Day Out With Thomas

On Saturday we went to "Day Out With Thomas."  It was a fun-filled day and the kids loved it.



There were lots of fun activities.  The biggest one was riding in coach cars "pulled" by Thomas.





Anticipating the big ride.





The train slowly went 10 minutes down the track and then returned back to the station.



We had the 12:00 noon train ride so we went on the train and then left the station to have a picnic lunch at the park.  (My picture disappeared off my camera).  Here are the kids heading back to the van.




When we got back after lunch we checked out the different stations for the kids to go to.

Bubbles



Sidewalk chalk





Imagination Station with trains and Mega Bloks









Face Painting (Tyler got Thomas, Emily got a butterfly and Megan got Emily, the green train.)













Balloons  (Flower hat for Megan, sword for Tyler and butterfly hat for Emily








Emily's the only one who took full advantage of the coloring station



The kids were excited, yet a little apprehensive, about meeting Sir Topham Hatt.  (Tyler told me, "Mom, his hands were soft!" after he gave him a high five.)  They were all disappointed that neither Thomas nor Sir Topham Hatt spoke.



We also got to ride in these tiny yellow train cars







We ended our excursion by heading to Granny's Drive In for shakes.  Tyler was disappointed that "Granny" wasn't there.



Back from a fun, fun day.



The kids tried out their souvenirs at dinner:  Day Out With Thomas placemats







When we first entered the station we were given sheets of paper with 4 different places for stamps.  There were four designated stations to visit.  The kids got a stamp at each station.  When the paper was full, they got a prize:  a Mega Blok Thomas and some stickers.  Here they are sporting their conductors hats and holding up their prizes.



Thanks, Thomas, for a fun, fun day!

May

Here's a little bit of what we've been up to this month.

For Mother's Day Darrell made dinner--burgers on the grill.  I loved that I got to hang out in my room and let Darrell make dinner, as well as referee the kids.  Ah, lovely!



Back in April I discovered we had some flooding in the basement. I thought it was coming from the window--maybe from runoff water or something.  I thought I had it all figured out, but a couple weeks ago I discovered more water.  I called a plumber.  It turns out the there was a small stress fracture in the pipe that come out of the kitchen sink.  So, water and gunky food stuff had been seeping out, running down the pipe, sticking to the insulation and flooding the floor.  Dis.gust.ing.  Thank goodness there was only insulation to cut away and no sheetrock to deal with or cut away.  After the plumber fixed the pipe, I cleaned up the mess armed with rubber gloves, scissors (to cut away the soggy, nasty insulation) and a water/bleach mixture.  Looks as good as new now, but it was so nasty!  (Notice the lovely brown gunk.  At least it didn't smell.  That would have really done me in.)





Emily likes to be a spider and crawl all the way down the stairs.



Three big-kid swings for 3 big kids.



Super horse



The girls decided to play with the comforter after I took it off our bed and before I got it washed.



This is how Tyler had his stuffed animasl lined up for family prayer one night.



We took advantage of $5 bicycle helmets.  Megan loved wearing hers around the house.



I had a "mini recital" at my house for my 4 piano students.  Such cuties!



Tyler had a party the last day of preschool.  He loved the bounce houses.  The girls lucked out and got to bounce a little bit when we went to pick him up.







My parents came down for Tyler's preschool graduation.  We grabbed something to eat.



Then we went to the local library for the graduation.



Preschool has been so good for Tyler.  He's learned and grown so much the last two years.



Tyler sang, did all the actions and did his part.  No breaking down like last year.  Yay!



Miss Mary Mack




Tyler with the fabulous Miss Katie




We went out to Dairy Queen afterwards (my camera's battery died and wouldn't let me take a picture.) And the kids loved hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma.  (Just a little side note, Tyler wanted to know if the next day when we woke up if he could go to kindergarten and the girls could start preschool.  Um...nope!  This could be a VERY long summer!)





My parents had to leave the next day (boo!), but before they did we went to Red Lobster (no camera with me).  It was de-LISH.  I just have to share this funny "tale."  We were seated by the window and could see people come and go in the parking lot.  Darrell noticed a lady with a very-well endowed "bottom" in tight blue pants.  He said, "Look at that booty!"  We (the adults) all laughed.  The lady walked by the window again and Darrell said,"There's the booty!"  The kids picked up on it (even though they don't know what a booty is).  A few minutes later the waitress walked by our table with the booty lady and her friend in tow.  Tyler got really excited and said, "Mom!  Mom!  There's the booty!"  He couldn't understand why I shushed him. "But Mom, that's the booty!"  Um, yes, I know.  Oh man!  I don't think they heard.  Oh, I hope they didn't hear.