ELDER CRIPPEN--I mean--CODY'S HOME!

Cody's Homecoming from the Calgary, Alberta Canada Mission

for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

My little bro served a 2 year mission in Calgary...only 2 hours south of us! I never saw him or talked to him once while he was here to help him stay focused on the work. Anyway, it is fun that Canada is now a part of his life too. Maybe that will keep him coming back to visit. I am trying to marry him off to a Canadian so he'll live by me. I have 2 siblings in California, 2 in Utah, so it is only fair that 2 of us should be up here, right? I'll be taking applications for dates for his next visit. :) He is a GREAT guy! You won't be disappointed. :)

The kids and I joined Chris in his his 12 passenger van. Every seat was filled!

This is the view from the back, my seat. Can't wait to have one of those someday! HA!

See him coming around the corner?! Sorry it's so shakey, but I was running! Funny story...Cody's plane was supposed to come in at 11 AM. Well, there were several delays at his layover so the time kept changing. Finally we arrived at the airport a tad bit early for his 1:30 arrival. I had to use the washroom so bad so I handed my girls off to my dad who had his camera in one hand and his eyes intent on the escalators ready to see his big little boy come down. Well I ran to the washroom practically unbuttoning my jeans on the way because I had to go so bad when I bump into 2 big handsome men standing in the dual entrance to the washrooms. When I backed up a bit I recognized David Parker, Cody's best friend (uh hmm...also available) and then my brain clicked on and registered that that was CODY standing next to him!!! AH! I gave him a big hug. This big man?! When did that happen! It was a quick hug because i still had to go really bad. So I did, then I came back and talked to him a bit and was then sworn to secrecy and to go back out there until all the family arrived. Apparently he had arrived early, about 15 mins before I had seen him. One of my sisters was there and knew my parents would be DEVASTATED if they knew they missed him, so they sent him around the corner to wait until everyone arrived and then they'd call David, tell him he could come out now. Well, it worked! My parents had no clue...until now I guess...just kidding. We told them right after it happened. Anyway, it was so good to see him again.

Missions are so great for these boys. They really grow a lot, spiritually, physically, and mentally. It is a hard 2 years, but so wonderful. Cody was great before, but now he is even better! More thoughtful and kind and great! We love you Bro!!! Have fun at BYU! And you better come up and visit me...and Canada...soon. It's not the same without you.

Zach's reaction to Cody. He gave him a BIG squeeze. Even Zach's eyes were closed.

umm...it was nap time.

Uncle Cody's home!!! These grand kids LOVE Cody. He could barely even recognize a few of them. 2 yrs is a long time, especially for little kids! He met 3, my girls and Dallin, that he had never seen before (in real life that is).

Isn't this awesome? This is what Cody had to greet him. The signs spell out "Welcome Home Elder Crippen." We must have been quite the site because the Airport PR lady came and was taking pictures of us. HA! Yep, that's my fam! All 36 of them.

Their first meeting. Kate needed a little time to warm up. :)

Big brother Chris welcoming his baby brother Cody home. They were trying to reenact a picture from when Chris came home from his mission. Only Cody was 6 then I think? It's definitely just as cute now though, right?

Little bro gives the love right back to him. In sibling order they are the "bookend boys" with all of us girls smashed in the middle.

Aw! I love this guy. We were the only 2 at home for a couple years and got really close, after I decided to stop teasing him. (mostly because he grew taller than me and I was a little bit scared...)

Me and my beautiful sister Katie. She is the one just older than me. I followed her to Hawaii, and then to Utah when I transferred to BYU. When I left, I was secretly hoping she'd follow me to Canada. There's still hope, right?!

The Rent's and the Man.

Nanny and Cody.

Funny David with Kermit (huh?!) and the spoils. Of course Kermie was there. He had to come!

Fam Shot. Justin came a week later. Funny to think that my number of children tripled while he was gone. From 1 to 3. That's productive.

A California boy can't come home and NOT go to In-N-Out!! He loves that place, so we all went there for lunch. Yes, ALL 36 of us!!! Uh, Kate, you've got a little something on your lip.

The happy man.

The other happy man.