Train Ride.

Awhile back, we bid on Boone train tickets and some Thomas the Train items at a silent auction/benefit and won (isn't winning so exciting!).  Naturally, we put them into the drawer and forget about them until, oh, this week.  And good thing since they expire, oh, next week.

We picked up Maleah from school at 11:30 today.  She thought it was awesome possum having us at school, and they were all squealing with excitement for our big adventure for the day.

When we arrived at the train station, we soon realized we should have brought snacks.  There were lots of people, and I wasn't about to let my 2-year-old ruin everyone else's trip.  Dallas made a trek over to Casey's for essentials (you know, junk food) and we checked out the train museum.

Checking out the real-deal trains!

Best picture of the 3 of them I could get.  Humph.

That's my boy.  A building full to the brim of trains, and he finds the one and only backhoe to play with.

Boarding the train was probably about as exciting as the ride itself.  The kids love tickets.  The conductor was wearing his hat, punched their tickets, and they got to find a seat.  Charlie marched his way right on without us, zoomed past the conductor, and when we got on he was cozy as could be.  Nevermind a new adventure where he might need Mom and Dad.

Ready to board!

Let's roll!!

Ready for take off.

The train tooted its whistle, and away it went.  It was so fun to see the kids so excited.  It just felt like the train and whole process was bigger than life to them.  I love that about children.  They sure keep you grounded, don't they.

I adore this photo.

Checking out the scenes!

2 weeks ago, this would have been breath taking with all the color.  Most of the trees' leaves were gone, but it was still absolutely beautiful!

This was so fun.  Waiting for this little guy to come pull us back to town.  They honked their horn as they went by and all the kids just started with huge eyes.

The ride was 1 hour, 45 minutes.  The kids did remarkably well.  A little coloring, snacking, reading, and 4-wheeling for Charlie filled in the anxious gaps.

Layla looking for nests, water, deer, and carved out tree stumps.

The landscape was so beautiful.

This cracks me up.  It's as if they are studying the soil type, or what kind of tree it is, or how old the deer was we saw. 

Sweetness.

We were on an enormously huge bridge.  While it was fun and pretty, I prefered to be on level ground.

Maleah absolutely loved this.  She wants to go again with her cousin, Asher, who is enthralled with trains.  Such a treat.

After the train ride, we went to eat at Hickory Park, then headed home.  It was the perfect day, and just the pick me up I needed.  I've been feeling so tired and icky, and very unsocial like (wanting to hibernate at home).  But a day with my favorite people?  Absolutely nothing tops it.