Summertime

A disappointing first for the Marsh blog--we skipped two months. The boys are home for the summer, but there are fewer and fewer photo opps. Plus, most of the family is not fond of getting their picture taken anyway, so we'll make up for it with words.  Less fun, right?

Carson still helps run a small gym in town, and is still encouraging his parents to work out with him once or twice a week. Here he is helping our friend Darby pump some iron. Mom still sees Darby once a week as she has since he was very young. Darby is in high school now!

Ok, in everyone's defense, Dad was the only one who knew this picture was being taken. He wanted to document the fact that we all went to lunch for Father's Day. Dad was lucky enough to get a cool grill for Father's Day which is why you get the next picture:

The family decided the grill needed to go in the side yard, and Carson decided there needed to be a new small patio for it. Boom!  New patio. Complete with pavers and a pebbled area for the rain barrel. Quite the project. The family made Dad very happy.

Flowers for Mom!  We had an extended peony season and a really lovely spring. The house is bursting with peonies in April and we enjoyed them. The boys are both home for the summer, both keeping themselves busy. Here's hoping we don't skip another two months, but no guarantees. Happy Summertime!

Marching On

 

Time marches on, and it seems in 2025 it does so without many photo opps of the boys. In less than six months, we will have two 21-year-olds.  Woah! Here is Carson enjoying some time with Walter, the Bassett puppy. Walter stayed with us for a week and we thoroughly enjoyed his company.

We thought we better get this pic in before we say a final goodbye to the cold weather. Conner and his long time friend and fishing buddy Preston braved the elements and went ice fishing last month. You can see they were successful, and his parents are so pleased neither boy fell through the ice.

The CNMs are finishing up their sophomore/junior years at KU. The summer plans are not completely firm, so perhaps we can update on that in the next entry. We may even have some more pics of them by then.

Here is a highly random pic to close out the March '25 entry. Dad is rather proud that he now appears on a local mural. That is supposed to be him on the far right. His buddy Dave Johanning in the middle and the infamous Cpt Jayhawk, Joe Zielinski on the upper left. The mural can be found just inside the entrance to Lawrence's escape to Key West, the Sandbar.

Happy holidays!

Our first Christmas with both boys coming just down the street from their KU campus housing to be with us. Very nice! Mema and Grandpa have taken this very photo for 15 years.

This photo at Grandma's house hasn't been a 15 year tradition, but probably close. This year, there was a KC Chiefs game on Christmas Day, so some us had on our Chiefs gear.

Conner smiled as he opened his new Apple watch. Carson went all out on gifts for the family this year. His investments must be doing well!

Ok, this picture made it in because Sink loves a box. But also to show off our new pizza cooker, another gift from Carson who is smiling on the left.

A quick shout out to the best gift wrapper in the known universe. Each year, the family enjoys beautifully presented works of art before even unwrapping the gifts.

Lots of exciting sports during the holiday season. Grandma came with Dad to a KU game on NYE.

A fun, low key New Year's Eve celebration with the whole fam and our neighbors Ernie and Tricia. We made lots of fun pizzas with the new oven and shared some Jayhawk bubbly. Best wishes to our friends and family for a great 2025.

Enjoying the Fall season

It was a big day for the hydroelectric plant that Conner has been working for. They celebrated their 150th year! 

The Bowersock plant has such an impressive story. It has been great to see Conner become a part of it. This is the 12 year old building, not the 150 year old one. Conner is giving a tour to Mema and Grandpa.

Carson and his new friend group from Costa Rica. They all travelled to Kansas City and visited the Nelson Atkins Art Gallery. 

He is working to bring a fraternity back to campus that has been gone for a few years. Here is his dress-up photo taken not long before he was voted house treasurer.

Dad turned another year older this month. A cool group including our dear friends the Bates fam gathered to watch a KU bball game on his b-day.

Two young men

Whether we are ready for it or not, Conner reached his 21st b-day.  He allowed us to take him to the Sandbar so our buddy Joe could give him the Shark Attack experience.  He got to spin the wheel of happiness behind the bar, and we think he enjoyed it.  Proud of you, Conner!

The September post was written before Carson's 20th, so here he is with Dad and cool friend Andy Lees. No more teenagers! Both boys have jumped in to the new academic year on KU's campus.  We are happy to have them both close by.  Rock Chalk!

Grandma and the Marsh siblings plus Jen said a sad goodbye to Aunt Margie in September.  It was a beautiful service in Louisville and a nice trip for this crew.  

Two Jayhawks

No, Carson did not get a replacement for the Beemer.  This lovely vehicle has graced a few past blog entries, but not while a CNM was cleaning it.  Grandpa has been battling some health issues and the boys have been helping keep things clean and shiny.

Conner has given several family members an amazing tour of the Bowersock hydroelectric plant this summer.  His internship at the plant went so well that he is now working for them during the school year.  That was made possible by his decision to transfer to KU into their Environmental Science program.

We attended a memorial service for a family friend this month, and will have another for Aunt Margie next week.  A silver lining appeared while we were leaving the church to see the newly hung plaques for Troop 53 Eagle Scouts.  Conner's name is seventh from the top on the right side.

Carson is now a certified personal trainer to the stars.  Well, to his parents.  And a few other people in town.  He has been apprenticing with a trainer who has her own gym, and now he is beginning to train some clients of his own at the same spot. 

Smink wanted to say hi.  She and her sister enjoyed having their boys at home this summer.  She is pleased to see both of them every once in a while now that both CNMs are at KU. We are all so ready for the cool breezes of Fall!

Work and Lake

How can August be right around the corner?  Both boys have been working hard, and playing a little.  Conner was highlighted on the above post from the Bowersock power company.  The playing part came when the three CNMs heading to Harvey's Lake.

Here is the extended Marsh crew enjoying an evening bonfire by the Lake.  It was a big gathering, as always.  Almost thirty people this year, and not all were able to come.  Beautiful weather, beloved family.

Several canine family members too!  Five total.  Even one from Kansas.  This is Carson on the paddleboard with Namari.  Sweet new addition from the Michigan Marshes.

Conner endeared himself to the extended fam not only by teaching young Mychel some new fishing skills, but also doing some major landscaping tasks around the property.  

This is a great picture of Grandma and the CNMs, but as the following picture reveals, it is taken in Chicago.  The four of us chose the same flight home, with a short Chicago layover.  Mother Nature had other ideas, and sent major storms through Chicago, forcing us to miss our late evening connecting flight.  We couldn't get another flight to KC until the next evening!  

Enter Jill and Ronan, our Chi-town saviors. We stayed the night with them and had a wonderful day of touring Wrigley, eating Chicago pizza and having an all-around great Chicago day before concluding our summer vacation.  Thank you Jill and Ronan!