Sean Smith's biggest reason for spending Thanksgiving in Craig isn't really big at all.

Smith, 18, graduated from Moffat County High School in May and now is a freshman studying political science at Mesa State College in Grand Junction. He's been home several times since heading off to school, but this visit, which began Tuesday, has special significance.

Today, he will witness his 12-day-old nephew, Tristan Smith, experience his first Thanksgiving.

"It's just a great thing, because I haven't really spent time with my : nephew," Smith said.

He also is looking forward to getting a break from the books.

"School has been getting stressful, and it's a great time to take off before finals and to have a good time with family and friends," he said.

Smith is one of at least two 2008 MCHS graduates and current college students who are back in Craig for Thanksgiving. Although some aspects of their hometown have stayed the same, experiences outside of Moffat County have changed them.

And, although the graduates are home for the holidays, some of their close family members are not.

Change, in and out

Craig seems bigger to Smith since he left town for college. For one, the Walgreens store that was under construction when he left now is open.

Still, the size of his old stomping grounds pales in comparison to the wider world his studies have shown him.

"Since I've left home, I see more of a bigger world : compared to little Craig," he said.

In they eyes of Kelsey Conci, 18, however, her hometown looks similar to the way she left it in August.

On Wednesday, she arrived in Craig for the first time since starting classes as a freshman at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

Craig hasn't changed much, she said.

But she has.

"I kind of feel like I've been exposed to more since I've left Craig," Conci said, adding that university life has introduced her to a broad spectrum of people.

Still, like Smith, she is looking forward to some downtime.

Her favorite aspects of her vacation? "Just being home and not having to worry about school," she said.

In addition to coming home to a bigger family, this Thanksgiving will be different for Smith in another way.

His parents are out of town this week on business, and today will be one of the first Thanksgiving holidays he's spent apart from them.

Not having his parents near will make for a strange experience, he said.

Conci expects to have similar feelings.

Two of her sisters are returning home for Thanksgiving. Cara, 22, a May graduate from University of Wyoming, is returning from Englewood, while Brenna, 20, is coming home from her junior year at the same school.

But Kelsey's twin sister, Caitlin, who is studying physical therapy at University of North Dakota, won't make it home for Thanksgiving this year.

Kelsey and Caitlin graduated from MCHS in May.

"It will be different for sure, having that empty space at the table," Kelsey said.

Although Kelsey's mother, Kim, shares in her daughter's wish to have Caitlin near, she takes an optimistic view of the situation.

"I'm just so happy to have three-fourths of my kids home," Kim said. 'It's just kind of weird that we're not getting Caitlin because this is the first year that we haven't all been together."

Caitlin, a college freshman, is faring well at the university, her mother added.

Still, knowing that doesn't erase Kim or Kelsey's desire to have her home.