The kids have caught on and look forward to our Christmas Eve tradition of getting new pajamas and a new book to read together. Clarke was especially excited about the choo-choo pjs this year! And I was especially excited about the book we got--in the Christmas Devotional this year, President Monson talked about the books he reads on Christmas Eve. One of them was
We have been married 11 years on December 20th, 2011. This anniversary Ty and I spent apart--he was in Pocatello working, and I was in the Twin Falls temple. We didn't even really see each other that day, but I'll tell you what was special--11 years ago, we had no idea what we were starting. 11 years ago, we were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Then we embarked on a journey--education, kids, and lots of experiences. We ended up in Florida for dental school, where we met Carmelite. My parents ended up adopting her, and she is now going on her mission to temple square. She was able to take her endowment out on our anniversary--on the exact date that our journey began! What a great anniversary gift!
We had our traditional dinner at President Jones' house for Christmas with all the Stake Presidency, the Bishops, and all their wives. It's always such a nice dinner with yummy food and gorgeous decorations. Sister Jones is a great entertainer. I think every year they talk about how important the wives are and thank us for supporting our husbands in their time-consuming callings. It gives me better perspective and leaves me refreshed. Such a good group of people to rub shoulders with.
Chandler had his first grade Christmas program twice--once at the school and once at the festival of trees. He looked forward to it for weeks! He was soooo excited to dress up in his new Christmas Sunday clothes and wear the reindeer antlers. Aunt Bev is their music teacher and they did an amazing job. Such cute actions for every song. 
We went to my dad's garden center for family night and watched the Christmas light show and picked out a Christmas tree. It was fun--we kinda had the whole place mostly to ourselves and the kids loved picking out a tree. We got a smaller one than usual because we were worried Clarke wouldn't leave it alone and might tip it over. On the upside, it was much easier to decorate!
Fresh out of the tub, who can resist a snuggle from a sweet-smelling baby Clarke?
Carving pumpkins with Daddy
Trick-or-treating at grandma's
Chandler and his good friend, Jacobi
Mommy lady-bug and baby Clarke giraffe
Sweet cupcake Marissa
Super-hero "Am-man" Chandler
We spent a lot of days at grandma Jentzsch's house canning apples this fall--so many, in fact, that Clarke now calls her "apples grandma" and he requests to go there a couple of times a week. What's not to like, though? She has the "cat show" (aristocats), always yummy food and treats for the grandkids, we can feed the cats, play outside, and jump on the trampoline. This year the apples were soooo plentiful; we had more than we knew what to do with! We ended up doing regular applesauce, spiced chunky applesauce, apple juice, and apple pie filling. I loooove the smell of cooking apples (even when I'm morning sick)! I don't know how great of a partner I was, but my mom is amazing!! 
My dad built the world's largest straw maze this fall. The guiness book of world records came and measured it and presented them with an award. The slides looked so fun, but I was too morning sick to try them out. The kids enjoyed the festivities, and we even got grandma and grandpa to join in the fun and try the slide!
Marissa had a pretty darn exciting birthday this year!! She got her 2 biggest wishes--a new bike with streamers, and then she opened a little box that told her we were having a baby!! It made up for the kinda lame cake and party--I was too morning sick to do much, and it's the first cake I haven't made for one of the kids birthdays!! Marissa was very excited to share her birthday party at school with her friend, Memphis. They are "twins". 
Marissa started third grade this year, and Chandler started the first grade. They both just love their teachers--Mrs. Ferrin and Mrs. Gunnell. Chandler got to ride the bus to school for the first time--in Kindergarten, I took him at 11:3o, then he rode the bus home. This year, we started out riding the bus. The bus stop location changed, and then we started practicing the piano in the mornings, so I just take them to school (it's 5 blocks away). Nevertheless, this was Chandler's first ride to school on the bus!
Ty went to work with a dentist for part of a day in Soda Springs, about 2 hours away, so we tagged along with him and made a family trip of it. We played at the park while Ty was working, and then when Ty was done, we went to see the geyser (largest timed one in the world!!) which was way cool. Then we went down to Hooper springs which is a naturally carbonated spring that you can get water from to make your own homemade soda pop! Wish I had a picture of it, darn it. It bubbles out of the ground ice cold and carbonated, so you just add flavor and sweetener, and voila!! a fun treat! 
Clarke seriously gives the most luscious kisses. He has the cutest pucker! Everyone loves getting a kiss from him, IF he decides to give you one, that is...
The rodeo is one of our family's favorite things to do in the summer. Even Clarke was enthralled with it this year. He didn't want to sit, he wanted to be right up by the fence, so Ty and I took turns the whole time. Marissa did the calf scramble with like 300 kids, trying to get the $20 bills off the calves tails. She was concerned about the poor baby calves in the calf roping--"Doesn't it hurt them?" Chandler liked the "buffalos" (bucking broncos--ha, ha). 
We got to visit with a lot of family the week of Kara's wedding and Darek's homecoming. My grandpa Jentzsch came up and brought me a food dehydrator and about 6 dozen canning jars, which saved me! I also thought this picture of my niece, McKenna, was hilarious--too much fun just wore her out. She couldn't even stay awake to eat her dinner.
