New Years Eve 2016

If you haven't figured it out already, I spend a lot of time with Yardley, Jillian, and their family. More often than not, Claire is thrown into that mix as well. For New Years Eve, we have started a new tradition. We go over to the Hendry's house, watch (at the very least) the first episode of season one of Gossip Girl, and then a Harry Potter movie.

This year was no exception.

We watched Gossip Girl season one episode one, did sparklers (which are kinda illegal where I live), drank five bottles of Martinelli's Sparkling Cider, watched the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, started "A Very Potter Musical", and stayed up way too late.

I am very lucky in the fact that I have a great group of friends who I love and enjoying being around. (Someday, Yardley will be my maid/matron of honor, and Claire will be one of my bridesmaids at my wedding.) I get to see my friends every day. Whether it is school, church, going out on weekends, running into each other at the grocery store, family road trips they've tagged along on, or just week long sleepovers, I get to be around people I love (and hopefully love me). However, there is always something special about spending holiday's with each other.

New Years this year marked the beginning of a milestone year for me. I graduate high school on June 9th, I turn 18 on June 28th, and I start college in August. I am always completely overjoyed to know that there is someone there to celebrate with me in times of joy, to cry with me in times of heartbreak, to cry happy tears with when it is necessary, to help me when I am sick, and to hold me and tell me everything is okay during the times I am overwhelmed. And I know that I can never thank them enough for everything it is that they do for me.

So here's to a fantastic 2016, and to more years like it to come.

Cheers

-Lauren Hansen