Nostalgia in Blackwood - 10 Years Later....

It's been more than a minute since I've logged on here. Even though we have a month left of spring it feels as if it's already over. The smell of summer is in the air, and the temps have been warm lately but today it's nice and breezy. The blossoms in the spring are gorgeous but now they have fallen off the trees and have disappeared. Earlier this month I took a drive to my old hood with Noah and couldn't believe how fast time flew having raised this kid here. It's been 10 years since we've seen his childhood train. He loved coming here with his miniature Thomas the train figures pretending to be a conductor. I thought it was a train phase but he is now 14 and still has a love for trains. He was such a cutie. Still is.

The Santa Express

Last night we rode the Santa Express on a historic train for one hour with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and numerous families with children. This was our first time experiencing this event, and for riding coach it wasn't too bad.

We stood in 35 degree temperatures while the kids anxiously awaited for the train to arrive. Luckily they were bundled up, and as soon as they heard the train whistle their eyes lit up.

Aboard the train was Santa Claus.

We dressed up the kids in their pajamas and they brought along their favorite stuffed animals. Chelsea with her ugly doll, and Noah with his sock money.

She hung on to all of our tickets and waited for the conductor to punch them. (I think she was expecting Tom Hanks.)

Santa, and Mrs. Claus had a little one on one with the kids, and Chelsea was a little too calm for this experience. Maybe it's because she has seen too many Santas in her life, and is noticing that they all look different! Nonetheless she touched Santa to see if he was real, and wanted to take a picture with him. She then told him what gifts she would like.

Noah on the other hand didn't seem to care about telling Santa what gifts he wanted. He was just thrilled to be riding on a train...as was my better half (just take a look on his face!)

Songs from this movie were playing, and as soon as the song "Hot chocolate" came on Noah stood up, looked over at the end of the entrance expecting to see waiters come out with hot chocolate! He looked a little disappointed, but luckily his resilience is incredible, and as he grows up I will explain to him that "The Polar Express" is just an animated film...not real!

The train ride went by too fast, and the kids fell asleep on the way home. This was Christmas fun for the little kids to all enjoy, and if you have small children particularly a little boy who has a train obsession that says "choo choo" everytime you pass by a train station....this is another place to take him.

Even on a school night.

Loving the train phase.

I love this age. The toddler years are indeed my favorite...especially when it comes to having a boy. I have my share of also spending time with our girls, but this kid...he's awesome! 

He keeps me active, and the knowledge for raising a boy becomes broader, and the toy obsession becomes bigger. He is in love with trains! Throughout the entire summer he watched Polar Express at least once a day...sometimes twice (except when we were out of town.) I couldn't resist his face every morning when he'd wake up to say, "I want to watch the "choo choo" mommy...pleeeze." So adorable!!

This morning I took him out for a walk, and we went to the bike path where the red caboose stands. He loves it there! He can hang around the caboose all day with Thomas and drag him through rocks, dirt, and lots of leaves. 

With the fall weather slowly creeping in on us it is the perfect time to venture out, and to enjoy the sounds of autumn. It is the perfect time where the weather feels just right to feel the wind mixed with a bit of moisture blowing through our faces.

I love the train phase that our son is going through, and the changing of the season as well. The sounds of autumn are off to a pretty good start, and that makes me happy.