Moments of Reflection: A Day Out With Thomas!

One of the many perks of working in TV is we get free tickets to various events. When I first heard of A Day Out With Thomas I made sure I was on the list! The twins are still very much into Thomas. After eating, sleeping and playing all day with trains they've found a HEALTHY balance.....so when their not playing with trains, they are now superheros. They lead a VERY busy life.

So on our drive up we passed Dear Creek which I haven't seen in years and yes, it's STILL BEAUTIFUL. The boys were excited to see "kites" on the lake. Flying kites has been a fun hobby this spring. We've got through a few as the twins discover how to operate them and what to keep them away from.

I was also VERY excited to go. I might have looked calm and composed but on the inside I was squealing and jumping up and down like a little girl going to Disneyland for the first time! I love trains. My mother loved trains and I just picked up her passion for trains. Always seemed to have lived near tracks so the sounds are very familiar and calming.

Barry wasn't able to make it. He hasn't been feeling well and has been in and out of the hospital and ER over the past month. He had his IV taken out a few days ago but was still VERY exhausted. We sure missed daddy today!

I wasn't sure how many pictures I would be able to get once we got inside (I ended up getting a TON, you'll see as your going through this post). So I'm nagging the boys to take a picture and in the background they hear train whistles so this is the best I could get at this point.

Another attempt further down the tracks.....still haven't gone inside yet, and yet you can see the annoyed look on their faces.

Kael: "Mom, go see Thomas?"

Gorgeous train car. Can't wait to go on the spooky Halloween train and the Polar Express this year!

There were a bunch of tents set up with different things to do. This particular tent had a bunch of train tables in it with different sets. So we had to put in some good playtime.

Koen

Kael was starting to get impatient because all the Thomas Trains were being played with and he has been EXTREMELY patient.....so far.....

Kael got a temporary tattoo of Thomas on his hand and he kept checking it out throughout the day.

Everywhere we went there was Thomas which was difficult since we were scheduled for a later train ride. I thought we'd show up early and play, ending the evening with the train ride, but that seemed difficult at times. I had to keep reminding them that it's not our turn yet.

So we took a ride on the motor car which the tracks ran perpendicular to Thomas's.

We got a car to ourselves which was pretty cool. Koen is taking in the scenery.

Cruisin' down the tracks with our "conductor."

Gotta visit the gift shop and see if there are any trains we don't have.

Every year we visit Santa I expect and even warn Santa and his helpers that I have shy-criers. I NEVER expected the same reactions to Sir Toppam Hat! So, I just laughed and told them to take the pic anyways. We might have to push our Disneyland Trip back a year. I can only imagine all the lovely crying pictures we might get there!

Getting close to our ticket time. We watched a music show to help pass the time and the boys opened their trains they picked out at the gift shop (Henry and Gordon).

Koen kept making faces at me and playing with the camera.

More playing with the camera.

Waiting at the station....

Look boys! Who could that be waaaaaayyyy down the tracks?

Koen is attempting to remain collected.....

....while Kael is starting to get all giddy.

Kael checking on his Thomas tattoo again.

Koen chose James for his.

FINALLY time to hop on!

The conductor collecting Koen's ticket.

Kael gave him his ticket and nearly started running to hop on the train.....that's why he's not in the frame.

Boarded and waiting to depart from the station. From this point on Kael is in the gray and Koen in blue.

Snuggles and tickles while we wait to leave.

Tattoo's still there!

Love this pic of Kael.

On the move!

Shying away from yet, another camera! They really aren't fans of getting their picture taken which is a shame 'cause their SO CUTE!!! So we'll have to practice more!!!!!

Me and Kael doing our peace signs.

We had a GREAT ride and even played on the cars for a little bit after everyone got off.

After running around the train car and around the poles, and Koen driving Gordon across the benches we decided to hop off and go meet Thomas!

They both were a little star struck.

Thanks Thomas for a fun day!

The boys didn't want to leave but I told them it was Thomas's dinner time and he had to get ready for bed and so did we and they understood that. So we got back in the car and headed home.