Train Day

We started our day with a hearty bowl of steel cut oats and bananas and the kids were excited to get outdoors and started exploring. We spent an hour or so outside till we ventured out for a field trip. 

Ez's grandparents live in Virginia and came out to spend his birthday with him. Since they were here they joined us for the day while we went out for a day all about trains. We had every intention of going to Wonderscope (one my my favorite kid destinations), they just didn't have any intention of being open on a Monday. So, after showing up and seeing an empty parking lot we decided to go to Union Station. We parked in the parking lot of the freight district restaurants unloaded the littles and made our way to the elevator. There is an overpass from that elevator to Union Station that allows you to stand on while watching and feeling the trains rolling beneath. While we waited for the elevator a LONG train was passing through and we were so excited to get up there and "stand on top of it". The elevator never came… not working. So we loaded back into the car and drove to the parking lot adjacent to Union Station. I figured we would hit the train exhibit which is awesome and Science City (also awesome). But, good ole' planning on my part- Union Station is also closed on Mondays! Luckily the Rail Club that runs the train exhibit let us hang out in there and let the kiddos watch the trains loop around. They absolutely loved it and I can still hear Mo exclaiming, "It's Thomas, It's Thomas!". Every train we saw was Thomas the Tank Engine in his eyes, and to top it off there were actually a few Thomas' in there.

 

From there we went back out to the overpass from the Union Station side. After waiting FOREVER a train finally came.

Patiently waiting, ah too cute!

 It was short and was coming to a stop so the thunderous sound and feeling didn't really happen. I make myself feel better about it by telling myself it would've just scared the kids anyways… Since we were on a train field trip (unexpectedly but happily) we decided to eat lunch at Fritz's. Trains drive on tracks around the dining room and deliver the food. I knew the kids would go wild and crazy about it and my expectations were met.

Not the healthiest meal but the environment makes up for that poor fact!

They had a blast. We finished our day with puzzle work, block play, and of course building train tracks for the Thomas trains that we have!