Train Week

Due to a week long vacation, we're a little behind here on the blog.  Two weeks ago was train week.  I had TONS of stuff planned for this week, but as it tends to happen to parents of toddlers, my plans were a bit derailed (that one is for you dad :).

Dec came down with the stomach flu in the middle of the week, so two of our bigger activities, going to the Chicago Botanic Gardens to see the train exhibit, and going to a diner where your meal is delivered via train, had to be cancelled.  I've added both of these to our summer bucket list, and hopefully we will find the time!

We did manage to get a few other train related activities in.  The first was a little game I set up where I drew a train station map using landmarks in our backyard.  I printed out train tickets and then I put our dinosaurs at each of the train stations.  The boys used our wagon as a train, and they were the conductors driving the "train" from station to station, taking the tickets from the dinosaurs and loading them up.  We tried using a hole punch on the tickets, but that was a little tough to operate for little hands.

The train station map I made really demonstrates why I teach math and not art!

 Conductors Gavin and Declan

 Taking T-Rex's ticket

 Picking up Triceratops

 Gavin LOVED the train station map, so when he got bored of visiting the same stations on the map, I encouraged him to draw a new map.  He loved this idea (and the chance to draw outside).

 A better view of Gav's map

 This was shortly after Dec started feeling better, hence the awesome outfit of a tank top and jammie pants.

 I'm not sure if I've mentioned it on the blog or not, but Declan LOVES construction trucks.  Our route to Gavin's camp is mostly under construction and Dec spends the whole trip shouting "Look Mommy, bulldozer!"  "Look Mommy, excavator!"  "Look Mommy, DUMP TRUCK!"  So when the public works department parked a bulldozer in front of our house to do a little work on the street, it was a banner day in the Gillespie house.  

 Front row seats to watch all the construction happening.

 We also took a trip to Santa's Village during train week.  Not really related to trains, but a fun place we visit at least once each year.  Dec was loving all the locomotion rides, as you can see from the big grin on his face!

 Another big smile from Dec.  He was giggling each time he drove past us.

 Gav still loves the big slide, and the material of the shorts he wore that day made him shoot off the slide at the end!  He loved it!  Dec on the other hand went down once and decided that was enough.

 When Declan heard we were going to Santa's Village, the one thing he kept asking about was if he could ride a black donkey (pony).  So he was pretty excited to ride Pipsqueak.

 Selfie of Gav and I on the dragon roller coaster.  Gavin always wants to go on roller coasters, and seems to love the ride as it's happening, but afterwards he always tells me that his tummy feels funny.

 Dec and Train Grandpa waiting for the firetruck ride, one of the boys' favorite rides (along with the funhouse for reasons I will never understand).

 Getting ready to put out the fire.

 Visiting Santa at his summer home.  We found out on this trip that this is the SAME Santa that I visited when I was kid!  He has been there since 1985!

 This Santa is so nice and good with kids, he even convinced Declan to come over!

 Dec and I on the carousel

 I'm not sure where Gavin learned to do the rally cap with his Cardinals hat, but it's pretty cute, especially when he put Dec's monkey hat on top of it.

 Watching the cars go by after a post dinner park visit.

 The boys were clearly in a silly hat mood on this day.

 Goofballs!

 We ended train week with a trip to the Illinois Railway Museum by train Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We rode two trains (well really one train and one streetcar), played a lot on the train themed playground, and looked in and out at a lot of old trains.  They even have old "L" cars there.  Here Grandpa and the boys are posing in front of an old streetcar.

 We tried to get a picture in the front too, but Gavin was feeling very silly.  Every time Declan said "cheese" Gavin would shout "and crackers!"

 Sitting in the dining car on an old passenger train.

 Dec wasn't too sure about the whole train riding thing...

  ...but he loved running through the long sheds looking at the trains.

 Another classic Gavin pose.

 This pic is a little blurry, but this is the boys posing up next to a wheel from one of the trains we saw.  The wheel was taller than Grandpa, and he is 6 feet tall!