Who am I to throw stones though?  I do the same thing.  The police came to tell us to shut the car door (how's that for tired) because there were three cats inside our car and we finally staggered off to bed at about 2:00 am.

Saturday was our originally planned trek home.  We thought about staying, decided to leave, and then waited so long to go that we ended up staying anyway because traveling through southern Nevada and southern Utah at night is inherently dangerous.  Think, "BIG GAME on the road." when I say this.  Saturday afternoon was a lot of fun with just our little family and Todd's parents.  Rick took us to the C-130 quick strip landing site there in Alamo where we shot up tin cans, water bottles, and shot gun shells with a 22 rifle and revolver.  The boys (and I) were LOVING it.

I have to say, it's been a while since I've shot a gun and I can still hit something.  One out of ten times at least.  The boys did great and learned a lot about gun safety.  That's important, considering that where we live is very rural and there are lots of guns around.  Not my house, but others...

After we were done there, we went further up the dirt road to Box Canyon where Todd spent his childhood bouldering around on huge slabs of sedimentary mudstone.  What an awesome place it is.  We decided to get out of the car (leaving Logan with Nana, of course) and to go bouldering up the canyon to a rock that has been hollowed out by the wind and rain of time.

Believe it or not, this rock is about 200 feet above the desert floor and is pretty intense.  To give you an idea of the height, the car we came in is viewable behind Todd on his left.  It was a nice opportunity for Todd to share some of his childhood with Jeffrey and Jackson as well as to  give them some cool memories of their own!

Saturday night was for card playing, college football watching, and rest.  We had a nice time and went to bed at a decent time (for a change).  We got up early Sunday, showered, packed, and headed home.  It was a lovely day for the drive and Logan was good and tired when we left.  We went through all the areas of southern Nevada that remind Todd of his youth, stopping to document our transition from Nevada to Utah.

We stopped in Cedar City (where Todd and I met and spent our first year of college and the first 4 months of our marriage) to show the boys where their dad played college football and where he broke his back.  

We ate lunch and continued north through horrendous traffic.  I can't believe how bad it was!  By the time we got to Payson, we were actually stopping and starting on I-15.  That is crazy to me!  We got home at about 7:00 pm last night to our home and animals, all lovingly cared for by our wonderful babysitter/pet sitter Courtney!  What will we do when she graduates from high school this year?  I guess hire her brother Logan.  He has a nice name.  So we are home and are catching up.  It is gonna be a busy week ahead, but no rest for the weary.

A short installment into "The Chicken Letters" this week.  I am sure I told you about General Tso's unfortunate gunshot wound.  She is healing nicely and is back to her old self.  It turns out that the wound wasn't as bad as it could have been and she will persevere, purple heart and all.  I wish I could say that the story ended there but it doesn't.  When I went to Bunco on Tuesday night, I was telling my neighbors about the modifications that Todd was putting on the coop so that the chickens weren't ranging anymore (they work great by the way).  I told them that after General Tso was shot, that was the end of it and we were gonna put our chickens in their place.  My chicken affectionate neighbor (aforementioned when referencing mouse bait) put her hands over her face and moaned, "Brad confessed to me last night.  He shot your chicken."  She felt bad.  I told her the General was going to be okay but she said that Brad felt "like a fool" and wanted to make restitution.  It turns out that he had already gone out and purchased two chickens to replace some of our lost flock.  I asked her when he was going to bring them over and she explained that it was "his thing".  Come Wednesday morning, we saw Brad jump into a friend's truck and drive away so we figured he would either be putting the chickens in our coop or that he would be housing them himself until we got back.  Apparently he was so embarrassed that he let his temper get the best of him so that he shot at the General AND that he had run away when Todd yelled at him (he, he) that he didn't really want to face us.  I told my friend to tell him not to worry but again, it was "his thing".  So, I didn't press the issue.

When we got home last night we found that we have two new members.  It looks like they are a couple of older Rhode Island Red hens who are missing a few feathers.  I thought that our chickens had removed their feathers during some hazing but it turns out that they came that way.  I hope that they are either molting or were living with a nasty rooster and that their feathers will grow in as they find our home to be a healthy and safe environment.  The other chickens seem to be accepting them alright and I am sure we can take good care of them.  I hope they don't have parasites.  If they do, we'll take it on.  Either way, we have two new layers.  I am happy about that and I'm always happy to put animals who have been in a rough environment into a better one (mine).  I think they will eventually thrive here.  They seem very scared and are having a rough time feeling comfortable.  With patience and lots of care, I am sure they will soon feel at home.  We have decided to name one Feathers Kaboom (ironic, considering the feather issue) but haven't quite decided on the other one's name.  We will, as I am sure you know, keep you posted.  Here they are, rough looking and all...

Feathers Kaboom is the one missing feathers on her head (smaller comb) and the other one's wing feathers are looking weird.  I wish they would stop being so scared!  

Other than that, Terri, our dog-injured chicken, is back in with the flock and has secured her spot with her old girls.  Look at her tail feathers growing back in!  She is doing well and I'm sure she'll be all the better for her trails.  

Aren't we all?  So, the chicken drama this week ends up being "good" drama.  That is, provided the "new" chickens aren't missing feathers due to parasites.  I'm crossing my fingers that the weather is too cold for parasites.

Well, that's it!  A lot, I know.  I'm okay with it.  If you aren't, don't read, just look at the pics.  I am happy to say we are attending my nephew Roman's birthday party, planning to decorate for Christmas, instituting a new work out regimen, and watching Logan continue to grow in his mobility (he pulls up solidly now, no more capital N) this week.  I hope to see some of you around this week.  Either way, much love to you and we'll post to you next week, watch for updates!  Happy December!