Trains Galore!

Somehow Cole has developed an interest obsession with Trains. It may have started with the viewing of a Thomas and Friends TV show episode; I'm really not quite sure. But now, it's not just Thomas (which is surprising because it seems most toddler boys just like Thomas), its ALL trains!!!! We're at the point now where Adrien and I are seriously considering setting up a train table in our future basement (post about future basement/house coming soon) with model trains-not just Thomas toy trains. Whoa! Big commitment!

Back in March, Adrien started taking Fridays off so we could have a family day once a week. On our first family day we took Cole to a local restaurant called Tyler.s Tender. This restaurant is a local favorite for one reason and it's not their food. They have trains all over the restaurant. If you eat at the bar, a model train delivers your food to you! They even have a train ride!! Cole had a blast visiting Tyler's Tender, looking at the model trains, and of course, riding the train. He even got a conductor hat!!

After our trip to TT we were telling some friends about how much Cole loved it. They told us about a Train Garden in Valparaiso, IN. SO, we waited for a nice day (knowing the Train Garden was outside, not realizing it was part of an arboretum!!) and off to the Train Garden we went. Now, I don't think either of us really knew what to expect. Adrien had looked it up online ahead of time, but there is no way pictures can do this place justice! Last year we had a Brookfield Zoo membership. This year we will most likely replace that with a membership to Talltree Arboretum just so we can visit the trains ANYTIME we want!! Cole has been talking about the Train Garden non-stop for the last week. He wants to go see the trains again SOOOO badly. :)

So excited to be at Tyler's Tender!!!

Riding the train with Daddy!

"Hi Cole!" He was so happy. :)

Riding on a stationary train (kind of like those horses they have at the grocery store)!

Here are our Train Garden pictures. I took 80 pictures at this place and really wanted to post most of them! I decided that it would be easier to just post pictures with Cole in them because I wouldn't have been able to choose which ones to leave out otherwise. The Train Garden was gorgeous, peaceful (until more families came-we got there a few minutes early so there weren't any visitors yet and the volunteers were still sending the trains out), and awe inspiring! All the rocks and foliage you see inside the train exhibit are REAL. They have people on staff who take care of the plants and maintain just that-they have nothing to do with the trains! AMAZING! Be prepared, if you come visit us in the next few months, you will probably be taken to the Train Garden!

A great family pic thanks to the iPhone camera (it makes self portraits a breeze!)