The greatest 3 weeks

Before I get started with all the pictures and activities since Jake's been home, I thought I would show some recent pictures of Cam. He's doing great in Chicago. He finally got transferred out of his first area where he was for 6 months. He's now in Lake Bluff and is loving it there. The bottom right picture is of the tallest and shortest Elders in the mission. haha.

With me, Ky and Jess being picture taking freaks, we had a fair amount of this little cutie. Here are just a few ;)

For some reason he hated his left leg touching the grass! It was hilarious to see it go up every time we set him down.

The girls and I spent a large amount of time creating these awesome posters the day before Jake got home. The girls had some great experience to draw on from their years of cheer leading and making posters and banners for the school.

This was the morning of June 1st. It was so much fun to spend the morning getting ready for Jake's arrival that evening. Happily, because I was so busy, the time went by fast.

This is how Jake spent his last day on his mission. Having a lunch and testimony meeting with President and Sister Choi and all the missionaries leaving this transfer. There were 4 going to SLC so they flew home on Monday, while the rest had to wait til Tuesday.

It was SOOOO exciting when it was finally time to leave for the airport. I had to really try hard not to cry for most of the ride down. I just couldn't believe this day had finally come! It was so surreal. We met the Bundy's and Ann at Zupa's in Farmington, then arrived at the airport an hour early. We had fun playing "Heads up" charades to pass the time.

The moment I saw Jake coming down the escalator was perhaps the single most exciting moment of my life! (OK- well not counting the births of my kids and Evan and my marriage to Mike. Ah! I guess I better not say it was the single most exciting moment of my life... haha )I wish I could relive it again and again. It was such a wonderful, exhilarating, fantastic feeling to finally lay eyes on him after 2 long years.

And that hug... well, that was just the best thing ever. The first thing he said to me was "this is genius!"- meaning the Captain America theme. I just knew he would be thrilled with my idea!

It was so much fun watching him greet everyone.

He was SO cute with Evan. I loved that Evan was interested, but not overly friendly to him right at first.

The drive home was the fastest in history. We stopped at Panda so Jake could eat a little something since we were coming straight home for him to be released and we knew that would take about an hour. That was a cool experience and I loved hearing him tell Pres. Burns about some of the most special and memorable experiences from his mission. Finally, at about 10:15, we made it home. It was so fun to see him see the house, decorations, and yard for the first time.

The next few weeks were JAM packed with activities. Seriously- it was one thing after another- with a huge meal in between! The first morning we had a big breakfast and each took turns asking Jake questions. It was so awesome to be able to ask question after question and get an answer right then!

 It was great watching movies with Jake, going shopping, hiking, and to the temple. It was so much fun having Evan to ourselves for the weekend while Ky and Brody went to Moab for Ky to run in a half marathon. The only way the week that he got home could have been more perfect would have been to have Cam and Brad there.

 *(I just noticed that there is a duplicate picture in these 2 collages... but I don't care enough to redo it. Sorry!) *Tom and Freda took me, Mike and Jake out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse several days after Jake got home. They were so cute and excited to see him. They wore badges that said "welcome home Jake!" *Jake was thrilled to get a wad of cash from us and the Weyerts for birthdays and Christmas for the past 2 years. *We had a lot of fun playing a lot of badminton in the first few weeks. *Jake's first time on his scooter. *It was so awesome to have Jake's first companion, his trainer, Elder Haviland come to visit us for a couple hours. He's from AZ, but was on his way to Wyoming to work for the summer with his wife so stopped by to visit. I am so grateful to him for helping turn Jake into a great missionary!

 One Sunday afternoon we joined the Bundy's in Blacksmith fork canyon for a cookout and games. It was a lot of fun.

Me, Jake, the girls and Evan went to the Logan pool one afternoon and another day we girls and Evan went to Lindsey's friends pool for some R&R.

Me and Jess got to celebrate our birthdays together which hasn't happened since I turned 50. I love that she was born on my birthday! It was nice that the Skeens and Bundy's could join us for a cookout.

We enjoyed so many meals out on the patio. Many times Jake's friends were over so joined us for dinner and games. The bottom right picture is on Mike's birthday when Tom and Freda came over for dinner, presents, cake and ice-cream.

Jake's welcome home was on the 14th. I was so proud of the wonderful talk he gave and how he told so many stories from his mission that have meant so much to him. It was great to have the support of both our families for this special day.

Top left is 2 of Jake's high school friends- Taylor and Bretton. Bottom left is one of his companions Elder DeMille.

It was so fun that the Nelson's were in town from Minnesota. It was great seeing them.

It was sad to say goodbye to Jessica the next day and Ky and Evan 5 days after that. It felt like a touch of heaven these past 3 weeks having the kids around and having so many wonderful family times together. I loved it so much. It was very sad and hard saying goodbye to this sweetheart. He brightened every minute of every day. I love my family!