Summer Fun - Weekend Eight

Trains Trains Trains

My life with my little boy summed up.

Friday, August 2nd was a day Tate had been looking forward to for weeks.  The Monday before we started counting down the days by counting how many 'sleeps' we had before we rode the...

TEDDY BEAR TRAIN!

That's right!  We were off to the Texas State Railroad in Rusk, Texas to ride The Teddy Bear Train!

My mom was joining us for this wonderful adventure and came over on Thursday night to spend the night with us in anticipation.  Friday morning we got up, ate and loaded up the car and headed off to Tate's swim lesson.

We got his clothes changed and we left for Rusk!  

It was about a two and a half hour ride!  Tate did absolutely great in the car.  He was happy to have his Thomas CD playing while he looked through his train books.  His LeapPad didn't come out at all. He was just giddy with anticipation and smiled and giggled the whole way there!

We arrived with about an hour of time to kill as our train was a bit delayed.  As always Tate found the train table!

Finally our Teddy Bear Train arrived.  It was just beautiful :)

So. Excited.

And yes it was hot!  East Texas is hot!  Tate insisted on standing out there in 105 degree weather gazing at his train. 

Finally it was time!

ALL ABOARD!!!

Our cute little table!

Has his teddy bear in hand!!  He brought his
Sue-Y bear along for the ride!

Grandmommy and Tate!

Me and my sweet engineer!

It was a lovely ride.  Any child who brought a teddy bear got to ride for free!  We had drinks and snacks provided as well as coloring pages for the kiddos.  We sang songs and enjoyed the lovely East Texas Scenery.

The ride itself was about 45 minutes.  About halfway through we stopped in Maydelle, Texas and our engine was uncoupled from the train and put on the  Maydelle 1890's Turntable and turned around!  This was quite the show, and Tate loved it!

We then made our way back to the station!  Tate had a great time, and I loved seeing him so happy and I loved having my mommy with us!!!

 

Mouthful of snack! 

My gorgeous Mommy!

We got back to the station and said our good-byes to the Teddy Bear Train.  We drove the short distance to Jacksonville, our home for the night.  We got checked in and I ran out to get some dinner for my mom and me, then returned and made Tate some of his favorite...pizza cake (AKA cheese quesadilla!) :)

He was sound asleep soon after!

Saturday morning we were up and on our way home by 830.  We enjoyed some breakfast at the hotel and made our way back to Houston.  I must say I never knew how beautiful East Texas was.  The lush green trees, the smooth roads, the flowers and the Texas history were impressive.  I'm inspired to go read up on my Texas history after driving through Crockett, Texas (named after Davy Crockett of course), Huntsville, home of Sam Houston State University and what seems like a ton of historical markers.  I can't wait for Tate to start learning all this stuff in school, so I can learn with him!

We spent the rest of the weekend just hanging out.  We did lots of Playstix and train playing.  We grocery shopped and got ready for Zoo Camp.  

Me and my boy.  What a great way to spend a weekend!!!

Choo! Choo!