'Family is everything': Loved ones reunite at Mitchell International before Thanksgiving Day

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- We all know that traveling can be stressful, especially during the holidays. But for many, it's worth it to be able to spend quality time with their loved ones.

For Milwaukee mother Mary Sisney, having her daughter Kaitlin home from college means "everything".

"It's funny how time goes so fast but yet when you miss people, it seems so long," Sisney said.

That same sentiment was echoed by Brigette Richerson, another Milwaukee mother, who picked up her daughter Shaterra from the airport Wednesday morning.

"We've missed her so I'm just so happy," Richerson said. "We have an aunt whose 91 and just every year that we're all together, you just really appreciate it, especially after COVID. It just makes you really grateful and really appreciate your family more and more.”

Shaterra agreed, noting that being home with her family is "exciting".

“You get to reunite with everybody, you get to see how everybody’s been, you get to connect with everyone, so it just means a lot to me that I get to share this moment with my family," Richerson said. 

Milwaukee resident Karen Angles, who met up with her daughter, Kim, and her two-year-old granddaughter, Winnie, at the airport, said having them in town "is special".

"There's 38 of us," Angles said. "We are so happy to have them home."

Kim said she is looking forward to bringing the family to "Grandma's house" for Thanksgiving.

"We’ll have our big feast and sing some songs and play and watch these little one's play," Angles said.

Airport officials said this is expected to be the busiest holiday travel season since 2019, with more than 100,000 travelers passing through Milwaukee's Mitchell International. 

According to AAA, the number of people flying over Thanksgiving has risen by 8%.

Sunday will most likely be the busiest day of the week for travelers.