The Holiday Weekend

Had a great 4th ... on the 2nd! Played games and ate all day long.

Thomas, Michael, Alex, and Andrew (and Grandma, Becky, and Sarah)

Then had a program at the firebowl where the scouts in the family retired some flags, we sang patriotic songs, and had a few skits.

Eric as Emcee

Kathy made these and gave us some on the 4th:

They we SO good!

I was several miles away from the fireworks, so didn't get any good photos

It was a great weekend--having Andrew home, being with family, and remembering what a great country we have and all those who have made it that way.

Andrew's homecoming

Andrew arrived safe and sound on the 8:35 pm plane. Besides us, Grandma and Grandpa Perazzo were there to greet him along with Uncle David, Aunt Jackie, and Michael. We're so grateful that they were able to be there especially after all the changes to the plan during the day.

Physically Andrew seems the same...same height and weight. His hair might be a darker brown now (I still think of him as a blond, but his hair gets darker every year). And his sense of humor is still intact. We laughed all the way home.

Alex waiting for Andrew's plane

and here he is!

Alex, Eric, Andrew, Ryan, Hannah, and Grandpa

After greeting everyone and tracking down Andrew's luggage that had been sitting in the American Airlines office all day, Grandma and Grandpa took us out to eat at King's Buffet, one of our favorite places to go in Reno.

On the way home, we stopped off in Fernley at the church building where our Stake President, President Egbert, had a brief interview with Andrew and then released him from his calling as a missionary. Andrew then removed his tag. This all happened at 11 pm. I sure hope President Egbert gets a chance to take a nap today.

We got home and the first thing Andrew did as a returned missionary was play a video game on the Wii with his brothers--I believe it was SuperSmash Brothers.

Andrew losing

 Then, we blissfully all went to bed after a long day. Great day. Good to have Andrew home. Just in time for the big 4th of July party today!