Train Ride

We had a fabulous time on our train trip. Ernie and I have decided that the train is the way to travel with kids. You don't have to stop to go to the bathroom, you can get up and walk around or eat or play games in the lounge, there are huge observation windows, and there is plenty of space to sleep. And nobody has to drive. It doesn't get any better...except for the promptness issues, anyway. We are planning a trip.

Back to this train trip: We pulled out of the station around 9:10 PM (almost 12 hours late!) and didn't get back to Dad and Mom's house until about 1 o'clock in the morning, but everyone made the best of it. The kids were real troopers, and most of them were even awake for a good portion of the trip back to Dad and Mom's. They were sooo excited, and gushed about how wonderful the train was.

While passing the time before the train came, we took the bus to a park in Ottumwa and fed the geese and played in the park. It was such a beautiful day for December!

Abigail

Joshua and "the cousins" feeding geese on the pond.

The whole crew at the train station - anxiously awaiting the train.

Dad emceed a little entertainment while we were waiting. We all gathered around as the kids sang solos and told stories and jokes. Then Mom and Dad held our attention with stories of times past. (I didn't know that my deaf great-grandfather was killed by a train while walking home from work on the railroad tracks as he did everyday.) It didn't take long until the whole train station was joining in the merriment. It helped the time pass more quickly for all of us. :)

-m