Homecoming!

Chris has been in Iraq since the first of October. The deployment went pretty smoothly, but getting home was the tricky part. Earthquakes, tsunamis, Libya, sand storms, a typhoon, an erupting volcano, mechanical issues (I know it sounds like I'm making stuff up, but it all really happened)... all things that helped turn a 6 month deployment into a 7+ month deployment.   But none of it matters now, because he's home!

Everyone was so excited to be welcoming the first group back from Iraq. We were all waiting in the squadron bar until we got word that we could walk out to the flight line.

Just a few of the wives... 

There were only nine jets coming in this wave, but there were so many people excited to meet them.

So happy to see Alison's husband coming in to land!

Laura took most of these pictures. Her husband arrived 2 days later.

This was Chris's 3-ship, coming up initial. Bohdi, the flight lead, was peeling off to land, and Chris was next. Such an amazing sight when you know your husband is coming back from 7 months away.

Taxiing in... 

Following him to his parking space...

Shaking hands with Col Rothstein (Misawa AB Commander).

Chris and Bodhi (wingman and flight lead) finishing the deployment like it started.  Except for the beer...

CP!

So happy to finally be heading home!

Home sweet home!

Huck almost forgot how to wrestle... he's getting better at it now.