I Think I Need a Sunrise,

I'm Tired of Sunsets

Rebekah has accepted an interpreting assignment in. . .BOSTON!!!


Before she packed up her car, we gathered together at Macaroni Bar & Grill. Boston is 2,708 miles away. That's pretty far. I have a hard time getting down to San Diego for a visit, but Boston? I've always wanted the kids to do what they're interested in, and Rebekah is deffinately talented at sign interpretation. She's interested in several colleges that are out in that area where she could further her studies. I'm so proud of her for making this hard decision. I will be praying for her greatest success in this endeavor.

She will miss the exciting things in Vegas life, like Sunday night dinners at our house, movies with the fam, but Boston sure has enough activities to try and fill up her time.

It seems that Agustana wrote their big hit especially for her. . . you know you want to sing along


She said I think I'll go to Boston,
I think I'll start a new life,



I think I'll start it over
where no one knows my name.


I'll get out of {Nevada},
I'm tired of the weather


I think I'll go to Boston,
I think that I'm just tired,

I think I need a new town,

to leave this all behind.

I think I need a sunrise,

I'm tired of the sunsets,

I hear it's nice in the summer

Some snow would be nice.

Boston, where no one knows my name...

Boston.

Lake Powell 2010

The participants:

"You can call me Scotty-clause, minus the ho-ho."

Jenn & Jordan, with Carson's first lake trip.

Matt & Ashley, Drew, Charlie, and Parker's first lake trip.

Some activities in no particular order:

Drew discovered talking on the radio. He like to get in the ski boat and call captain grandpa inside the houseboat.

Intense nightly games. Next year we start Ashley out with a major handicap.

Drew and Charlie took turns driving the houseboat.

Every night before bed, Ron would help Drew catch a fish.

Carson and Parker spent a lot of time chillin under their toys. I'm not looking forward to the walking toddlers next year!

One of the yummy meals. I think this one was grilled chicken and fettuchini alfredo.

Plenty for everybody.

Charlie just hangs out in the bow of the ski boat watching everybody. One of these times she'll try one of the toys.

Drew enjoyed tube rides with anyone he could talk into taking him.

Every year it seems there is a song that reminds me of summer and going to the lake. I was wondering what this year's song would be. This is Scotty "I want to be a billionaire so freakin bad" he sang this song over and over and over and over... and over. It amazes me how he'll hear a song twice and then know all the words to it. Look for him in a few years on the cover of Forbes magazine, right there next to Oprah and the Queen.

Ashley and Parker floating in the water.

Charlie loved swimming with Grandpa this year. She thought the slide was scary. She thought the tube on the ski boat was scary. She thought everything was scary, so she just floated with Grandpa.

Carson swimming with Jordan.

Jenn learned that going to the lake with a baby is totally different than going to the lake as a carefree teenager.

Lake Powell 2010

Part 2

Parker's shades

I can't believe I was quick enough to grab my camera and catch this shot. I waited too long to call doggie daycare for a reservation for Kruger on a holiday weekend, so we decided to bring him along. He was so good! He pretty much stayed on the front patio, or roamed around on the sand near where we were anchored. I could sit on the patio and throw a tennis ball for him to chase. Kruger doesn't naturally like the water, but he got used to walking into it and we pulled him in a few times to cool him off.

The kids had a few toys to play with inside during quiet time.

Thank You. Thank You Very Much

Every week Carson morphs more and more into a little Jordan. Jenn came to the lake very excited because finally there is one trait that she can claim came from her. Carson is starting to do the 'Elvis lip' that Jenn does all the time. I just barely caught the start of him lifting up his lip in this picture.

Stay Tuned

We've had a busy summer so far. It's my goal in the next couple of days to get our lives caught up on this blog. So many more things to tell you about:

• Annual Lake Powell trip
• Indoor s'mores
• Rebekah's farewell
• Our 30th wedding anniversary

Party at the Marxes!!!

We had a Brazilian BBQ for Scott's homecoming. Family and friends were invited. We served rice, beans, pork barbacoa, kind of a Cafe Rio style dinner.

The girls helped me for two weeks before this to make paper chains and pinwheels in the colors of the Brazilian flag.

The dessert table, and Jenn and Ashley with the new babies.

We set the food up in the front courtyard, and it left more space inside for everyone to gather and eat.

Scott mingled and did his best to remember English. During the first couple of days back, every now and then you'd glance over at him and he would just have that far away stare. I knew he was thinking about being there instead of here.

So many of Scott's cousins came, it was great for him to see everyone and catch up.

Elder Marx's Homecoming

On June 3rd, Scotty returned.

Here's his nieces and nephew holding up signs waiting for him. Drew remembered Scotty, but the girls were just over a year when he left, they had grown up a lot while he was gone.
Scott was looking overwhelmed in the airport. He was glad to see us all, and couldn't hardly remember how to say things in English.

Brad and Kara came up from San Diego. I was so glad to see them too. It's tough for them to get away, Kara works weekends so Brad can stay with Hallie, Brad had just finished up finals for his semester so he had some time during the week.

Another pair of worn-out missionary shoes for my collection.

Ashley mentioned our non-huggedness here. Kara wrote about the homecoming as well, here. And here's Jenn's version of the story.

Here is Scott with the next in line to be a missionary in our family, Drew. He still needs to grow a foot or two, but I'm sure on that day when his parents send him off, we'll all think the time has just flown by.

Whoo-hooo! This part of mom-duty is done. No more Tuesday night emails, no more holiday phone calls, no more worrying about them, just enjoying the kids and their lives. Kind of like closing out that chapter.

If you get a chance to talk to Scotty, he loves to speak Portuguese, or talk about the greatness of missionary work, or the greatness of Brazil, or how big all the cars and roads are here. He has some interesting stories.

JUNE 3, 2010

WOOT, WOOT.

Andrew graduated from kindergarten. There was a lovely program that all the kindergarten the classes did. I'm glad I get to tag along and watch these things.
All of the children entered in singing a song. They then each went up to a microphone and gave their name and what they'd like to do when they grow up. At first I thought this would take forever, but it actually was very entertaining. Drew always mentions he wants to be a "cooker at McDonalds" which kind of makes us chuckle, where in the world do they come up with this stuff? When it was his turn he said he wanted to be a chef. I think he should start preparing for that by cleaning up Sunday dinner dishes every week. I'll help him realize his dreams and give him time in the kitchen.

Go Parker, Go Parker, Go Parker, Go Parker


Sunday was Parker's blessing. It was a beautiful Sunday (except for the wind).

I pointed the camera at Matt & Jenn to break up the "my son is better than your son" banter.


Ashley did a great job at setting up the buffet for us. All of her brother's and sister's came from Arizona to support them. We missed her missionary parents and Brad & Kara.

I was asked to bring a non-chocolate dessert. I was just staring at these in the car on the way to their house and thought all the swirls looked cool. (I was planning on blue frosting, but I ended up only having red, very red, and pink food coloring. Then orange. what's that all about? I couldn't bring pink cupcakes for Parker, so orange it was)

Drew was so gentlemanly to get Charlie a drink.

Then he snatched a carrot.

Which was impressive because he had all of these wonderful options to choose from.

Once again, while the adults ate, the babies slept. I think we're running out of time to leave these two little ones on the couch though.

Here's the Mr. Chill Parker himself. It's going to be interesting to see how his personality develops. Way to go Matt and Ashley. You have such a beautiful family.