We opened Train Toys. Anticipating the Bored Child Syndrome, I took proactive measures and bought some Dollar Store books and stickers in advance. To make them more fun, we wrapped them (inside out, of course), and then I let the kids decorate the presents. They were an absolute hit on the train. Especially the stickers. We definitely… left our mark.

And this would be our mark. It was our home away from home, those big blue seats. We were lucky enough on the ride down to get seats in front with unlimited leg/play-room.

Note how we’re not occupying our own seats here, but are enjoying some seats further down the train. The kids wanted fold-down trays and our unlimited-leg-room seats weren’t equipped with those.

I LOVE TRAINS.
(Can you see in the background there that the train is basically deserted? And by “basically,” I mean, we were the only ones in that particular car.

This is Josh running on the train. It wasn’t supposed to be a picture of Josh running on the train. It was supposed to be a picture of Benjamin running on the train. But just before I snapped the shot, Josh realized Benjamin had found the conductor’s papers there in the very back. And was about to eat them.

So yes, our train trip down was simply de-light-ful.

Our train trip back was a bit more trying.

Two hours delayed in the first half of the return trip that were thankfully absorbed into the two hour layover we were supposed to have in St. Louis. Then another two hours of delays in the second half of the return trip. Four extra hours on the train.

But I can’t really complain about the first two. Because if we would have been on-time, we would have spent those hours in the St. Louis station. Which is gross. And does not have the wireless internet capabilities of which they like to boast. And doesn’t have a snack car.

And we do love the snack car. Were you can spend $10 on nothing at all in the blink of an eye.

And the station also doesn’t have the same neighborhood-type environment that the train does. We make friends on each trip, everysingletime. The first trip, we met the most delightful family that took great joy in feeding Benjamin from their supply of snacks. It worked out well for us, because Benjamin took great joy in being fed from their supply of snacks.

The return trip, we met a family with three young brothers who just thought Benjamin was the best, most entertaining way to pass the time, ever. What, with all the delays and whatnot.

So that was our train trip.

Would we do it again? Even with the delays?

Yep.