JazznJenna Happily Ever After: 2014

Happy New Year! Here are some highlights of our family's 2013 year. Personally, I think it will be a hard year to beat as far as good times go :).

This was the first year all of our kids were in school all day which left me (Jenna) more time to volunteer in the kids' classrooms. More time for lots of things! I've now "finished" my book, and am trying to get it ready to submit it to publishers :). This year I've truly discovered a love for running. I completed my first half-marathon, and put well over 1000 miles on my tennis shoes this year (who knew? I honestly used to hate running!). My favorite runs are with Jeff--we were doing a 10 K together every Saturday for a while, or with my good friend Karen. My other most memorable change in 2013 was becoming an adult Sunday School teacher in our ward. This can be quite overwhelming, but I appreciate the growth I'm experiencing in the challenge. I had some special musical moments at the end of the year, at my own voice and piano students' recital in my home (a first for me as a teacher!), and when I got to solo in my new choir's Bach Christmas Oratorio. It's been an exciting and fulfilling year.

It feels so good to be singing again!

I volunteered to be the mascot for Tate's school Bookfair...that was a sweaty great time :). I love spending about an hour each week with his class.

I had to include this other favorite experience of my year--getting to spend a couple days with my family at my little brother Ellis' wedding in Idaho. I was sad I had to make the trip on my own, but was so grateful to be present for the celebration!

Jazz and I reached our 15 year anniversary in February! What a blessed 15 years we've had. I'm so grateful to have this amazing man at my side.

Jeff wrote his own summary of the year that I'll include at the end of my post (in the comments section). The only thing I'll add to his highlights is that he just completed (and was released from) 2 1/2 years serving as a Primary teacher in church, which was a great challenge and learning experience for him. He's left with his other two callings, as the ward choir accompanist and the 11-year-old scouts leader. Our ward has been blessed by his many talents!

We were excited to spend a few days in Ohio with Jeff's brother's family in July. That meant the world to us, since we're so far away from everyone! That trip was definitely one of the highlights of 2013.

Oh—one more thing he surely wouldn't have mentioned, since he's never been one to brag—is that our beloved Superman was elected Educator of the Year by the students at his college! We're all SO proud of him!

Clark, in 8th grade, just reached the ripe old age of 14. This was a year of trying new things for Clark. He joined the track and field team, specializing in discus, and got his start in running there. In the fall he continued to develop his running skills as he ran with the cross county team, ending the season with a fabulous personal record on his 2-mile run! He is continuing his love for sports playing basketball right now, while he saves the rest of his passion-energy for his trumpet. He's dedicated in his practicing and loves his private lessons. He's dreaming big, planning to be a professional musician when he grows up, and we love to hear him play.

Another new thing for Clark: his first fish--caught, prepared, and eaten during our Ohio trip :)

Clark and I did a 5K together in the summer. Be not deceived by this months-old photo...YES, Clark is taller than Mom now!

Dana, 12, seems to have changed from a young girl to a young woman overnight. (She, too, is only an inch away now from passing Mom up in height!) She spent the year reading tons of great books, keeping her grades up in her honor's classes, proving herself as a talented pianist, and even letting her voice shine...she sang "Popular" from Wicked, which earned her entrance into the Music chapter of the Junior Honor's Society. She has a great group of friends, and she IS a great friend. We're all blessed to have Dana Darlin' in our lives!

Our Audrey is now 10, in 4th grade. She's spunky and sassy and could teach the most professional of actors a thing or two about drama. She does not love playing the piano, but makes up for that disinterest by loving her new instrument, the flute! She practices her flute without being asked regularly and is already shining in her skills there. And her vocal ability can not be stopped--she could out-sing any Frozen character in a sing off from the movie's soundtrack :), hands down! She loves babies and counts the days until she can become an independent babysitter. Not much longer now!

Audrey is in heaven when there are babies to be held.

Tate, 6, is in first grade. He still has more energy than the rest of his family combined, which is a challenge when it's too cold to run around outside. But he has found some positive indoor creative outlets—he creates rubber band bracelets (or rubber band snakes longer than he is tall) faster than you can say "Rainbow Loom," and he can build Lego Chima structures faster than he can open them for Christmas. He doesn't even need help anymore. This week he has insisted on beginning his piano lessons, though we all believe him when he tells us that his primary instrument will be the drums someday. Meanwhile, we'll just continue trying to keep up with him.