Chloe

 It's basketball season!  I do enjoy basketball, but I enjoy watching Chloe cheer more.  She is spunky and cute.  She is co-captain with another girl on the team and gets to call many of the cheers.  I don't really know exactly what that means but she does, so that's all that matters.  :)

 Ponytails are flying!

 Go Galena!

She is enjoying cheer.  I enjoy it cause it is a way for her to be involved and keep busy.  :)  She is good at it too.  Her coach is always telling me that she is the perfect cheerleader.  Always smiling and positive and peppy!  So, best of both.

MJ's school choir

 MJ joined her elementary school choir.  They met after school twice a week to rehearse for their concert and performances at a few rest homes and the mall.  MJ really liked it and has a very nice singing voice.  When she tried out, she even had to sing by herself (which sounds scary for a 9 year old, or a 38 year old for that matter) and she did great and was told she was to sing alto.  :)  These pics are from the mall performance. 

Two turtle doves...

 Rockin' around the Christmas tree...

 Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock...

 Shake that!

 Rudolph the red nosed reindeer...

 Jingle bells...

MJ is adorbs!  :) She maybe should smile a little more!  I think her nervousness she forgot!  She manages it all the rest of the time!

Winter Formal

 Porter & Bonnie doubled with Eli & Rachel to Winter Formal.  They were very cute.  All dolled up and ready for the party.  There were actually 2 different locations for the dance.  One was the military ball, and since Bonnie's dad is military, they attended that one.

 Please don't stick me.

 Cute

 Really cute

 Chloe, Olivia and Annie went to the regular winter formal.  They spent hours, literally, on their hair.  So, of course we need to commemorate with a picture.

 Beautiful

Merry Christmas!

Run, Ellie, Run!

Ellie-bell joined her middle school cross country team.  The season just ended and for the past 2 months Elle has made great improvements in her running.  I think she could run about a mile when the season started and just last weekend, she ran 4 with me.  They had 3 meets, where she did very well.  At each one, she came in at around 16th in the group of  about 40 girls her age.  Good job, Elle!

Ellie smiles along with her friend and teammate, Lucy!

Baby going to school = Sad mommy

I can hardly believe Ren is in kindergarten this year!  He is my baby and have tried to enjoy every  minute with him!  He is of course thrilled to be going to school like the big kids.  His first day of school was a week later than the older kids, I don't know why?  I drove and walked him to the kinder play yard.  He pretty much told me to leave.  He ran off to play with his many friends who are in his class.  His teacher is Mrs. Bentel, and the permanent aid is Mrs. Pickett.  I really like them both.

I know, he is the cutest kindergartener ever!  :)  Each kinder got a special school bag.  No backpacks, but a bag that they can decorate and keep all their stuff in.

Ren looks excited to the day.  Willy , Stone, Gavin and Abby?  Well, I'm not too sure by the looks on their faces!  :)

Home of the Huskies!  This huge dog house, with Husky inside sits out front of the office.  I've had to remind Ren a few times to please not get in the doghouse.  :)

MJ (4th grade) is the perfect older sister!  She is protective, bossy and loves him like crazy!  She helps him get on the bus and sits with him.  She lets him sit in the back of the bus with her.  Only kids in 4th grade or older get to sit in the back.  Ren is pretty lucky to have her to sit with, otherwise he'd be up front with the other 'little' kids. So says MJ!  

Marsh Family Update

Whoa!  Things are constantly changing around here.  :)  We've been here in Reno for 2 1/2 weeks.  We are staying at a 'vacation rental' home on a weekly basis until we move out, which actually is going to be this weekend.  Yay!  We've loved this little temporary home.  It is fully furnished and clean and cozy.  It is 1400 sqf, 3 bedroom and way too small for us.  Chloe and Ellie are sharing a room, sleeping in a full size bed.  MJ and Ren are also sharing a full size bed in a room.  Rusty and I share the master.  And Porter doesn't have a room to call his own...he gets the pull out couch every night.  He is a sport!

We are not buying a home right now.  The home on Redmond Loop was a short sale, and the bank wanted 25 thousand more than the appraisal.  We have been looking for another home that suites our family, but haven't found it.  So, we move into a more permanent rental this weekend.  I look forward to having my 'stuff'.  I miss my kitchen things the most. I also miss my clothes.  I hardly brought any clothes with me. :)

We are adjusting to the cold.  And it is a very mild winter.  It snowed once since we've been here and that is all melted now, except on the mountains.

The kids are all doing great.  The first week was a challenge but now they all have a few friends and are liking school.  I am so grateful!  Our ward is great too.  The area we are in is really changing.  There have been several new families like us move in, with kids our kids ages.  People are friendly and it is nice.

We are gonna like it here!

These 2 photos were taken with my iphone on the way to the elementary school.  This whole area is has a beauty about it.  (Not like SoCal, but different beautiful)  The city is nestled in a valley with mountains surrounding it on all sides.  On the south end, there is snow on the mountains and it is pretty.  

This is our little rental home. 

Happy 5th Birthday, Ren!

 Look at this little guy, getting all big and bigger every year!  My baby is 5.  Hmmm.  He sure is adorable, no?  I really can't get enough of him!  We are still in our little VRBO rental home and liking it.  It's a bit crowded, but it has been fun in some ways.  We are forced to hang out all the time.  :)  And we can just say (not yell or anything) "Time for Ren's birthday party" and everyone hears!  

 These pics below are after we moved into our 'new rental' home for the year, atleast.  As we were moving in, Ren discovered the trumpet.  Of course, he had to break it out and blast a few times.  :)

Cutie pie!