Homecoming!

Well the sub finally made it home this past Thursday! I say finally because not only was it a long patrol, but it was pushed back a day. Now I know you are thinking, just one day, but when you wake up and think he will be home tomorrow and then the phone rings and they say, actually they are delayed +1, its pretty much heartbreaking.
But anyways, the day finally came. I woke up at 7:30 am and I don't know the last time I actually woke up that early on my own. I had to finish some last minute cleaning then I went to get myself ready. Then to the NEX to get welcome home balloons. And then back to the apartment to decortate our entrance. Here is a picture of that!

So things were ready at home and it was off to catch the boat (they call the sub "the boat") make its way throuh the Hood Canal. Bryanna and I raced up to the Hood Canal Bridge. We were lucky because it wasn't raining and we were able to see the mountains as an added bonus to an already spectacular day! It was surreal watching the sub coming in and thinking- "oh my gosh, he is really coming home!" It is a relief that words can not even describe. Here are some pictures of the boat coming in and then going through the bridge that was lifted for them.

So it was on its way at that point and very close to base. Unfortunately we were not able to have a pierside homecoming, so we waited at a cafe on base where they bused the guys up to us. Waiting at the cafe seemed like the longest hour and a half of my life! But yes finally his bus arrived and I plowed through the other guys to make it to my husband. It was the best hug I had ever gotten and I am lucky enough to have pictures of it!

We had a great night- went to our favorite restaraunt our here, Silver City! It was so great to finally be able to talk to him and hear his voice and his laugh after so long!
He had to work the next day and he came home and told me unofficially we are "penciled in" for Norfolk, VA for a shore tour. The Navy is not writing anyone orders now (yes I could do a whole posting on that), but if everything works out, we'd probably get there around the Fall of this year. The best part is its only a 50 min plane ride from my family and it happens to be the area where Ethan was born!