thomas the train

a friend of mine had bought tickets for "a day out with thomas" without realizing that they would be out of town this weekend.  she offered us the tickets for free!  matt and i had talked about going with the kids, but it isn't cheap so we decided to wait until manning was a little older to go.  but free tickets we could handle!  the only problem was that there were only four tickets.  but the solution was easy - manning and i would just wait while they rode the train.  that was the only part you needed tickets for and i was okay not riding.  it was a gorgeous day and we had packed a lunch so manning and i ate lunch while we waited and enjoyed the sunshine.

it looks like they had a fun time on the train too!

we didn't want to wait in the line for a close up picture with thomas, so here is my 'unofficial' posing spot.

 after they ate their lunch we went and checked out the model train just like the one they had ridden on.

maddux was surprised by how heavy the bell was to ring.

and then we started working on collecting our stamps for a 'prize'.  you have to work through some of the attractions to collect stamps on a paper we were given at the entrance.

a picture with sir topham hatt.

temporary tatoos

there were digger trucks and airplane bodies to climb through.  we were only willing to wait in the line for the digger.  maddux was super, super excited.  and so was mason once he sat down in the driver's seat.

while we were checking out the truck, daddy, madelyn and manning were already in the longest line of all - the balloon artists!  they would try to make anything you could think of (the girl in front of us got a ninja!  i should have taken a picture - it was pretty great.).  maddux wanted a "pirate ship" but settled for a pirate hat and sword.  we weren't crazy about the skull and crossbones on top (they are white and hard to see in the picture) but he was pretty happy about it.  mason got thomas (we had seen a few of these throughout the day) and madelyn got rosie.  when the man asked her what color rosie's smokestack was, madelyn suggested a pink heart balloon.  they both agreed that was a great idea.

we feel so fortunate to have been able to go!  we were talking about going again in two years and only getting tickets for maddux, manning and matt or i to ride the train.  we can all do the other activities for free.  and there are lots more activities - live music, magicians, bounce houses, thomas inflatable maze, etc.

it was a wonderful way to spend a sunday afternoon!  love.