A Fabulous February

 Whale Bones at the SB Natural History Museum

 Excavating Bones at the Natural History Museum

 Tally loves her Engineering for girls- Goldie Blox sets

 making jewelry with their beads for the babysitter

 we found this snowman head mask in Aaron's office and put it on Oliver

 Hendry's

 Puddle jumping

 Tally

 Aricin's valentines

The Boys 

 My girl

 A few pics from my saturday morning run- not bad views

 bothering the aneneme's

 my mini me

 Watching the Wizard of Oz play with Grandma and Aunt Marie

 Play time with Grandpa Rick

Turtles 

 Giraffe Feeding

 Train Ride

First tooth... gone.

February has come and gone so fast. We are busy. Aricin has started T-ball, Aaron just got back from a quick trip to Scotland for another progression board- all is well with his research and writing and he's hoping to finish up in the next 15 months! Woo Hoo! We are all fighting colds and coughs- stay away we are one germ filled family at the moment. Aricin lost his first tooth as shown above, it was a little sad for me- just another reminder that's he's really growing up. I finished my first college course for Real Estate training and have another final for my second class in a week. Oli is talking like crazy and loves bat man, spider man, any sort of action figure. Aricin is a magnet for animal facts and loves to share them with anyone that will listen. Tally still loves anything princess and really loves going on dates with mommy or daddy. This is such a fun stage with the kids I wish we could slow things down. 

Jumping right into January...

 Tally loves to head out at sunset and go paddle boarding with her daddy

 Life size drawings of ourselves... seemed like a good idea but ended up looking more creepy then anything

 Grandma came to town and the kids got Dippin Dots at the Zoo

 We picked up a couple of paddle boards and the whole family has enjoyed the investment

 even Ollie

 GO BRONCOS!!!

 Tally and Faith

 Aricin and Eli

 Hanging with the Johnsons in San Clemente. The Johnsons are special friends to us- I've known Kristy and Darin for the last 15 years- they went to Westmont and when we lived in Orange County they were in our small group so we got to spend more time with them. So fun to go down and reconnect with them.

San Clemente 

 Ty Warner Sea Center on the Pier- SB

 Dinner with the Millers and their 3 kiddos in San Luis Obispo. Again, so fun to reconnect with old Cali friends. Aaron was in Jon and Carries wedding and Jon was in our wedding. Carrie did my hair for our wedding and Jon is now our Dentist. Love these guys and their kiddos!

 Monterey Bay Aquarium Fun

Time is flying by as always. This month i was reminded how good it is to be back in California. Moving to colorado we said goodbye to lots of friends and california and it's been really fun to reconnect with those old friends and have our kids play with their kids. We spent a weekend in San Clemente and it was good to be back in Orange County and another weekend in San Luis Obispo where we got to go to our old church and see lots of old friends. The weather has been unreal- most days since we've gotten here have been in the 70's sometimes it will touch 80 sometimes it will touch the 60's but generally- we're spoiled. We are loving the beach culture- our weekends our filled with trips to the dog beach for Jeremiah and lots of time on the water surfing and paddle boarding. All is good, we're still trying to figure out how to afford to live in SB but are confident God will continue to provide. Yesterday I passed a phone interview with Keller Williams and now i'm moving forward with lots of trainings and exams- believe it or not I'm going to try my hand at Real Estate- part time here in Santa Barbara... so if you know of anyone wanting to buy or sell... send them my way in a few months :)

The Marshall Family Christmas Ode 2013 Vol. 9

Hello friends, here's a note from us to you

Filled with love & sharing what's new

We celebrated New Years with friends in SB wondering what 2013 would hold

And grandparents spoiled us all at Disneyland where it snowed without being cold.

February was filled with swim lessons, tumbling, & ballets,

And visits to the Denver Aquarium to pass snowy days

In March Janay became a part-time childcare coordinator with Cultural Care Au Pair

We visited family at Powderhorn where all of us skied (even 18 m. Oli) giving us grey hair

In April Aricin turned 5 with a construction & building party at Home Depot

We enjoyed bike rides from the burbs to downtown Denver in melting snow

May included t-ball, soccer, tennis, pottery, & river dance classes for the kids

Oli earned his 1st stitches & we rode Alpine slides leaving lots of skids

Heading West for Aaron's new zoo gig, we sadly waved goodbye to Denver & sold our house

We stopped to visit family, pick lavender, & wine taste on bikes with the spouse

In July Aaron began work as the Director of Education at the Santa Barbara Zoo

He loves his work & God provided a wonderful place for us to live too

The summer was full of weddings, unpacking, & watching dolphins at the beaches

And though Aricin earned more stitches, we are happy as peaches

In August Janay spent a weekend with old college friends - filled with mimosas and fun.

We settled on a church, joined a small group, started MOPS, & new friendships have begun.

In September a new tradition of birthday carousel rides began as Oliver turned two

Janay began homeschooling kindergarten and pre-school giving her much to do

In October we threw Tally a "fairy princess tea party" with tiaras, fairy wings, & treats

We visited a bounce house wonderland, watched volleyball at Westmont & on the beach.

For Halloween the kids emerged as 2 hammerheads and 1 great white shark.

Good friends visited & our sales pitch for them to move included beaches and the park.

The Carpinteria Avocado & Goldeta Lemon festivals were fun

And good friends visited to play great tunes we wished it wasn't done

In November we enjoyed a business & pleasure trip to DC without kids

Followed by a Denver weekend to support Impact edVentures and see friends.

In December visited Great Grandma Ruth at Lake Arrowhead with lots of snow

Then came home for the harbor boat parade of lights all a glow

We are excited to see the Nutcracker Ballet next week - our family tradition

Aaron is imaging paddling out more on a new SUP acquisition.

Oliver is a funny toddler, loves to love, take risks & has no fear.

He loves to be with his brother and sister - apart from them he sheds a tear.

Talia is full of passion - she loves to pray for others

She's very girly but doesn't mind playing in the sand with her brothers.

Aricin is full of questions. He loves to learn and read.

But he's also an adrenaline junkie, loving sports, falls, & speed.

Aaron's still working with Impact edVentures

encouraging leadership through service-learning & adventure

The PhD research through Edinburgh rolls on, 

Collecting data and writing analysis anon.

The kids are growing so fast, we're trying to embrace every moment

Knowing soon they'll be grown & we'll just have each other to torment

We miss Colorado, our old community, Denver, & having seasons

But we are also convinced God brought us here for so many reasons

Reflecting on the last year we feel blessed by God's provision

Looking ahead through doubts, we are confident of his grand supervision

Many trials and transitions have filled this last year to say the least

But God's faithfulness shapes and grows us, God's teachings are our feast

Again, I like to say when life is easy we get comfortable and self reliant

When it's hard Christ teaches us to let go of control and be less defiant

Life is a journey and lasts but a short while 

Stumbling we try to live beneath God's smile

So that's our year so much to tell

We hope you are happy, healthy, & well.

We wish you PEACE, LOVE, HOPE, JOY, and blessings this holiday season

And invite you to visit us anytime for any reason.

With Love and Extending Big Hugs

Aaron, Janay, Aricin, Talia, and Oliver