Sweet Potatoes in K.C.

The flight to Kansas City was normal.  I got the usual water with ice (why risk spilling juice all over yourself if there happened to be sudden turbulence?  Am I the only sane passenger?).  Sudoku,  Lord of the Rings, and The Bourne Supremacy soundtrack made for a pleasant passage, even though the guy next to me hogged the arm rest to himself the entire time.  The significance of this Thanksgiving never set in while I was on that flight, but now reflecting upon the weekend, it was significant for a few reasons.

1.  For my 23 short years upon this planet I had never once celebrated Thanksgiving with my family any place other than Utah (Portugal doesn't count because I wasn't with family).  The reason for spending this holiday in Kansas was because Brooke and Tyler live there and Brandon and Michelle live mere hours away, so it seemed like a logical location.  Above is a picture of the Barrett's (minus Tom) in Gardner, Kansas.

2.  It just so happened that the Barrett all-time favorite musical was in Kansas City.  Wicked was so great and we loved this opportunity.  You can see the excitement oozing from our faces right after the curtain call.

3.  Britain, Braden, and Kylee.  Enough said.

4.  Another first this Thanksgiving was eating out.  No, we did not cook our own bird nor mash our own potatoes.  After playing some intense family basketball and volleyball at a church, we immediately drove to the nearest Goldern Corral.  I'll be the first to admit my hesitation to eat at a restaurant, let alone a buffet-style Golden Corral.  Visions of tackiness swirled in my mind, thinking that our family would star in a "Thanksgiving Vacation" movie where everything goes wrong and everyone is miserable.  It actually was perfect.  The food was very delicious - especially the sweet potatoes!  Perfectly mashed, delectable temperature, and topped with just the right amount of marshmallows.  I'm fully converted to Golden Corral...and sweet potatoes.  The best part was leaving without having to do any dishes.

The drive home was amazingly amusing and particularly pleasurable.  There's not much to adore in Kansas nor Nebraska, but things spiced up in Colorado and Wyoming.  Those states are surprisingly fun to look at.  There were so many small towns that I found quite homey, and I wouldn't be surprised if I lived in a tiny town myself one day.  Throwing the football at rest stops was fairly entertaining as well.


I could go on and on about this Thanksgiving and this road trip, but I would neve rbe satisfied and there would always be something else to write about.  The biggest thing I realized this past weekend was how much I love my family.  Parents, siblings, niece, nephews, and in-laws alike are very dear to me.  I love them very much, and having said that, I must say one last thing:

WHO RULES CATAN, BRANDON?