All Aboard

So we live just a couple of miles from Freestone Park. Over the last couple of months we have gone there to ice block or for school reunions. When we have gone it has just been me (Chris) and the kids. Every time we go there I forget to bring bread to feed the nasty ducks so the kids end up just sitting there looking into the water. They must have some kind of longing on their faces and that combined with a single looking Dad always elicit sympathy from ladies at the park. Because for the last three trips to the park a random mom will come up and give my kids their "leftover" bread. I say 'leftover" with the air quotes because I have never known any kids to get bored of feeding bread to ducks, unless you bring twenty loaves of bread. So I figure I look pretty pathetic with three to four kids waddling around the park.

So the last time we went to the park we went on the train. I was really pumping this one up and using the train trip as leverage to get the kids to clean their room and to do other chores like doing dishes or rubbing my feet.

The day of the train trip the kids got up and were asking when we would go. The whole day was nicely drawn out so I could get the most out of them before there was a melt down or they went for the knives and revolted.

All the way to the park there was chatter of where the best place to sit on the train would be and how they are going to remember it forever. ( I started to wonder if I have been depriving my kids of any enjoyment in their lives). So we got there and I gave the kids their over priced tickets and we waited for the conductor (fresh out of prison) to rattle off their memorized speech about keeping arms in, not to jump off, and how not to be a hero and give your money to any bandits if we were hijacked.

The kids were so excited as the conductor flipped the switch the the engine clunked on and we were off. Slower then the kids would have walked, slower then they walk when I tell them they cant have something at a store. The older two tried to put on a brave face, but you could tell they were expecting something that at least went faster then that old guy from Up.

Ash gave the reaction that I was hoping for. He tooted and shouted to the kids playing in the playground. I had to carry him to the car when we left. Good times.