I know the blog is awfully picture-y as of late -- blame it on that whole 'worth a thousand words' thing. Actually, it's more like I can't come up with the words to adequately describe this last week, but these pictures make me smile. Which is better than crying. OK, actually, some of them make me cry too. But not horribly sad tears, not exactly happy, joyful tears either though. But 'life is how it's supposed to be, my heart is full, if not a bit sensitive and raw, but filled with pride and love.' My baby brother is now in Argentina. It's just sinking in that I really won't see him for two whole years. I'll miss him, but if it was just me, I'd be OK with that. But the thought of my girls not seeing him for two years is a lot for me to take. They love Cody. Adore him. He's their best friend, and I know they don't even really get that he's gone yet. Although, last night during family prayer, Greg said, "Please bless Cody in the mission field . . ." Ellie jumped up and shouted, "No mission field! Cody missionary!" Two years will go by fast though, and it will be good. He won't really be that far away for the kids -- we'll talk about him all the time, write letters, read letters and we took lots of pictures and videos. Including one five minute long video of him reading the girls their bedtime stories, so they can curl up in their pajamas some nights and watch Cody read them nursery rhymes for awhile. We made Build-a-Bears that have his voice recorded in them, so the girls can here his voice as they cuddle up with their prized teddy bears. (Isaac's says, "Hey Isaac! This is Cody! You don't know this yet, but I'm your favorite Uncle!" It makes me smile every time I hear it. Add to that his little bear is in a missionary suit and tag, and my Mom can't stop crying every time she looks at it.)
Anyway, on to the pictures (and a few videos). Monday night Cody came over to read the girls a bedtime story. It was very sweet and a special time for him and his nieces. But Tuesday night was by far the most memorable of the week for me. Cody was set apart as a missionary -- the immediate family and my grandparents met at the Church, where our Stake President conducted a beautiful meeting where each of us had a few minutes to tell Cody how we were feeling, any advice we might have, or any memories of him we wanted to share. There were
a lot of tears. Like, we emptied a kleenex box kinda sob fest. And we laughed a lot. 'Cause that's how my family handles intense situations. You should see us at the hospital or in an emergency -- we're hilarious. At one point Cody choked up on the words, "It's so hard to leave -- I mean, we're all so close!" My Mom turned to us girls and moaned, "Why couldn't you have been meaner to him!?" It was deeply emotional, spiritual and amazing. I think it'll be one of my most treasured memories of my family, us all so open and raw about how we were feeling. And laughing and crying together. The Stake President complimented Cody on the farewell talk he'd given in Church the Sunday before -- commenting that they hope that when young men come back from their mission that they're able to give the caliber of talk that Cody gave before even leaving. He was proud of who Cody was and who he was going to become. A special blessing was given to Cody, and he left that room a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We met up afterwards at my house (since I had kids at home who were with a babysitter -- the first Greg and I've ever hired! And then she refused to take our money and insisted on doing it for free -- meaning Greg and I have still never spent money on babysitting. The girls had an amazing time with her though, and we'll definitely have her over again to watch the kids -- and hopefully one of these days she'll even take our money!) Anyway, we let the girls stay up to play and eat dessert with the adults. So, by 10ish or so, Ellie was extremely slap happy and funny. And moody, but in an amusing way. Cody crashed on the floor sleeping, while the girls used him as a stage, a surf board, a trampoline, a table and a diving board to jump off of. Uncle David commented with a smile, "Even comatose, he's their favorite person in the room." Ellie stood on him for several minutes being 'a ballerina' -- when Annie tried to climb up too, Ellie defended her territory pretty fiercely . . .
This video was taken when Ellie was especially tired . . . Great Grandpa was growling like a bear, which would initially thrill her and she'd happily shriek and run to Dad to 'be protected'. Then she'd get upset with him. Then laugh again and shriek happily. Then get mad at Grandpa again . . .
These first two pictures were from Monday of Cody reading to the girls.
Then just a random one from that night of Isaac -- who was supposed to be asleep, but was refusing to sleep and instead would just smile at me sweetly anytime I'd look into his bassinet.
This is from Tuesday night -- this is the first picture of Cody in his name tag.
This is Ellie being 'a ballerina' on her Uncle's back . . .
And Annie . . .
Ellie using Cody's head as a pumpkin display table -- we all worried she was going to drop it on his head and he'd end up in the hospital his first night as a missionary :-)
Ellie using his head to balance on . . .
Ellie shrieking under Dad's protection when Great Grandpa was scaring her . . .
Very tired Elder . . .
Grandma and Cody trying to mimic Annie's famous funny face (but not the one she's making here)
Great Grandpa trying to say goodbye to Ellie, but by 10:30, she was just done.
Wednesday morning we all woke up bright and early to go to breakfast with Cody before dropping him off at the airport. We'd all expected the airport to be the most emotional part of seeing Cody off on his mission, but it really turned out that with Tuesday night being the real high point of our goodbyes, we all pretty much made it through Wednesday morning activities without any more than a few random tears . . .
Ellie got a pretty tasty looking belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast . . .
Elder Cody -- how cute is he?! :-)
Cody with his beloved nieces . . .
Star, Annie & Cody
Cody with his proud Dad and Mom.
Ellie getting kisses from Great Grandpa Pennell
Ellie with Great Grandma Betty
I just liked this pictures of Cody
Star and Annie showing off their lip gloss
Grandma & Cody
Another Grandma with Cody :-)
After breakfast, the immediate family headed to the airport to drop Cody off. Unfortunately Lacy couldn't be there, since she was back at school, and David had to be at work -- but everyone else was able to make it (Annie missed her preschool Halloween party, but it was worth it . . . )
Here's Grandma & Isaac in the airport
Cody with his proud Dad
Ellie was marching around the big open space in a circle -- she insisted that Cody join her in the marching. When he stopped for a second, she marched up behind him, kicked the back of his foot and ordered, "March!"
Here's Cody with my little family. Ellie was mad she wasn't taking the picture, and we tried to placate her by letting her take pictures with a camera phone, but she wasn't happy about it . . .
So sweet -- Cody and Dad hugging one last time (or close to a last time -- turned out there was lots of hugging).
The family walking Cody to the security line . . .
Star, Cody, Talina and me posing for one last sibling picture (minus Lacy)
Last family picture for two years -- Star, Mom, Cody, Lacy, Dad, Isaac, me, Greg, Talina and Ellie.
Cody with Ellie and Annie.
From here, Cody went through security while we watched on -- I'm sure he felt a little awkward :-) Then we watched him and the other Elder he met up with, go up the escalator past security until we couldn't see him anymore. My Mom got a bit teary eyed here, but it was in a sweet "There he goes -- with his new friend" kinda way, and not a sobbing, "My baby is gone!" kinda way. We were all very proud of her :-)
This morning we got his first email . . . if you're interested you can check it out on the
mission blog we're keeping for him: codyinuruguay.blogspot.com/ Upon reading the email for the first time, my Mom said, "He sounds really grown up, doesn't he?" I guess that's at least part of the point of the next two years . . .
