NATE'S HOME!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday afternoon I got the beloved call from him informing me that he had passed his PV (with flying colors I might add). And that he was REALLY GOING TO COME HOME THAT NIGHT!!!!! YAY!!!!!! We knew he would pass, but it was REALLLLLLLY stressful wondering how it would all go. And Nate says that the PV was the most stress he has ever been under in his entire life!!! (guess that's good to get him ready for "one of the most stressful jobs there is". It's pretty crazy to hear about- I'm not going to do it justice explaining it, so maybe he can post about it. But he did great!! And he finally made it home!

It's been Heavenly having him back home. This is the picture of our big sign that we made. It was pretty cute, and we were so excited for him to see it when we drove up, but unfortunately the wind was really bad that night and pretty much ripped it to shreds while we were at the airport. It was dumb of me to hang it right there, but there wasn't even so much as a slight breeze when I hung it up, so I thought we were good to go. But he got the general idea, so it's all good :) And I took a picture :) We did have a cute poster and some balloons for him at the airport.....

It was so great to see him coming down the escalator!! I don't think I've ever been so excited and so happy for ANYTHING in my entire life!! The kids too!! They pretty much attacked him as he got to us. It was incredible!!! And yes, we are sweating (the shiny faces). We had run from this terminal to the other and then back to this one because the airport is so screwy. But what an awesome moment!!! Luke ran up to him pretty quick, but then sort of backed off and was a little hesitant for a few hours. Noah is still getting used to Daddy (he's trying to break him in by all of a sudden needing to be awake at night....), but we're SO HAPPY to have him home!!!

We had balloons and a fun little poster for Daddy, and Daddy had fun souvenier hats for the kids from Oklahoma University (the Sooners), since he was technically a student of the school while in Oklahoma.

The kids did really well at the airport- they're pretty familiar with airport way by now, and they just munched on the goodies from Grandma and Grandpa (who we ran into- not literally- in the parking garage- another blessing!).

If you ever asked my kids what they were going to do with Daddy when he got home they would have told you "I am going to wrestle with him!" ALL of them were looking forward to that, and so that is exactly what we did that first night with him home!!!


even Noah couldn't get enough of the wrestling match :) (from a safe distance of course)




Bradley has been on a cloud ever since Nate got home. He's been an angel for the most part. He's very much a Daddy's boy, and missed him SO MUCH!!!! It's so great to have his buddy back. Daddy missed Brad too.



Oh, they've missed their Daddy!!! I really have learned how important our Daddy is to his kids. They've really grown and changed a lot and I know it's from the challenge of not having him here. It was a lot to expect from such young kids, but they've really done awesome and deserve the reward of having him home. I've gained such a testimony of the power of having the Priesthood and a worthy Priesthood holder in the home. It's priceless.

We really haven't been able to get enough of Daddy this weekend. It's been a really fun one!! Saturday we went on a walk, and then had Nate's welcome home/Congratulations party (thanks everyone that came! My camera is in the diaper bag at Grandma Ruthie's house, we rushed out of there so quickly last night we completely forgot it.... we'll beat you next time Jared and Paulette!!!! But as soon as I get it I will post the pictures from the party). Then I got to go to the Women's Conference while Nate hung out with his brothers and Dad. Then Sunday was AWESOME!!!!!!! I can't tell you how much I loved church!!! And we bummed around the rest of the Sabbath. Then Monday we spent most of the day just catching up on everyone. Nate got to take the girls to school- they were pretty excited about that. And we went to Jared and Paulette's that night (just like old times :))--thanks again guys! Then Tuesday Nate got to do Joyschool with me and Bradley. We surprise-checked Charity out of school early and went to see Kung Fu Panda as a family- way cute!! And then Nate and I finally got to go out on a date!!!! YAY!!!! We went to Tepanyaki (that place has a very sentimental meaning to us- that is where Nate's family took us before we moved to Alaska- so it was kind of like ending this the way it all started :) cute idea, Babe!) Thanks to Christy for watching the kids. And that was our weekend.......

Thanks everyone that has been so supportive and thanks everyone that helped me and the kids get through this 2 1/2 months!! It's been filled with blessings, I couldn't be more grateful for how it all went.

And last but not least......Nate started work today!! He is officially an AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER!!!!! We'll have to keep you posted on how the first day goes. Maybe I can talk him into finally posting something :) Now that he has a life (we'll call it that :) ). I'm so glad to have him back and to be able to get focused on different things in our life besides this career!! It's been an incredible journey!!