Monday, November 27, 2017

11-19, Thanksgiving in Yuma


For the first time since July 2012, the Krauss family went on an airplane trip! As we were walking through the airport, I realized just how much had changed in the travel world in 5 years.  It's pretty funny that we've owned three camping trailers since we'd last flown.  This was a special occasion, so we were willing to go the extra mile (or 1,000):  my dad's 70th birthday on Thanksgiving Day.  How special is that?!  We didn't know what to expect with the mythical 'Yuma'.  We'd heard so much about it but had never been there.  The conclusions that I discovered are this:  the mountains there are pretty (bare, but still pretty), it's a giant playground for the retired community, we are eager to one day have a small, ranch house and the allergies that we experienced were horrific (we even took Em to the urgent care because she was having so much trouble breathing).  It's a very unique place, and if we could get our allergies under control, we'd love to visit again.  The highlights were: attending dad's birthday party and meeting so many of their friends, having Thanksgiving dinner (outside!) with old Montana family friends, checking out the swap meet (yep, I am my grandmother's granddaughter!) and simply experiencing another aspect of mom and dad's migration lifestyle (lol....).  It was a very relaxing trip, and I already miss my morning coffee on the patio watching the sunrise over the mountains.  Now we're home again, and we are getting into the Christmas swing of things.  In just a few short weeks,  we'll have my parents and Thad and Kelly here for Christmas.  I have decided (in my love/hate affair with Colorado) that the key to making it work here will be travel- traveling to those places dear to our hearts to visit those we miss so much.  So, look out everyone, you never know when we'll be in your 'neck of the woods'.  Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.  I know how much we have for which to be thankful.


Mr. Cool..... when did those plane seats get so small?
(ok, ok, or he grew.....)



She was SO excited to go on an airplane again.
(She says she actually remembers a little from the trip from China to CO!)

I think I could live on this beautiful patio!

The birthday boys.

Lute's Casino for lunch.  What a unique place that is!

Making the best of refrigerator shopping, lol.....

The peaceful sunrise over the mountains.

Thanksgiving dinner with a  big Montana crew.  Laughs all around! 

Patty and Elmer had saved the SAME bottle of Jaegermeister from our wedding
NINETEEN YEARS AGO!!! 

CHEERS!

Em loving the Thanksgiving leftovers!

Quality time with Grandpa.

5 minutes prior to landing in Denver.  I guess you don't choose when you just can't take another minute!

I'm so happy we got to spend dad's special birthday with him and mom.
He really is my hero.  Love you, dad!!