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!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for the tardy greetings this year.  Our cards went out today, Christmas Eve.  I hope you'll agree that the statement "better late than never" applies.  

So, a quick update, we spent last weekend between Reno and Folsom (at Rebecca's).  Rebs and Gregers watched the kids all day Saturday while Rus and I house hunted in Reno.  Greg took them bowling and our kids complained on the way home that we never do anything fun (like the Petersens do) at our house!  :)  Everything is more fun with cousins.  We also decorated gingerbread houses and gingerbread men and we haven't done that in a few years...so.  Maybe they are more fun than us.  ;)

So, after hours of looking through homes and neighborhoods...we narrowed it down to only 1 home that could be right for us up there at this time.  So, we put an offer on it!!  It is a short sale so it could be a while before it's all worked out, but we are hoping it will go quickly.  There are still many questions for us, like where will we live come January 20th.  We just don't have all those answers yet.  

Anyway, back to the house, the fun part.  The address is 15060 Redmond Loop, Reno, NV.  Plug that into zillow.com and check it out if you want.  We are really excited about it! 

You can also see our place, 20 Calypso, Aliso Viejo, CA that is in escrow.  Our realtor did a pretty good job of the pics.  You may laugh at the description though (ex: huge backyard).  

Love to you all!  XXOO and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Update: Reno, NV

Just giving you all an update on moving plans.  Contrary to what we said in the past, we will not be moving at the end of December, but on January 20th.  Porter can't transfer until then, if he wants to get credit for his current school classes that is.  It works out perfectly actually, because then he can start in Reno on their 1st day of new semester, the 23th.  It's all falling into place.

We sold our home, after 2 weeks of being on the market, and 2 offers, with 1 back up offer.  Escrow closes around January 5th.  We will rent back until the 20th.  We will probably pay more in rent for those 2 weeks, than we pay for a months mortgage now!  :)

Anyway, no packing yet.  We are waiting until after Christmas.  Then we'll get started.  Things are already pretty organized (except the garage) due to getting the house ready to sell.  I've talked to a few moving companies.  And yikes, it's expensive to move.  I had no idea.  We don't have a place yet.  We are going up this coming weekend, to scout out some things.  Rusty and I have spent hours online checking out schools and homes for sale and rent.  I think we've narrowed down where we want to be.

It's all very exciting and a bit sad too.

Ellie's orchestra concert

This will be Ellie's last orchestra concert at DJAMS!  She is becoming a good little cello player.  She really likes it and keeps trying even if it's hard.  For example, she was practicing a piece that required quite a bit of plucking and her fingers were so sore.  She kept at it, and I guess she has callouses now.  :) She did a fabulous job at the concert.  Then, we took her out for ice cream afterwards...as is tradition!

Piano Recital 2011

December 2011

Front:  Ellie Marsh, Rohit Singh, MaryJane Marsh, Blake Muirbrook
Back:  Madison Muirbrook, Chloe, Marsh, Summer Jorgensen, Ellie Ekstrom, Noah Jorgensen, McKade Pay, Austin Muirbrook
Very Back:  Me and Porter Marsh

 Close friends and moms of students:  Elizabeth, me and Kathleen Jorgensen

My teens:  Summer, Ellie, Chloe and Madison

Every January, I do a recital for my piano students.  It is in January because December is always too crazy busy and June (when school ends) is crazy busy too.  So, January works.  This year, due to our move, putting the house for sale and the general business that is... I decided to hold it in early December.  I am really going to miss these kids.  I love them and am so thankful to have been a part of their lives for 30 minutes a week, at least.  I think having a new piano teacher will only enhance their musical abilities and let them see another method.  Like I said, I'm going to miss them!  I don't plan on teaching piano in Reno.  I have loved it, but have been considering stopping for some time.  My kids need my time after school more than ever.