Greenberg Train Show

Trains and Christmas seem to go hand in hand. So...three days after Christmas the boys and I loaded up the car and headed to the Greenberg Train Show at the Dulles Expo Center. Sadly for them I wasn't willing to buy anything, we had spent our wad on Christmas and...there was nothing the boys would have truly appreciated with all they received for Christmas.

Lang was supposed to go with us but stayed home in bed. We were able to drop Mimi off at Fair Oaks Mall to spend the afternoon with her friends. That way she was able to sit and enjoy a nice lunch instead of help me chase three crazy kids through a train show. The timing worked out great and we picked her up on our way home.

I took out the camera here because what I really wanted was a picture of this train layout. Although it is N Scale and we have O Scale, I still thought it was a nice use of space and worth considering in our future track creations.


Joseph had a great time at the show!


CHEEEEEEEESE! I love it when I can get pictures of him that show off his blue eyes. He and John look so much alike that it is the eyes that will largely differentiate them in the future (John's are green).


The boys by the S Scale Display. Of course the boys wanted all kinds of trains in all kinds of scales. Thankfully Santa has been consistent in his choice of scale. He is matching the 13 boxes of vintage train we have stored from my father's collection that he worked on with me while I was growing up. I still haven't been to as many train shows with the boys as my Dad took me to as a kid.


And to think the man running this ride wasn't sure if Joseph would like it. He made him get on the pull car without any help. I nearly panicked because since the kid doesn't have language he didn't understand what he was supposed to do. Finally the man patted where he was to sit and Joseph dutifully sat down.


James was first in line. Look at him here, with a lead on John and Joseph! Then, he caught up with the kid who was last. Soon thereafter, John and Joseph caught up too. I was so, so proud of my boys...I wasn't sure James would be able to get the car around the circle once let alone 15-20 times. And John brought up the rear of the whole group...pushing Joseph all the way. He outdid the adults in the previous two rides!


John working hard to power two cars. I don't think Joseph was all that much help, but he had a great time thinking he was!


Still watching the train displays, which is why we go to the shows in the first place.


We stopped to take a picture by the penguin display at Fair Oaks Mall when we picked up Mimi. Overall, we had a fabulous day.

Christmas Morning - 2008

Convincing John to wake up Christmas morning was a challenge. Not so with James. He generally gets up between 6 and 6:30, so it was a good thing Santa reminded me to get up at 5:30am to turn on the tree and start the train.

Santa wrote a great note and the boys were very excited. He remembered that James had asked for this very same train set last year and had set his elves working on it right away. He even had his elves include a light car which John loved. The boys couldn't believe that Santa had done such a great job in remembering both of them!

John and James, excited about their new train set. This is even before we thought about opening presents. The train is the New York Central. The car John wanted is the orange one by his left hand. James kept putting cars on the track which made me crazy...you can see that he had just removed them!


John controlling the train. Santa was only able to put up a small circle since there would be so many people over Christmas Day. A few days later, Daddy was able to put up the trestle bridge Santa brought last year and a large figure 8.


John and James with their note from Santa. The excitement was amazing, although James is looking a bit dubious here. I think he just didn't want to stop for the picture...


Santa mentioned that the train was also for Joseph to enjoy. When he awoke he just kept jumping up and down saying something that might have been, "train, train."


I'm not sure how Joseph got himself here, but this proved to be a problem for him later on. He was scared to move!


John and James got in on the fun. Joseph just couldn't look up for the picture. Who can blame him? There is a train running between his legs!


This is about the time Joseph's legs gave out and the train derailed! The boys were irritated. I laughed.

Decorating the Tree

I was very motivated for Christmas over Thanksgiving Weekend. I had a tree and by the end of the week it was lit. We got the outdoor lights up and in my mind, I was done. The boys had other plans.

Ornaments.

I thought we would get away with not putting the ornaments on the tree, but that was not to be. I complained on facebook a few times and a wonderful friend offered to come over and help. We all had a fabulous evening together.

This all happened after our Friday Adventure to the Botanic Gardens train display. We then rushed home, ordered pizza, and I found myself in the attic hunting down ornament bins.

James after we arrived home from our Friday Adventure and before Daddy, Kim and Tanner arrived.


Daddy holding Jamesy up to put the angel on the tree.


Joseph couldn't believe all the wonders he found!


I still remember Kim's words when she saw the Christmas Seal, "This is cute..." I don't think she really meant it. There was something about her tone...


Note that Joseph's head is down in all the pictures. He couldn't be torn away from his ornament discoveries.


Kim, James and John finding ornaments...


Lang hanging one of the heavier ornaments on the tree. Of course, these ornaments didn't stay on the tree long. They are the train ornaments. With all the toys we have around the house, including trains, these ornaments are all still removed from the tree and used for countless imaginary adventures.


Here is James in an imaginary adventure now...and the ornament hasn't even made it onto the tree yet!


This is our noisiest ornament. Whenever we turn on the tree there is a countdown and blastoff.


Tanner hanging an ornament. Have you noticed that the boys are playing with the ornaments but not really hanging them?


These antlers once belonged to my German Shepherd, Cami. I think every child has worn them and had pictures taken. If I were to look, I think even I have had a picture taken in these antlers. A family tradition, although now I am wondering if there is a picture of Lang in them anywhere?

U.S. Botanic Gardens - Train Display

For our Friday Adventure on John's last day of school, we ran into DC to see the train display at the Botanic Gardens. This fit in great with our Friday Adventure goals, as we are trying to visit all of the buildings on the National Mall during this school year. What a great excuse to get the boys in to see a bunch of plants! I am still waiting for some kid-friendly displays at the Art Galleries...

This is James after hearing that his teacher had called to report that indeed he was well behaved at school that day.


John, not really standing in the rain, but sure looking like it!


Joseph as we were loading the stroller and getting ready to walk the nearly two blocks to the Botanic Gardens.


The boys with a Christmas Moose...at the outdoor display in the Botanic Gardens.


During a rather calm moment...James of course found friends and was running all over the place. John probably took over 100 pictures...


Train display...gorgeous!


Joseph pointing out that a train had just gone by...


On our way back from the restroom we walked through a "maze: of plants...


This is James' favorite train...note the caterpillar appearance, complete with eyes and antennae.

National Christmas Tree

Our Friday Adventure was supposed to be going to the Botanical Gardens to see the train display. But...as I was loading Joseph in the car I saw his throat and couldn't in good conscience ignore what I had seen.

So...after loading all the boys in the car we were fortunate to get an immediate appointment with a new pediatrician at our practice. She was very nice, and although Joseph's throat culture was clear, his ears weren't looking too good. She gave me an antibiotic prescription to hold onto if needed in the next few days.

The boys were very disappointed about missing the Botanic Gardens and were insisting that we have a Friday Adventure nonetheless. Lang planned to work late, so off we went to Union Station.

The train display at Union Station was lame. We enjoyed seeing some of the trains on the platform at the station. From there we left to go to the National Christmas Tree. Michelle took a back way out and still has no idea where she was and how she found her way back to the Ellipse. Sadly, James legs started to hurt and we almost missed the Christmas Tree altogether. He was in so much pain he was begging me to go home. But, we found the tree and parking and the kid rallied. Go Jamesy!

My three urchins watching the trains around the tree. We really came to see the trains...


Joseph making his move, a bit too slow as John had no trouble catching him.


John insisted that I take a picture of the derailed train.


Joseph has become a real fan of the camera. Here he is saying (or yelling?) "CHEEEEEESE"!


The three boys gave me a smile...


We missed the Christmas Tree last year because James was so sick and we did nothing. So, I don't know if this is new this year, but it was very cool (or warm) to see Santa in his workshop! The line was really very short and the 5x7 picture they gave us was free. Our tax dollars at work...but at least this time we got something for it!

MoreThanksgiving at the Beach - Lots to be Thankful for...

Since James actual birthday was on Thanksgiving this year, we all sang "Happy Birthday" before devouring our dessert. The boys are kind of like their Mom and are not big pie fans, so they both enjoyed birthday cupcakes.

Granny and Grandaddy drove to the beach and spent James birthday/Thanksgiving Day with us. They also arrived with these fabulous mini-cupcakes (chocolate - James' favorite), balloons and flowers.


James blowing out his, count them, FIVE birthday candles!


I'm FIVE!!!

Pretty much everyone left the next morning/afternoon. We hung around for a while because we wanted to see the lights in Ocean City. We just couldn't hang out long enough, as Mom was getting tired and started to worry about the drive back. I think we can still go through January 20th...perfect for getting out of town Inauguration Weekend!


Friday morning was sweatshirt weather and we had a great time running on the boardwalk. James and Joseph pushed the back of every bench so that the view was of the boardwalk and not the dunes/beach.


James and Joseph, proud of themselves and moving on to the next bench.


John yelling, "hey wait, what about me?!?!?"


The three boys tipped this back together.


Sadly there have been a few storms which have caused quite a bit of beach erosion. As such, we couldn't get to the beach from this end of the boardwalk. Nonetheless, it was a great spot for a picture!


Even Joseph got in on the picture action...


The boys heading back in the other direction. Is it me, or is there a bench they haven't gotten to yet?


Here we are walking back the way we came. If you look closely, you will see Joseph's feet in front of James. Note that all the benches are facing the boardwalk.


One of my favorite things is to get great headshots of the boys wherever we go. Here is one of John...


and one of Joseph... James' headshot of "I'm FIVE" will have to suffice for him, his pic was blurry. :(


John doing a great job of helping me keep up with Joseph.