A Day Out With Thomas!

I saw commercials on t.v. during the month of September, advertising "A Day Out With Thomas."  Considering Liam's love of all things "Thomas the Train," I thought it would be nice for our family to break away from the retaining-wall madness, so we bought tickets. 


It was just what the doctor ordered and a gorgeous day, to boot!  We knew it was quite a trek from here to Cordele, Georgia (it's close to the Georgia / Florida state line).  The kids were great for the car ride there.  When we arrived at the Veterans' Park, we parked, took a shuttle to the festival area and ate lunch.  The kids both had a port-o-potty experience, which always proves interesting!  :)  After milling around the upper level of Thomas festivities (face-painting, temporary tattoos, live music and a huge train table area), we headed down to the train area.  It was entirely too sweet to watch Liam's expression as he first saw Thomas the train.  He was one happy kiddo. 

Liam's first view of Thomas the Train.  :)

We boarded the train and waited about 20 minutes for others to board the SAM shortline.  The kids enjoyed looking out the window, seeing the sights within the train.  When we got ready to take off, the conductor told us Thomas needed our help, and to say "Pull Thomas, pull!"  As we pulled out of the station, Liam looked over at me and said "Mommy, I don't think we're going forward?  I think we're going the wrong way!"  I was pretty impressed that he realized we were going backward.  Especially after having been seated on the train for 20 minutes or so.  Thomas actually drove us backward for the first half of the trainride, for 15 minutes.  Once we reached the end of the SAM Shortline, Thomas then switched directions and we pushed back toward the station, for the last 15 minutes.  Liam was in his glory the entire time we were on the train.  It was so fun to watch him have fun with this train, since he knows EVERY. SINGLE. THOMAS. TRAIN. by name.  It was his time.  It was so fun!

The weather got a little warmer as the day progressed.  We waited in line to take a picture with Thomas.  We stocked up on all things Thomas in the seriously full-of-gnats gift shop tent.  Even Ava wanted a t-shirt to commemorate the occasion.  As girly as she is, she often plays with Liam and his trains.  :)  The kids then went in a bounce house, cooled off with a lemonade and also had their picture taken with Sir Topham Hatt before we called it a day.  Liam slept the entire car ride home (over two hours).  

I'm so glad we went!  When we went to the Princess breakfast at Disney in February, I felt like it was perfectly timed for Ava.  She was just the right age.  I feel like this was the perfect age for Liam to have gone to see Thomas, as well.  Quite often, lately, when we're working on this retaining wall, I feel like we're short-changing the kids.  I know it's temporary, but know they are in need of attention, as well.  A day like this was perfectly timed, the perfect occasion for us all, where we could just enjoy the "sunshiney" weather and each other's company.  

Peace, love and one memorable day out with the family,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Callaway Gardens

This past Saturday, after Ava’s gymnastics class, we met up with Anna Fletcher and headed to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA.  We met up with Melissa Baillairge and Amy Hoffman, who were already there enjoying the beach. 

While at Callaway, we were able to check-out Mr. Cason’s vegetable garden.  In the same area, the PBS show Victory Gardens is actually filmed here.  It’s a gardener’s dream come true! 

We fed the ducks, turtles and fish in a pond.   The kids really seemed to enjoy this!  I almost lost my stomach, thinking about any one of them tumbling in the water.  :-0  We then visited the stone chapel, which is absolutely gorgeous!  I could just imagine a winter wedding in this chapel, which is situated right beside a nice lake. 

We also watched a show on “Birds of Prey”, during which we saw quite a few different owls, hawks and other birds.  I think it freaked Ava out a bit that they were flying right over our heads.  She wasn’t scared until they mentioned not to put your fingers in the air, that the birds might mistake them for food.  Ha ha! 

After that, we ventured over to the man-made lake that had a fountain in it.  The lake was very shallow for quite some distance, which great for the kids!  Liam stayed on the beach and built things out of sand.  Ava swam some, then decided she wanted to build a retaining wall.  Hmm, I wonder where she got that from?  ;-) 

It was 5 p.m. by the time we decided to head out for dinner at a local country diner.  The diner reminded me of a Cracker Barrel, complete with a very cool gift shop.  Ava decided to get a bag of mineral rocks as a souvenir.  Liam decided on an old green truck.  I ate my first fried green tomato sandwich, complete with Muscadine grape mayo sauce.  It was yummy!  We were all wiped out from the day’s festivities and the heat that came along with it.  We drove the 1 ½ hours home, at which point all of the kids in our van (Ava, Liam, Ryan-Ashton and Kylyn) all fell asleep. 

It was a fun day!  It was nice to spend the day with friends and for the mommies to catch up between kidling requests. :-)

Peace, love and lifelong friends,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam