Thanksgiving/Christmas 2012 & New Years 2013 Holiday Visit to the USA

[SEA Traveler]

Thanksgiving/Christmas 2012 & New Years 2013 Holiday Visit to the USA:

Just 3 days prior to the US Thanksgiving Day, the wife and I decided to go back to the USA for a Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Holiday. Visit the Daughter & Son and their families, visit my siblings, visit our Thai/American friends, eat good holiday foods, and generally have a good time as the end of year holidays is always a festive time in the US and there are always a lot of get togethers with copious amounts of food and drink.

I went on line and purchased the Delta tickets on the evening of 20 Nov 2012 and we departed a "zero dark thirty" from Bangkok on the 21st of November. The routing being BKK to Tokyo, Tokyo to Detroit, Detroit to Harrisburg, Pa's Airport in Middletown, about a 30 min drive from Case SEA Traveler not far from the US Army's War College in Carlisle, Pa.

Flight was uneventful, Sister picked us up at the airport and drove us to Casa SEA Traveler. After a good nights sleep, the spouse and I headed down to the Daughter, Son-in-Law, and Grandson's house about an hour West for the Thanksgiving Day festivities. Roast turkey, ham, greened beans, mashed potatoes, noodles, vegetables of various variety, chips and dips, cookies and pastries, and some great tasting "cappuccino" for after the meal.

This was the first time since the previous year at the same time that we had seen the Grandson. He has grown and is now 1 year 8 months and has a great personality and disposition. A real joy to be around.

Here are a few photos from the Thanksgiving Day festivities: (but first I need to download them into the gallery)....

[SEA Traveler]

Myself, Wife and Grandson reuniting on Thanksgiving Day after 1 year absence.

[SEA Traveler]

Myself and Grandson doing some tricks in the family room before dinner.

[SEA Traveler]

Wife wanted to get in on the action so she also rough housed with the Grandson a little.

[SEA Traveler]

Outside in the Daughters yard giving the Grandson a ride on the swing.

[SEA Traveler]

And here is the Wife giving the Grandson a swing.

[SEA Traveler]

Here are a few photos form our Dec 2012 Christmas Tree Farm visit where we took the Grandson to cut this year’s Christmas tree. The Christmas Tree farm provided a wagon ride out to and from the farm area from the parking lot, a saw to cut the tree, a tree wagon to pull the tree from the tree planting area to the wagon ride pickup point, tree wrap in twine, and hot coffee/cocoa and cookies. It’s the second annual event where we took the Grandson to cut the Christmas tree.

YaYi with Grandson at the Christmas Tree Farm barn before heading out to where the trees are planted.





PaPa with Grandson headed from the Christmas Tree Farm barn to the Tractor and Wagon that will take us out to where the trees are planted.





PaPa with Grandson getting onto the Wagon that will take us out to the tree farm area.



Wife with the tree wagon at the tree farm area. Now to look for the right tree to cut.

[SEA Traveler]

YaYi with Grandson looking for the perfect tree.





YaYi and PaPa with Grandson with the perfect tree in background.





YaYi and PaPa with Grandson cutting the perfect Christmas Tree.






Grandson riding the tree wagon.

[SEA Traveler]

Myself with Daughter and Grandson in the wagon headed back to the Christmas Tree barn:





Son-in-Law, Grandson, and PaPa (that’s me) putting the final decorating touches on the Christmas tree.





An enjoyable day!

[Eliminator]

Great pics ST and Happy New Year to you and yours.

[SEA Traveler]

Great pics ST and Happy New Year to you and yours.

Back at you Elim and I know that you know all about the Pa winter's cold and snow.... :-)

[aging one]

Nice mate, really well done.

[Storekeeper]

Haven't seen a full gun rack like that in over 33 years. Nice pics.

[SEA Traveler]

Haven't seen a full gun rack like that in over 33 years. Nice pics.

nice observation.... and that's only what fits in the gun rack that is in the living room. call me a red neck but I choose to utilize my 2nd amendment rights.

[sabang]

It's obviously chilly in PA this time of year- bit surprised to see Mr SEA sporting a cosy set of gloves outdoors, but Mrs SEA toughing it out with bare hands! She's made of sterner stuff than Mrs sab, who used to rug up like an eskimo for our mild in comparison Adelaide Hills winter.

Happy new year to you both.

[Cujo]

Nice. Little bloke looks singularly unimpressed though.

[SEA Traveler]

It's obviously chilly in PA this time of year- bit surprised to see Mr SEA sporting a cosy set of gloves outdoors, but Mrs SEA toughing it out with bare hands! She's made of sterner stuff than Mrs sab, who used to rug up like an eskimo for our mild in comparison Adelaide Hills winter.

Happy new year to you both.

Thanks sabang for the holiday greetings and that same greetings is offered to yourself and Mrs sabang.

Wife loves the cold and snowy weather. She has gloves but just chooses not to wear them. After 2 of the snows, Mrs SEA Traveler went out on a walkabout of the area, pictures that I will post a little later.

As for the sternness of Mrs sab, well, she has put up with you all these years right....? I say that she is made of some pretty sturdy stock... :-)

Cheer Mate!

[sunsetter]

Myself and Grandson doing some tricks in the family room before dinner.

cool, used gt this from my uncles, i in turn delivered this procedure to my nephews, called a lolly lox where i come from


nice thread mate

[SEA Traveler]

Myself and Grandson doing some tricks in the family room before dinner.

cool, used gt this from my uncles, i in turn delivered this procedure to my nephews, called a lolly lox where i come from


nice thread mate

Thanks Mate. I'm trying to get to the point where the Grandson and I can do "stander on the footer" as we call it. While I'm laying on the floor with legs and feet upwards, the boy will stand upright on my feet. First while I am holding his feet and then without any holds.

Interesting how things are similar in different countries... and how those traditions are passed on. I like to think that these tricks are old school. just like myself.... :-)

[armstrong]

I think you look like a (nice) gangsta. Sopranos like.

[SEA Traveler]

I think you look like a (nice) gangsta. Sopranos like.

Good choice not to have used the derogatory and/or raciest term "Mafia".... I would have had to hurt ya! :-)

[Storekeeper]

By the way ... Was that a Noble Fir you picked for the tree?

[SEA Traveler]

By the way ... Was that a Noble Fir you picked for the tree?

you know, I really can't remember what kind of tree it was we were looking for or what kind of tree it actually was that we purchased. I know that the daughter will remember so I'll ask her and get back on that issue. thanks for the observation.

[SEA Traveler]

I may have posted some of these photos previously but want to get them included into this thread and am including them and the narrative. Stay with me here….
Before Christmas, there was a local winery, “BUDDY BOY” Winery to be specific, that was hosting a wine tasting event for the whole weekend. The wife and I headed out to the winery which was about 30 min from our Stateside residence with some friends of ours. There was wine tasting, food, 2 bands, an outside fire pit, and wine for the purchasing.








After parking the car, we took a wagon ride in a hay filled wagon to the event.






Wine Tasting.





Toasting to good health and fortune.











and of course there was some dancing and air guitar playing.









After 3 bottles of wine, a bunch of cheese and bologna, some bowls of hot soup,
and a lot of music, we called it a day and headed home. An enjoyable day!

[Chairman Mao]

Good on ya Buddy Boy.

nice thread thanks.