My cousin, JD, came home from his mission on Monday, March 2. It was so fun to see him again. He served his mission in Seattle, Washington. I really enjoyed catching up with him. I can't believe that he's home!
When I got off the plane, I came home to this! Okay, so I wasn't actually at home yet, but I still felt so loved! If you can't read the signs, they say, "Long Time No See...Longer for You than JD!" (I thought that sign was so hilarious because it is so true. JD had to come home because he had to have surgery on his knee. But after his surgery, he went straight back to Washington to serve the rest of his mission. What a good example!), "Welcome Home Laney", "Delaney" (with an Idaho drawing and a Texas drawing under my name), and the last one says, "We love you Laney Loo! and your little dogs too". I thought all the signs were so creative and adorable. They made me feel so loved! I have one awesome family, don't I?
I love my welcoming committee!
My flight came a few hours before JD's flight. While the family and I were waiting for JD's plane to land, I went shopping at JC Penny with Gran, Brigham, Luke, Kay, Heather, Erin, Dad, Mom, and Aunt Tacky. I got a really cute dress.
I also got to see this new small camera Addie Belle got. You take a picture and then it prints out a really small photo. I thought it was so cute. Belle and I took a picture together. I think it's pretty darn cute.
I know it's not the greatest picture, but I still think it's pretty adorable so in my opinion, this picture is still bloggable. :) The sign Belle is holding says, "Welcome Home, Delaney" and it has a drawing of Idaho and a drawing of Texas on it. Isn't that precious? ;)
After a while of shopping, it was time to go back to the airport for our missionary's arrival! :) While we were waiting for JD to get off the plane, we all searched for a suit and tie to track him down. We saw about five or six people dressed in suits until JD finally came down the escalator. All of us cheered and applauded JD as he slowly rode down the escalator. After hugs from the family, JD gave me a hug and said, "Thanks for coming down." I told him that I wasn't missing this for the world! :)
I adore this picture of JD and Josie together. For as long as I can remember, JD has always been so good with the younger cousins (the family and I call them the "5 and under crowd" even though some of them are much older than five now). He always greeted them with kindness and was always the first "older cousin" to spend time with them. I think it made the "5 and under crowd" feel special. Because of that, I think JD has that "fatherly instinct" deep down inside of him. Lucky duck! :)
Isn't my cousin a stud? I look so small standing next to him. Sad day. ;)
After we picked him up, we all went to Aunt JoDee's house to celebrate. The whole family (with a few friends of Aunt JoDee and JD) had the chance to hear all about his mission. I love hearing mission stories. Maybe it's because I never went on a mission. I don't know. ;)
On Tuesday, I stayed with my family in Shelley. I noticed the house looks the same. Heather and Erin moved downstairs to the basement after Kay and I moved out of the house. The basement is not finished. McKayla and I used to sleep downstairs in those rooms. We were both so upset because all we wanted was a bathroom so we wouldn't have to go all the way upstairs to get ready for the day. And the day I come back home to Shelley, my dad finishes the bathroom. I was pretty upset about it because I didn't get to enjoy it. Oh well. What can you do? ;)
In the afternoon, I went to see Chris's family. Chris told me I had to go get my "puppy fix" since they have dogs and my family doesn't. Their dogs are so cute. They have this one dog (this one's in the video below) named Skippy. He has three legs, but that doesn't stop him! :) He wanted to play with Lizzy, Chris's sister. It's pretty funny.
Later Tuesday evening, Miss Sheryl Bitter stopped by to see me! I was so excited to see her. I gave her the biggest bear hug I have ever given someone in my whole life. She couldn't stay very long, but she had to come and see me before I went back to San Antonio. I am so glad that we grew up together and have become lifelong friends. Miss Sheryl is truly a one of a kind! :)
After 15 years of knowing each other, we have literally become Best Friends Forever Always! Isn't that fantastickilicous? ;)
On Wednesday, I hung out with Mollie. We went ring shopping. I even got my ring cleaned for free! I didn't notice how dirty it was until the jewler cleaned it for me. I kept telling Mollie, "It's so shiny!" She laughed at me. It was so much fun.
After we looked at rings, we shopped around a bit. I saw this head thing (I don't really know what you call it) and Mollie laughed at me because I thought it was so cute. I didn't buy it, but I got a pretty funny picture out of it. Don't ya think? :)
I felt like a little flower girl. Awww! ;)
This one's not the greatest picture either, but I still think it's fun to look at. I think there was too much lighting in the background. Oh well. ;)
On Friday, I went to the Idaho Falls temple with Dad, Mom, Heather, and Erin. Mom and I did inititories while Heather and Erin did baptisms for the dead. Dad baptized them.
On Saturday, I went to Heather's volleyball tournament. She did really well. The referee drove Kay and me crazy, but Heather played really well. Mom, Dad, and I didn't stay for all of Heather's tournament, but I hope she did well.
After watching Heather's first volleyball game, Mom, Dad, and I had the opportunity to attend the temple again. Miss Sheryl took out her endowment. After her endowment, Sheryl gave me a hug, thanked me for coming, and told me she loved me. I'm so proud of her and I'm so happy that I got to be there for it. I would've been really sad if I missed Miss Sheryl's endowment. Being in the temple is the greatest place to be. :)
The family and I went to Aunt JoDee's house and had fun hanging out with the rest of our family. Brynne made games that we played. They were all about what happened while JD was on his mission. It was a lot of fun.
Me, Brynne, and her husband, Clark. I cannot believe that they've almost been married for 5 years now! Wow! Time sure does fly by! Aren't they cute? :)
Brynne did a "Top 10" things of what the family was doing while JD was on his mission. It was so fun to visit with everyone. :)
Left to Right: Addie Belle, Erin, Heather, Halle Bear, McKayla, me, and Ally singing "Glorious" by David Archuleta. We sounded so good! :)
Addie Belle, Brigham, Kay, Luke, Erin, Brynne, Clark, Heather, Halle Bear, Ally, and I all stayed at one of Aunt JoDee's neighbor's house because there wasn't enough room at Aunt JoDee's house. We had a dance party on Saturday. It was AWESOME! It's not the greatest video, but it's still fun to watch. :)
On, Sunday, JD spoke in sacrament meeting. He did really really well. He talked about what happened on his mission. He had so many wonderful experiences on his mission.
I'm so proud of the person JD has become. I'm glad that he decided to go on a mission. He has set a wonderful example for the rest of the cousins. His mission is an experience that he will remember for the rest of his life! :)
I also got to see Kori Ann Briggs on Wednesday, March 11. We had a lot of catching up to do! ;) She and her sweet son, Benz, came to see me. We went to Pizza Hut and got two boxes of a small pizza. Then, we ate it back at my parent's house. It was really good. We talked about how life is going. I cannot believe that Benz will be 2 this year! He is getting so big!
I also got to see Kori Ann Briggs on Wednesday, March 11. We had a lot of catching up to do! ;) She and her sweet son, Benz, came to see me. We went to Pizza Hut and got two boxes of a small pizza. Then, we ate it back at my parent's house. It was really good. We talked about how life is going. I cannot believe that Benz will be 2 this year! He is getting so big!
On Thursday, McKayla and I got to see Gabriel and Shanley Nii. Gabe and Shanley are both my age. We went to school together. I met Shanley when I was in third grade and I met Gabriel when I was a freshman in high school. They are both so kind to others. I'm glad that I had the chance to grow up with them. They are really nice people. We went to Arctic Circle and ate some shakes together. Mine was divine. It was so fun to catch up with them. We shared a lot of stories and had a wonderful time together. I'm so glad I got to see Shanley and Gabe!
Typical Gabe Part 1! I love how Shanley just goes along with it. Then again, Gabriel is her hubby! ;)
Aren't they a darling couple?
Typical Gabe Part 2! You like my reaction? ;)
I'm so grateful to call these two my friends!
This is an old picture. This was from a dance my senior year of high school. I asked him to the dance. I was so excited because I was his first date! :) This was a memorable date from high school (well, it was memorable for me. I hope it was memorable for Kewel Eric as well). And Kewel Eric and I have been friends ever since! :)
This is an old picture as well. This was from my seminary graduation. These two pictures are the only pictures I have of Kewel Eric and me. I thought they would be fun to share. I will say this, though: I cannot believe how much he has changed! He seems more in tune with the Spirit. I'm so proud of my "little brother". Isn't he a stud? :)
Later Sunday evening, I got to see Mike Rogers and his sweet fiancee, Savannah. We literally talked for about four hours. It was so fun! Mike and I have been friends forever. We were in show choir together from my sophomore year to my junior year in high school (Mike is a year older than me). He even took me to my Jr. Prom. That was so fun. We were also in ballroom together that same year. Before class started, I would always circle around him with my arms folded (to this day, I'm still not sure why I ever did that). He would move just to annoy me. Then I'd playfully get mad at him. It was so fun. When class began, our teacher would always tell us to pick a partner. So, I'd always grabbed Mike's hand and told him that he was going to be my dance partner (during class, we switched parters). He didn't have a choice, but he was always so willing to dance with me. Ballroom was so fun. After high school, we saw each other again in single's ward. Mike was even my home teacher for a while. That was a ton of fun too. We have been best friends ever since.
Aren't they so cute together? I'm so happy for them!
On our way to the airport on Tuesday, Dad and I went to Huntsville, Utah and saw some of his family. We had the chance to see my Grandpa and Grandma Richardson. I was welcomed with a big hug from both Grandpa and Grandma. It was so good to see them.
Aren't my grandparents the cutest?
I also got to see my cousins, Joseph, David, and Sadie. I got big hugs from all three of them. It was so good to see them. I have to say...I have one awesome family! :)
I'm so glad that I got to see mostly all of my family while I was home! :) I'm truly blessed with the people that are in my life. They care about me and are always thinking of me. I'm so glad that I have these people to call my friends and my family. I don't know what I would do without them! :)
P.S.- I went on a walk in Shelley on Tuesday (March 10), the week after JD spoke, and I saw a fire hydrant and I just had to take a picture of it. You have to admit, that fire hydrant made your day too! You're welcome! :)
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