The Marsh Family

The Marsh Family

Monday, July 28, 2008

Mr. & Mrs. Dustin McCown





We had a busy last week and weekend as Courtney's cousin Dustin finally married his woman. Dustin and Monica got together a month before Courtney and I did in 1994 (can you believe it?)and 14 years and 1 son later they got married on July 26, 2008. We went to Salina last Wednesday and stayed with Courtney's dad and step-mom. On Thursday was the bachelor party. The bachelor went home by 11:00 and, of course, my hubby, his dad, and his cousin Curtis partied without him until 1:00. You know me - I can't sleep if my husband is gone so I stayed up and waited. I think I forgot to mention that we are babysitting Curt's dog, Cricket, because he's getting ready to head to Colorado Springs to taxidermy school (I know - what?!). We took all 3 dogs home so when Curtis showed up at Calvin's we were anxious to see Cricket's reaction. Yeah she's pretty pissed at him! She would walk over by him and then keep on walking to me or Courtney. Imagine what she'll be like in October/November when he gets home and comes to get her! Friday morning came way too early and the dogs were anxious to get outside so I was up by 7:30 after getting to bed at 2:00. We ran all around doing random things on Friday and then had rehearsal that night. Saturday we helped Dustin get their 900 beers (yes, 900!!!) on ice and then drove him to Minneapolis to get ready for the wedding. He was actually pretty smart to get can beer because what happens if you don't drink all of a keg? Anyone? That's right - it goes flat! Now can beer on the other hand you can put in the fridge and drink as you want. How smart! We were at the church in time for pictures and I ran around taking all sorts of pics (I may quit my teaching to become a photographer....) and then I videotaped the wedding and parts of the reception. Yesterday we came home and went to bed early because Courtney started a conference this morning in Olathe. I start meetings tomorrow (thank goodness they're only half day!) and I start with kids 2 weeks from today - the summer's over already?!?! I'm pretty damn stressed right now because my classroom is filled with boxes and furniture from the preschool class that has been there for 2 years. I can't even get to my stuff yet!! How can I get ready for the school year??? I guess I'll figure it out!! Here are some pics I took at the wedding. Let me know if anyone needs pictures done - I won't charge too much...



Word of advice: never tell Courtney your room number for your wedding night!












I love this picture of Dustin and Grandma Charlotte!










Thank goodness they didn't let him escape.












No, you're not seeing things. The ushers (Curtis in blue) wore the tuxedos from Dumb and Dumber!












One of my favorite pictures!












My, my, who are these lovely people?!












Fourteen years for both of these couples!











Me & Nicole Noon hanging out at the reception.












I stole this picture of Alta from Nicole's computer...isn't she pretty?















I also have a new cousin!! David and Jen Cole welcomed #3 on Friday morning. Courtney and I saw him that morning. His name is Walker Curtis Cole and he weighed 6 lbs 5 oz and was 19" long. Jen is the master of giving birth: induced at 8:00, started pushing at 10:28, had the baby at 10:31. I told her to knock it off and give someone else a turn!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Dave & Buster's Fun

We met up with our college friends for a night of fun at Dave & Buster's last weekend and then this weekend was spent with some PR friends. We've been busy! We met John & Mary, Travis, Justin & Sarah for dinner and games. Kate - Mary tried your virtual jump rope game and it's hard!!!

Killing the evil Zombies
















Travis challenged Courtney to a "dance off" - which Courtney won! We have since been dancing on our own Dance Dance Revolution pad at home.














The boys were thrilled to find a Madden game on the BIG screen. It was Travis & Courtney vs. Justin & John. My hubby and his teammate won!!















The gang: Courtney, Justin, John, Mary, Sarah (due in a few weeks!!), and Travis.











This past Sunday Tori and Tom from Puerto Rico were in town! They were headed to TX where Tori will be teaching from Chicago. Tom leaves in a week to go back to the island for his last year. It was fun to catch up with them.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The drama that is Miller's life














Poor Miller! He's had a rough time of it lately. First he was having problems with his claw. We think we let them get too long when we moved back because our clippers were packed away and when we was digging it just split open. I took him to the vet and he put Miller under and clipped it back as far as he could and filed it down. I sat at the vet's office for 2 hours for the surgery and then his recovery. That was a trip! When he "came to" they got him standing up but he wouldn't walk. They called me back thinking if he saw and heard me he might start walking. I got back there and he could hear me but he couldn't focus. He looked like my very own Stevie Wonder dog! Then when he started getting feeling back in his tongue he kept sticking the tip of it out. It was kind of cute! I got him home and we babied him for the rest of the night. The doctor said he needed to keep the bandage on his paw for 5 days but of course we didn't think he would wear it that long. That was on Wednesday. Then on Friday we went home to Minneapolis to help mom and dad with moving the rest of their things from their house. We were staying with Sharon & Wilbur because my parents stay with Grandma and there aren't enough beds for us also. Sharon & Wilbur live on the "outskirts" of Minneapolis - basically in the country. There are all sorts of critters at their house - not counting Curtis' now 7 dogs. We had let the boys run around outside with Curt's and Travis' dogs when we heard a terrible noise. We ran out to see what was going on and that's when we saw the mountain lion. We had heard these hung out in that area but had never seen one. We tried to get the dogs away from it but you know Miller! We sent Curtis in to get a shotgun while the rest of us threw things at it. Next thing we knew Miller was racing towards it. It was crazy! It really felt like a scene from a movie! By the time Curtis got out to shoot it Miller had gotten too close and that damn lion got his ear! We had to rush him to the vet to get bandaged up (hence the bandage on his ear). Of course he was pretty bloody on his face and head. So now he had a bandaged head and paw. He was such a good boy and kept the bandage on his paw for the full 5 days. I would say Miller had a bad week!
























My bad! It was Odie, not a mountain lion!!

Royals game

It's been a while again. I am guessing posts will be a little farther in between since we're back home. I'll still try to put up some interesting things but I'm afraid our lives are a little boring now! Last week we went with some friends to a Royals game. We had a blast! Keep in mind though that we were at a ROYALS game which means they lost. We kept tying up and then leading, but in the bottom of the 13th (yep, 13) we were down 1, we got the bases loaded with only 1 out. We brought out the big guns - Grudz...something. I asked Courtney if he was a good hitter. "Oh yeah, he'll do great!" And then it happened. Double out. How are you gonna double out with bases loaded and only 1 out?!?!? The game started at 7:05 and we were finally headed home at 11:45. Damn Royals!!! Here are some pics from that night.

The Marshes at the game - Ben let me wear his hat because it started raining.














The gang's all here!! The 14 (counting photographer Courtney) of us at the game.













The largest screen in the MLB. Everything's bigger in Kansas, not Texas! (Although I think technically we were in Missouri)














Jorge - do you play for the Royals? We thought this guy looked like our little Jorge!














This is Baxter, one glorious hound.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Finally Moved

Well we did it. We officially moved into our new home in Leavenworth 1 week ago. After a crazy few weeks of thinking closing wouldn't happen on the right day we finally got it all worked out. We closed on Thursday, June 26th, and drove to Salina that night to stay with Courtney's dad and step-mom. Then on Friday we went to see if we could get our U-Haul a day early so we could load some stuff Friday and get to LV earlier on Saturday. We got the truck on Friday about 2:00 and by 7:00 that night we were COMPLETELY loaded!!! Not just 1 storage unit, not 2 storage units, but 2 storage units, a table from Grandma's, misc. items from mom and dad's house, and many misc. things from Courtney's Aunt Sharon's house. We really worked our butts off and got it done quickly. I felt like I was in the way most of the time but I did help some. My husband is a very picky packer and mover so I mainly tried to stay out of the way with my mouth shut. Saturday morning we got up, picked up our lawn mower from the shop (we got a bagger for it), and were headed to LV by 10:30. We got there and got unloaded in just about 2 1/2 hours. Yes, I was a little freaked out about my husband driving a 26 foot truck but he did it like a champ. My mom & Grandma, and Courtney's Aunt Sharon & step-mom really helped out a lot by unpacking and washing everything for our kitchen. Then they worked on getting sheets and towels washed because we had everyone from Minneapolis spending the night. Sunday morning mom and I went groccery shopping and I spent all of her money!! Aren't I a sweet child? Sunday afternoon and evening was spent doing more unpacking until Allyn (I'm calling him our son that I didn't have to give birth to and he's already 21) moved in that night. He's living with us while doing an internship with the KC T-bones baseball team this summer. The rest of the week has been spent unpacking and getting our house in order so we actually have some of a summer. Yesterday we got up and our fridge shot craps so after living here for 1 week we had to spend money on a new fridge....will it ever end?!?! We did however get a nice fridge that works very well. Last night we went to Olathe for an amazing dinner at our friend Jared's parents. Today was spent at Anna's birthday party. I can't believe she's 4 already!! I think this week we might actually get to take it easy...until the weekend when we go to Minneapolis to help mom and dad get the rest of their things out of the Minneapolis house. This summer is going so fast - in 3 weeks I'll be starting meetings to start the school year. Here are a few pics I got while we were moving. None of the inside of the house yet - I'm waiting until it's all put away. Katie got her job in Texas this week so we are excited to hear if they are finding a house yet. I'm so glad I'm done with that - your turn Kate!!

















I got pictures of Curtis and his EIGHT (yes that's 8!) dogs last weekend. Let's see if I can name them all: the bull mastif is Odie, the medium sized one is Cricket, the one with no hair except for on her head, tail, and feet is Pop Tart (Princess Strawberry Frosted Pop Tart to be exact), and the basically bald one is Karma, and her puppies are Meatloaf, Harriet Tubman, Irok, and Piglet.