The Reunion (lots of photos)

I find myself with time to post this morning. Easton had people coming and going last night until after 4 a.m. so he is still tucked snuggly in bed and probably will be for hours. That gives me time to share our excitement from yesterday with all of you before we head out to find E some shoes without holes in them today.

FUNNY STORY from the airport (at least it is now. Not so funny at the time): We decided just to take the family to the airport. I had tons of his friends, cousins, etc. who asked to go and, being the mean mom that I am, I told them to wait and come over later that night. I wanted some time just with immediate family before we were bombarded with people coming over to see him (which was fun by the way, but I'm so glad it was just us at the airport). So it was Dan and I, Tannon, (Dawson had a league basketball game his coach didn't want him to miss, so he was waiting at the door when we got home), Rick, Kori, Daci, and my parents. Dan's dad is a missionary at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and didn't get off until 9 pm so he drove down to the house after that.

Back to the story...we got to the airport and got us all in and ready. We were holding our signs and couldn't wait to see him come down the elevator. There were 5 other missionaries on E's flight. We watched all of them come down the escalator and reunite with their families. But, still no E. What the heck? We asked one of them where he was and they said, "No worries. He stopped at the bathroom and he'll be here in a sec." K. 20 minutes later....still no Easton. We are getting worried. I am now considering running up the down escalator, risking being shot by security, and finding my long, lost son. Right about this time one of us (can't remember who at this point) shouts, "There he is!" We see him walking down the hall from a whole different terminal toward us, not even coming down the escalators where he was supposed to be. I guess he had come out of the bathroom and accidentally gone to the baggage claim in terminal one instead of terminal two, which was the one for his flight. He went to the terminal one claim and wondered why his family wasn't there to meet him. He finally went up to an airport worker and explained his situation. After hearing what flight he had come in on, he was able to direct him our way.

When I saw him sauntering up the hall, I dropped my sign and sprinted. I jumped in his arms. Silly boy! Nothing like a dramatic entrance, right?

Last night has to be one of my favorite experiences in life this far. Reuniting with a son I haven't seen for 2 years was pure heaven. Thanks to all of you for sharing this wonderful moment with my family and me!

Tannon (so happy his bro is about to appear, or so he thinks):

l-r: Grandma O (holding e sign), Me, Grandpa O (behind Tannon), Tannon, Rick, Daci, Dan. WAITING!
(Kori took the photo)
Rick showing Daci where Uncle Easton will appear (or so we thought):
Grandma O, Daci, Rick and Me (where the heck is he?). As you can see I am now beginning to feel very bugged. My mom, on the other other, is still standing there with a smile on her face feeling optimistic.:
Rick, Daci and Kori. Daci praciticed her wave all week for Uncle E. She performed like a champ.:
Dan. "Here's your sign!" (think Bill Engvall. lol):
Easton reunites with his daddy. Bliss!
After the hug:
Since Easton has been gone, Dawson has grown 7 inches. This is the scene at home when we got here and they reunited. Easton could NOT believe his baby brother had begun to look like a man!: