We are very used to his schedule at this point.
When he first started traveling more he once mentioned that he would often look for us at the top of the escalators hoping we would be waiting with all the other people.
I have traveled more this year than I have since I worked full time.
On my last trip home I was on the final escalator and I was thinking how amazing it would be if my whole little family was waiting for me at the top.
I held my breath almost believing they would be there……..and they were not.
I knew right then that the kids and I needed to surprise Kelly the next time he traveled.
Kelly was gone all last week and his flight didn't land until 9:40 Friday night!
They made signs and I kept them busy all night running errands and taking them out to dinner to keep them awake.
The airport is about an hour away and we arrived about an hour before Kelly's plane landed.
If you are having a bad day and need a pick me up I highly recommend the waiting area of the airport.
There is no way you can stand there without smiling with all the people running up to each other, jumping into each others arms, smiling so big because someone special is waiting for them…..it was truly lovely.
We were all so excited at this point.
Every time a huge group of people came up the escalator we were searching everywhere hoping to see daddy!
FINALLY we saw him.
He didn't see us in the crowd of people and we started yelling for him.
You would thinking we were welcoming home a war hero…..but we were just excited to have our daddy home.
He was so surprised and he called and texted me on the way home telling me how much he loved us.
The kids think we are doing it again next time….I think we will wait awhile:-)
That was AWESOME and your husbands smile was absolutely brilliant and beautiful!
I love that you and the kids planned this for Kelly. I know he loves you all so much and must have been truly blessed that you gave up your night to welcome him home royally:)
this is SUCH a sweet post!!!! it made me smile REALLY big for you guys!!! 🙂
In the last photo, I just can’t get over your husband’s smile. This phot is simply stunning. Pure love and happiness. Love it!
this is just beautiful!!
That is the sweetest story, Jeanne. I can just see the love on his face. He is radiant. There is really nothing more special than to be “held” in a loving family, is there?
This is so sweet! Love this post 🙂
that is the best – and what a gorgeous family you have my friend…
xx
So sweet! Great pics too. You can see how happy everyone is!
What a sweet surprise you planned!! It’s those free gifts of love that are truly the best.
Love the moment you captured 😀
Perfect! I can’t get over his expression. What a perfect Friday night!
The best kind of surprise ever are the little ones (that really are the big ones) because they come straight from the heart. The smile on your husbands face says it all … he is smiling from his heart.
I always find airports so emotional and often find myself crying as I watch people reunited with one another while waiting for my own loved ones to appear. Kids with signs for their loved ones are a sure tear jerker for me and I watered up just reading this post. Beautiful. :0)
Kelly’s smile says it all ~ well worth it for sure. There is nothing better than getting off the plane and seeing a loved one waiting for you ~ makes my heart sing. Airports always make me cry ~ it is an emotional place for sure.
His smile does say it all!!! What a great idea for you and the kids!!!!
Our airport is about an hour away too…and what a great idea
although it seems when mine travels his plane doesn’t arrive to midnight or later so a great thing to do maybe if he ever has an earlier flight
i love that you did this post Jeanne!!!
That makes me smile! Oh, and I love the airport for some reason…LOVE it! I wish we could go pass the check points still, but we can’t. I have always loved going to the airport, it is a fun place and I dream of my next vacation.
love that you did this, what a great mom and wife you are!
Sweet! Kelly has an amazing smile – so worth all of your trouble, Jeanne 🙂
you are such a fun mama
they look completely excited & delighted
and
i love kelly’s expression
ya’ll are each entirely too cute
xo
ps–i’m betting they’ll be waiting for YOu at the airport next time you come home xo
That is such a beautiful display of family LOVE… I have happy tears and think I should do that for my husband the next time he travels!
Precious!!! Love this post Jeanne. That look on his face was simply priceless. I bet he really appreciated it with all his heart.
I should do this sometime too! He looks so happy
You should! He travels so much that I think he would really appreciate it…and you guys arent too far from the airport. He is also a sweet, sweet daddy and husband and I know he would LOVE it!
To: jeanneoli@hotmail.com
What a SPECIAL treat!! I love love LOVE that you did this. It actually makes me want to get the munchkin out to just wait in the driveaway for daddy to come home from his regular day. 🙂 I love this, you are so great!
What a wonderful surprise, I travel here and there for work and always think it is so fun to watch the families meeting each other again…last time I traveled the boys picked me up at the airport and to just see the smiling face of my wee one in the back seat was a REAL treat…even at 9:45pm, and then we proceeded to go to In’n out! 🙂 love those spontaneous nights!
That is so sweet! You have the cutest family and your hub’s big smiles show how much it meant to him.
Janet
What a fantastic idea. My husband travels a lot, too, and since he often arrives home LATE, like your husband, I’ve never considered meeting him at the airport! The next time he goes for more than a day or two, I think we will do the same thing : ) Even though my kids are 15 and 11, they still miss their daddy when he’s gone, and vice versa! This is so lovely.
xx Suzanne
What a fabulous idea!!!!!
What a wonderful surprise for Daddy!! My hubby takes a lot of business trips…I’m thinking the girls and I need to “meet” him at the airport, too:)
OH, how I love this! My dad traveled (and still does) a lot while I was little and we surprised him a few times much like this…such a simple way to remind someone how much their absence is noticed. The kiddos (and you and Kelly) will always have this great memory!
oh Jeanne……..you brought tears to my eyes
that is one of the sweetest posts of anyone I have ever read
your husband’s smile at the kids is truly so genuine –
you are the sweetest wife
and here, I just posted about love
see you soon!!!
This is so sweet, I love the signs they made! We use to do it for my dad because he traveled so much, and he loved it when he got off the plane and we were there!
A smile is worth a thousand words, isn’ it?!
What a gift for your children too. Hope you all get to spend some time together now!
awww, Jeanne, that’s just awesome!! Adam has to go to Nashville next week, but I don’t know if I can keep the kids up till 9 and then drive 2 hours with them! I might have to give it a try!!
PS I was in the airport today! 🙂
So heatwarming…what an amazing wife you are!
I do love airports and people watching…the time always goes so fast. Hugs for a great Thursday. xoxox
love this.
This is so sweet and look at that smile on your hubby’s face! My kids would just love to do this, my hubby doesn’t travel at all but they would get a kick out of just standing there and cheering for everyone getting home-it doesn’t take much to entertain them! ha.
thanks for sharing your sweet beautiful family with us,
angela
that is really sweet, made me cry. take care, susan
you just made me cry… my husband is gone all the time and we’ve never done this he comes home and we are usually asleep leaving a light on. We live 1 1/2 from our airport. This is sooo amazing. good for you!!!
xo,
LuLu
I love this!! =)
way to go, jeanne! wonderful! amy=)
too too sweet 🙂
This is a beautiful story… Nearly jerked a tear from me. My husband travels a lot also so I can relate. I’m sure that made all of yalls day. Great post
What a touching story!
My husband travels a loot too. We are so use to it that I guess we forget to celebrate his homecoming as we should. We need to do that. Thanks for the reminder!