Happy 5th Birthday Train Ride

 

By:  Gigi (Guest  Blogger)

I have such wonderful memories of my Granny and Grandpap (and I miss them very much).  Erin & Andrew have great memories of my parents and I often hear Mike & Anna speak so lovingly of their grandparents so I know the importance of making memories with my grandchildren.  This year for Dylan and Tyler’s 5th birthday we decided to take a train trip and what an adventure it was!   We booked our reservation to leave from the train depot on Saturday morning and we arrived in Winter Park at  12:27 p.m.  The Bigs had been a little apprehensive about the ride and that morning Erin texted me that they were a little afraid that the train would go too fast and make them sick.  I think they also had an idea from somewhere that people could get thrown off the train (like throw Mama from the train) …now where would they hear that????  A little fear is good for the soul and worked in our favor getting them ready and on the road (both were unusually quiet)!

Here we are at the station.  It is an unmanned depot but has a lot of railroad equipment.  The boys enjoyed climbing on things and Poppa told them how everything worked.  There was also an information board describing the different types of trains and engines.  It was then I realized the boys thought we were riding a “bullet” train that would go so fast it would make their headache!  They were very relieved to see the Silver Meteor pull into the station!
We were so excited to board the train and find our seats.  Now remember this train originated in upstate New York so many people had been on the train all night.  We found our seats-Dylan and Poppa rode together and Tyler and Gigi got seated.  As soon as we were seated Dylan whispered to Poppa “there is a dead body on this train-I saw it”!  We instantly knew he was talking about an older woman that was stretched out in her seat with a blanket covering her as she slept.  I agree she looked dead for sure! 

Later we made our way to the club car where there is a snack bar and tables.  Walking on a train can be tricky so we all held on to each other.  We had brought some homemade cookies with us and we bought the boys some milk and enjoyed a little snack.  We then played a “memory” card game and Dylan did some reading.     

 

Tyler’s attention span is not as long as Dylan’s and once he got comfortable with the train the mischief began.  Tyler took a sticker from his sticker book and stuck it on my mouth.  They all thought this was hilarious. BOYS!!!

We arrived in Winter Park right on time.  My niece’s husband Jeff and her two boys met us for lunch.  We ate at Diva’s Pizza and Wine - a quaint little café (the chicken alfredo pizza was so good and we drank cold cokes out of a glass bottle!).  The proprietor was so nice to us.  We ate outside so we could hear the street musician play his guitar and who in their right mind would attempt to sit down inside a restaurant with this tribe of kids????

Our train departing back was delayed so we walked around Winter Park and saw all the shops.  There was an ice skating rink; a Christmas concert in the park and the town was decorated for Christmas.  AWESOME PLACE!  We bought homemade gingerbread men at a bakery for a snack on the way home.  Delicious!

By the time we boarded for the ride home we were all exhausted and ready for a rest.  The gentle sway of the train makes for some good sleeping.

The other day we were out in my yard and heard the train whistle.  Dylan said “Gigi we have been on that bad boy haven’t we”.  We all had such a great time on this day trip.  It is my hope and prayer that one day when the Bigs are grown and hear the sound of the train whistle they will remember riding that “bad boy” with their Gigi and Poppa and know the joy they brought to our lives that day.