The Mick

So, I have a large family. 3 brothers and 3 sisters, so 7 kids all together.

And my wonderful parents.

This last weekend we had the chance for the first time, in a long time, to all be get together in one place. The last time we were all together was when Will and I got married. Since then my little brother, Michael, has served a full-time mission for our church.

(P.S. my sister Jaymie is a professional photographer. Any pictures that actually look good were done by her. The crappy ones are mine)

You might see these missionaries around. You wouldn't have seen this one though, unless you had traveled to Montevideo, Uruguay within the last 2 years.

Yeah, 2 years. 24 long, hard, crazy months. With no TV, internet (except a weekly email home), or family. In fact, while Michael was gone he missed the additions of 3 new nieces and nephews. And he was not there, could not even call, when he found out his sister had cancer. He only got to call home twice a year; on Mother's Day and Christmas. He spent all his time learning to speak Spanish (and some Portuguese) fluently, immersing himself in the gospel, spreading the wonderful word of God and knowledge of Jesus Christ, and serving people that didn't always appreciate him. And what does he get for all his hard work?

Mostly blessings. He paid his own way, not getting paid for his work. He gave up some of his favorite foods because they just didn't have them. He was robbed at gunpoint. He wore holes in his shoes. He worked all day everyday. And he will tell you that they were the best 2 years of his life.

Now when he finally got to come home, you can imagine we were excited to see him. My oldest sister flew out from Idaho and we drove out from WV to be there to pick him up from the airport. We had to wait a few hours, since we got there early and then his flight was delayed. Waiting a couple hours is nothing, though, compared to being gone for 2 years and then spending over 20 hours flying back home.

So while we waited, we partied. 

First in the parking lot at the airport...

me and my baby

Jenny (baby sister) and Whitney (sister-in-law)

Cody

"to: ungckel {michael} from: caleb. Ahhh shark attack."

Ashlynne

Kyler and Peter

Lindsay (big sister) and her baby Peter

Then we waited at the baggage claim...

Jenny

Whitney, (with no head) Ellie and Cody

Will and Ellie (with Whitney's head)

FINALLY, Uncle Michael-Michael showed up, and we were ready (just barely)!

left to right: Whitney (sister-in-law), Kyler (nephew), Cody (nephew), my Dad, Ashlynne (niece), Ryan (brother), Jenny (seester), Jaymie (sister), Me, Ellie, Jenni (sister-in-law), Caleb (nephew), Lindsay (sister), Peter (nephew), my Mom

The only one missing? Michael. (And Jaymie's husband and 4 kids.) (And Whitney and Lindsay's husbands who were working.) (And Will. He was taking the picture. He got booted out because he kept holding his M upside-down so it was a W.)

the Momma

the Parents

Mick-mick and Jaymnerd

Ya-ya and Mick-mick

After that, we had a PARTAY!