Virginia Trip!

This weekend we traveled to Virginia to visit the Shenandoah National Park. It was a lot of fun but we were not able to camp over night because all the sites were full. It seems over half of the East coast must have had the same idea. All hotel rooms & camp sites within a hundred miles were complexly booked. Next year we will plan well ahead if time.



The family at the entrance of the park.




A view from the Skyline Drive. It is a 103 mile road along the mountain top. We were there near sunset and it was amazing! The fall colors were just beautiful. Red, Orange, Yellow, oh my!


We also stopped at the Luray Caverns. It was a bit expensive but the hour tour was awesome.






Just one of many pictures we took in the cavern.


The kids also decided to do the Rope Adventure Park. It was a three story metal structure that the kids were harnessed into.



A view of the metal beast! The kids spent over 90 minutes playing in it. The only left when they decided it was time to eat.




While the boys did the rope park, Monique & Ireland attempted the Giant Garden Maze. It covered several acres.



Ireland in the maze.

New Addition to the Family!

Monique's has been playing the piano for many years. Her wonderful talent has been a blessing in our family. She has been working on teaching all of the kids. The boys have been taking lessons for a while and Ireland has just started. With Ireland in school, Monique decided to pick up a few additional students. Our first piano was purchased at a yard sale many years ago. It has been a great piano and we will continue to use it for lessons. After many years I decided it was time to get Monique a Grand Piano. After looking for months, I was able to get a great deal on a Yamaha G1 piano on Craigslist. It was a massive amount of work arranging the payment and move but it was worth it. The piano is finally here, looks great, and has provided the kids extra motivation to practice.




New Grand Piano!

Soccer Shots!

Here are a few pictures from our soccer game this past weekend.


Harrison playing goalie! He is only two kids who are willing enough to play goalie. He is getting better each game.



Harrison "playing" in the field. He really gets into the game.



A great motivational Half-time speech! :)

Citizens of the Month!

On September 28th, the Elementary school held an assembly for the citizens of the month. This year only one kid was nominated per class. Both Keean & Harrison were selected as their class's award winner. It was great that two of our three kids were selected in the first month. Now lets hope Ireland is selected soon.




Keean with the School's Vice Principal.



Harrison with the School's Vice Principal.



Both boys with their awards!

St Mary's Lake Hike

Today we decided to get out of the house and do something "fun". We hiked around the St. Mary's Lake in our area. The trail is 7.5 miles long and very scenic. The kids were true sports about it and each one completed the loop. It took almost four hours but we made it as a family. The kids survived on water & Wheat thins!




The kids pose for a picture before the hike. They did not look this happy after the hike. No photo was taken since all the kids wanted to do was get into the car and rest.




Keean & Ireland sharing a drink of water.




Aedan & Harrison rest at the 6.5 mile marker. Both were great troopers and led the way around the lake.




Monique & Ireland smile near the lake.

Kenny G - Eat Your Heart Out!

Harrison decided that piano and violin were not enough for him, so he decided to join the band this year and learn the saxophone. I am actually surprised at how good he sounds. I was prepared for the worst but he is really picking it up quick. He has been practicing each day ( a lot better than last year on the violin) and he hopes to make the advance band soon.

Anyone Interested in a Movie?

Home Theater Makeover:
When we purchased our home, all the basement was completely finished. One of the big selling features was a pre-wired theater room. It was not a big plus for Mom & Dad (we would have preferred storage) but the kids thought it was great since they saw what a real theater room can be from our good neighbors in Springboro. Over the past year it has been a temporary bedroom, guest room, storage area, and kids playroom.
Living in Leonardtown, the closets theater is 15 miles away and it is barely a place you want to take your family too. After paying $75 for the family to see a movie last year, I decided to fix up the Theater Room this fall. It might be a small investment at first, but for all the movies the kids like to watch, it will pay for itself in the long run. And it didn't hurt that it was just in time for football season as well. :)



Before! I actually cleaned it a lot for this picture.



During! Ireland decided she wanted to help paint. All four kids helped with a wall.



After!


We installed a 110inch projector screen along with a HD projector.
I actually had to return one screen (120in) because it was 2 inches too big for the wall. The website failed to account for the frame in the actual physical dimensions. We painted the walks dark brown and the ceiling gray. I added a few platforms for the love seat and chair. It turned out great and the kids love it. The kids now want Movie Night each day!

Weekend Warriors!

It seems like the weekends are now just as busy at the Marsh household as the weekdays. This weekend started the beginning of many weekend adventures to come of Scouts & Soccer. Aedan had his first scout campout at the Stake 11year old campout which was located at the Navy Recreation Center. He went with three other scouts from our ward. I asked him if he wanted me to come for the first campout but I was kindly rejected and told to stay at home. Good thing since Harrison had his first soccer game of the season & I am now the coach.




Aedan prepped and ready to go at the front step. He was eager to go, but had to wait for his ride since he did not want his parents to take him. He returned home late Saturday tired but happy. He earned his Tot n Chip badge along with the majority of the Swimming Merit Badge.



Harrison & Coach Jamie. Harrison played a great game Saturday for his return to soccer after taking a year off due to the move to Maryland. He had several great passes that almost led to a few goals. He was very tired after the game and realized he needs to get off the couch now and run more.

Rain-gutter Regatta

Tonight Cub Scout Pack 1846 held its annual rain gutter regatta. Harrison has been brainstorming ideas for his boat for weeks. Finally on Labor day, we put his plans into motion. He wanted a white short ship and named it The Ghost. Harrison's final design turned out pretty good.


Harrison with "The Ghost"



Harrison did very well in the competition. He won his first four races before they restarted the event due to computer / operator error. After the restart, Harrison just ran out of air. He ended with an overall record of 8-3. He was upset in the end when he did not place in the top three, but we are real proud of him for all of his efforts. He already wants to start working on next year's boat. :)

Virginia Beach Half Marathon

Today Monique & I completed the Virginia Beach Half Marathon. (My first and probably last.) Back in January when I was not completely paying attention, I agreed to run a half marathon with Monique. Monique took me up on the offer and signed us up. It seemed so far away but the event arrived. In April I started my exercise program in order to run the race. It has been a long process but I lost 58 pounds and made it to the finish line.



Monique & I before the race. We had to get up at 4am in order to catch the bus to the start line. The pre race snacks needed help. The bananas were very hot due to being left in a truck over night. Nothing like a warm banana to get your body going!



Over 18,000 people ran the race. The weather was very humid and hot but we did have cloud cover. :). The course was pretty flat with 14 bands playing along the course. I am glad I had my iPhone for music.



Monique & I after the race with another warm banana. Monique completed the race in 2 hours 10 minutes. I finished in 2 hours 26 minutes. I was just glad I made it to the finish line and got my metal! Now the key question will be how do I feel tomorrow morning?

Happy Birthday Aedan

Aedan celebrated his 11th birthday today. He is becoming such a great young man. It also worked out well that he received his Arrow of Light Award today. He also received the Outstanding Cub award for earning all 20 activity pins in one year.



Aedan with his Cub Scout award display. Great Job son!



Aedan getting his new boy scout handkerchief from the new Scoutmaster during his cross over ceremony.



Aedan receiving his Religious Knot Award from the Bishop.

Starbase Camp

This summer Aedan was selected to attend the National Starbase Camp put on by the Navy. Sixty 5th-6th graders were selected to participate in a week long camp at the Navy base. They studied practical ways to use math, science, & engineering. They launched a rocket, flew in a simulator, made ice cream with liquid nitrogen, & designed their own aircraft in CAD. Each student went by a call sign all week long. Aedan's call sign was Scout! Aedan really had a great time.




Aedan poses before launching his rocket!



Aedan's rocket had a great flight! The parachute deployed on time and it landed ten feet away from his launch site due to a very very strong wind.



Aedan at Starbase Graduation. Aedan scored "Top Gun" honors for his class due to scoring 100% on the final exam. He came home with a lot of prizes for his efforts.

First Day of School

Summer vacation has officially ended and Monique's dreams have finally come a reality. School started today for us and the morning seemed like Christmas. All three younger kids got up at the crack of dawn for school while Aedan was the last one up but the first to leave at 6:35am. Aedan allowed Dad to walk him only half way to the bus stop before telling him he could go back home. At the elementary pick up, there were over 76 kids for one bus that sits 60. I guess we need another bus again just like last year. Monique now has the whole day to herself to clean, cook, & do laundry; ha! Ha! More like relax, read, and play on her IPad.)




Aedan's picture. I don't think he likes the 6:45am bus stop idea.




Keean, Harrison, & Ireland pose for a picture before heading to the bus stop 20 minutes early.

Pergola Update!

It has been a long but enjoyable project for us but we finally finished our backyard makeover. We added 500 square feet of new stamped concrete, 19 new bushes in three flowerbeds, a fireplace with stone benches, our first patio set, and a massive 30x16x12ft pergola. Everyone in the family pitched in on something, some more then others! :). The one thing we have left is staining it next Spring (after it dries out) & adding shade curtains.


View from the backyard.



Side view- new table, chairs, carpet, & under view of Pergola.



View from stairs.



View from stairs of the new fireplace. Everyone will get their own bench and marshmallow stick!

5th Grade Promotion

Our "little" boy is now graduated from elementary school and headed for the big world of middle school! Yikes! He is soo excited to move on so I guess I will embrace this new chapter of his life and be grateful that he is happy and excited about things. I am so proud of Aedan and his hard work and accomplishments. We love you Aedan!


Aedan and the rest of Miss Ronniger's class.


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Field Day

Field Day was so fun and well organized! Each grade stayed together and they rotated through about eight stations. Keean is at the popsicle station :). Probably his favorite station :)!


Aedan at the potato sack races!


Harrison on the...... Bouncy ball thingies.......?
What are these called? Hoppers? I don't know :)...


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Memorial day Picnic

Jamie was one of the lucky ones this year to help plan the annual memorial day picnic for church! There was a big turn out even if it was already soo hot! Jamie is manning the snow cone machine. The kids (and adults) kept him busy for a good part of the picnic :) lots of fun!


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