Elder Parker

I sure miss my brother. He is being the best missionary in Chewelah, Washington. He's teaching a zillion lessons a week, building his own bed frames, serving anyone who will let him, but, I still can miss him. I, like my parents, now look forward to the great Mondays when he emails the family. And, when I receive a letter in the mail, it is like Christmas! He's awesome and I am super proud of him.

This week I started school and it is insane. I have 29 sweaty little bodies in my non-air-conditioned classroom. Like I said, insane. But, I'm putting on my "good attitude" hat and looking at the positives - some of them know their times tables...saweet!

The Lake in Photoblog

The lake was great, but nothing says it like the pictures themselves.

Now, isn't that a phenomenal end to our summer?

We're Off

Tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. we are off to Lake Powell

How can you not love this place. I feel incomplete without going at least once each summer...thankfully we got a late invite and we will spend the rest of the week there. I deem it the perfect last chapter to my summer break!

I heart...

The Olympics!

but, this China time difference thing is throwing my sleeping schedule off. My favorite events are on live at 11:30 p.m. Way past my bedtime!

I'm currently loving

*Michael Phelps - who isn't?

*Jonathan Horton - his team spirit was worth a smile, plus he rocked!

*Shawn Johnson - She is a firecracker, I'm cheering for her in the all-around.

*Misty May - I would love that butt

*Jason Lezak - His finish on the 4 x 100 was my "Olympic Moment"

...I'm sure by next week my list will be all new people to love, the Olympics are fun fun fun.

Reunion.

I've finally gotten the pictures through Laura to Cathy to Nicole to me. Thanks for the effort guys! As I said in my previous blog, the Armstrong Family Reunion was really remarkable. Cathy's family really has a firm handle on things around there.

Our aunt and uncle, Christi and Bob, have this remarkable lodge located about 1 1/2 hours north of Phoenix, it is called "Legacy Lodge" and was feature on HGTV's Amazing Log Homes a while back. It is an amazing place. It fit all 50 family members with room to spare!

My highlights:

*Meeting tons of new family members, and spending time with the ones I already know

*Helping Cathy with her craft project and getting to use my new vinyl cutter

*The pirate theme and how wonderfully everyone got into it

*Ben got to play paintball for 4 hours, he was ecstatic

*The fierce battle for the ball during the build a raft game

*Not catching the nasty stomach attack that got to the whole family

*The lodge itself, did I mention that it is amazing?
Here is a link to the lodge if you haven't seen it before, it is work checking out:
http://www.pioneerloghomesofbc.com/hgtv_gallery.html?ID=3

Pictures...

The whole Armstrong clan

The Hulet's (minus 4)

Ben and Logan

Me, Christina, and Nicole

.Love.