November 5, 2010

On Friday, November 5th Elder Christian Whitby returned with honor from his two year LDS mission to Portland, Oregon.  We had balloons, banners, family and friends all gathered at the Salt Lake airport to welcome him home.  If I’m being honest, it was a very strange and surreal experience.  A ton of emotions flying around!  I had a hard time convincing myself that the handsome righteous man coming down the escalators was my baby brother!   After hugs and tears and maybe a bit of awkwardness, it was almost like he was never gone.  (Which I’m sure is so different from how Christian felt!)  Then we all drove over to Chili’s for a celebratory lunch.  What an awesome experience!!

Aw, aren’t they the cutest?  All three of them.  Silly faces, fingers in noses.  All mine.

Sam with the sign he made.  “It says ‘Wel. Come. Home. Un. Cle. Chris. Tian. I. Miss. You. From. Sam’”

Here he comes!!  He had this same look on his face for the next 3 hours.

Sam ran up for the first hug.

Welcome home, Elder!  I hear you’ll eventually adjust back to “real” life!!

Erik gets to sleep in until I holler up the stairs and then dump the boys on him.  But nobody seems to mind.  Love love love these guys.

I think he’s my favorite.  But only because he snuggles with me.

Or he’s my favorite.  But only because he thinks that if he doesn’t make eye contact, I won’t notice he just walked out of the bathroom with my eyeshadow on his face and soap in his hair.

I can’t really decide.  Let’s call it a tie.

I noticed Owen sleeping in his swing with his arms folded.  I told Samuel to come over and see how cute Owen looked.  Without missing a beat, Sam said, “Oh, it’s prayer.”  Then he folded his own arms, bowed his precious little head, and said, “Heavenly Father, thanks have nice day, thanks Mommy Daddy Baby Owen . . . name Jesus AMEN!”

It’s been a long 4 days without 2 of my favorites around.  They’ll be home in about 2 hours.  Can’t wait.  This house is just not the same without them.

{Watching Wipeoutafter an evening in the backyard.  Goodnight and big balls.}