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  • Kurtis Sanchez gives a hug to Donna Fontaine upon his...

    Kurtis Sanchez gives a hug to Donna Fontaine upon his arrival at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday.

  • Heather Walleigh leaves the airport with her mom Kate Berry...

    Heather Walleigh leaves the airport with her mom Kate Berry Tuesday.

  • Olivia Jessup-Anger ran into the arms of her grandfather Judd...

    Olivia Jessup-Anger ran into the arms of her grandfather Judd Jessup when she arrived at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Olivia Jessup-Anger ran into the arms of her grandfather Judd...

    Olivia Jessup-Anger ran into the arms of her grandfather Judd Jessup when she arrived at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Susan Blanco hugged her sister Barb Mendoza at John Wayne...

    Susan Blanco hugged her sister Barb Mendoza at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Susan Blanco and her sister, Barb Mendoza, greeted each other...

    Susan Blanco and her sister, Barb Mendoza, greeted each other at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Linda Cable said she approved of her granddaughter's pink hair...

    Linda Cable said she approved of her granddaughter's pink hair when they reunited at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday.

  • Abigail Brock ran past her grandmother Carol Brock when she...

    Abigail Brock ran past her grandmother Carol Brock when she landed at the airport Tuesday. Abigail's mother Julie Brock is in the background.

  • Abigail Brock ran past her grandmother Carol Brock when she...

    Abigail Brock ran past her grandmother Carol Brock when she landed at the airport Tuesday. Abigail's mother Julie Brock is in the background. Abigail was distracted by a picture of a frog.

  • Gillian Shaw greets her son, Trevor, who flew home from...

    Gillian Shaw greets her son, Trevor, who flew home from college Tuesday.

  • Brian Keen greets his granddaughter Aubrey Corriveau at John Wayne...

    Brian Keen greets his granddaughter Aubrey Corriveau at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Brian Keen greets his granddaughter Aubrey Corriveau at John Wayne...

    Brian Keen greets his granddaughter Aubrey Corriveau at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Brian Keen greets his granddaughter Aubrey Corriveau at John Wayne...

    Brian Keen greets his granddaughter Aubrey Corriveau at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Tristen Winston hugs her godson, Carter Knipp, upon his arrival...

    Tristen Winston hugs her godson, Carter Knipp, upon his arrival at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday as Kathy Winston photographs the reunion.

  • Bella Fontaine gets a hug from her Uncle Kurtis and...

    Bella Fontaine gets a hug from her Uncle Kurtis and Aunt Deanna upon their arrival at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Donna, Bella and Jessica Fontaine wave to relatives as they...

    Donna, Bella and Jessica Fontaine wave to relatives as they arrived at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Bella Fontaine runs to greet her aunt and uncle upon...

    Bella Fontaine runs to greet her aunt and uncle upon their arrival at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday.

  • Donna, Bella and Jessica Fontaine wait for their relatives arrive...

    Donna, Bella and Jessica Fontaine wait for their relatives arrive at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Bella Fontaine got up early to make a sign to...

    Bella Fontaine got up early to make a sign to welcome her aunt and uncle to John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Jason Merrill gets a kiss from Marlys Cuzzocrea upon his...

    Jason Merrill gets a kiss from Marlys Cuzzocrea upon his arrival at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Jace Merrill, 9 months, reaches out to Penny Merrill upon...

    Jace Merrill, 9 months, reaches out to Penny Merrill upon her arrival at John Wayne Airport Tuesday. Jace is being held by Jason Merrill.

  • Hallie Galperson gets a hug and some flowers from her...

    Hallie Galperson gets a hug and some flowers from her father Howard Galperson upon her arrival at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Hallie Galperson gets a hug and some flowers from her...

    Hallie Galperson gets a hug and some flowers from her father Howard Galperson upon her arrival at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday.

  • Hallie Galperson gets a hug from her father Howard Galperson...

    Hallie Galperson gets a hug from her father Howard Galperson upon her arrival at John Wayne Airport Tuesday.

  • Jennifer Knipp gets a hug from Tristen Winston at John...

    Jennifer Knipp gets a hug from Tristen Winston at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday.

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Orange County Register reporter Keith Sharon

When Thanksgiving prep is too much and the holiday season weighs you down, you should think about the Arrivals area at the bottom of the long escalator in Terminal C at John Wayne Airport.

Nowhere in Orange County is there more holiday magic.

At the bottom of that escalator, just before passengers reach baggage claim, the days before Thanksgiving are filled with yelps of delight and tears of happiness. There are handmade “Welcome home” signs and bouquets of roses. And the hugs and kisses can be acrobatic.

We hear all the time about the horrors of holiday travel. This is a story about the joys.

Tuesday morning, Carter and Braden Knipp woke up in Kansas City, Mo., where their mom, Jennifer, informed them they would be flying to Orange County for Thanksgiving. The boys leaped off the Terminal C escalator into the arms of Jennifer’s longtime friend, Tristen Winston of Aliso Viejo.

“We’re skipping school,” Carter said emphatically.

“Look how big you are,” Winston said through her tears.

That scene played out over and over again on Tuesday. Babies who had never met their extended family arrived in Orange County. Students coming home for a holiday break arrived. A big contingent of Kansas City Royals fans arrived so they could spend Thanksgiving in Trabuco Canyon.

Culinary student Deanna Fontaine flew in from Denver with no idea what to add to her mother Donna’s Thanksgiving menu in Corona. But she’s going to make something.

“I’ll wing it,” Fontaine said. “And it’s going to be good.”

Fontaine got a huge hug from her niece Bella, a 5-year-old who was carrying a sign reading, “Welcome Home Aunt Ana and Uncle Mean.” He’s not really mean, Bella said.

Brian Keen of Temecula hugged his daughter Grace Corriveau and granddaughter Aubree, who is 2. They had flown in from Seattle.

“It will be Aubree’s first extended family Thanksgiving,” Keen said.

Gillian Shaw of Newport Beach rushed the staircase when she saw her son, Trevor, a University of Chicago freshman. He’s on the football team and studying business.

“Here he comes,” she said, throwing her hands into the air.

“It’s been tough being away from my parents,” Trevor said, his arm wrapped around his mother’s neck. “It’s good to be home to see my mom.”

Howard Galperson of Laguna Niguel held a bouquet of roses waiting for his daughter, Hallie. She’s a psychology student at Pima Community College in Tucson.

How are they going to spend the week?

“We’ll do anything she wants,” Galperson said. What he didn’t tell her in the airport is that he had a stuffed teddy bear waiting for her in the car, so she could have two surprises.

Hallie jumped into her father’s arms, squishing the roses against his chest.

“They smell so good,” she said. “It’s good to be home.”

Contact the writer: ksharon@ocregister.com