The Train

Jared set up the train this year.  This is a train that has been in his family for generations.  His Grandfather had one and started one for his dad when he was young.  Jared remembers playing with it around the bottom of the Christmas tree all growing up.  Something he looked forward to every year.  We have set it a couple of times since we have lived in Vacaville and he and Thomas have enjoyed it together. 

He was excited to get it back year and let Benjamin in on the action.  I gave up decorating my table so the boys could have it set up for some fun with Daddy.  Well, it was a huge hit!!  Thomas loved getting to play with Daddy's legos (he had a few special ones stored away with the train), micro machine's (also a bit of his collection reserved just for Christmas time) and of course the train, complete with his dad's horses and buildings.  The boys loved it all. 

 Benjamin loved the train, he surprised me with how much!  So much that he figured out how to get himself up on to the chair so he could sit at the table and watch it.  Most days I would find him there on and off through out the day.  He'd call me over, point and say "ahh" his word for just about everything, but with the use of his handing pointer finger, I knew just what he wanted.  I don't know how to hook up the train compartments together, but occasionally I would give it a shot, get it as best as possible and he'd be thrilled - until they came apart.

Monday, he spent most of the day there.  The train was going on and off all day.  At the end of the day I was totally over it, but I found him like this:

sitting in the middle of the table, waiting (mostly paitiently) and pointing.  I couldn't resist.  I turned it on and snapped a few pictures.  (you can see him holding a blue piece in hopes that i'd hook them together)

Then it happened.  The train crashed with a loud bang to the ground!!  Falling into 3 pieces.  My heart broke.  Benjamin was crying.  Thomas just wanted to see just what had happened.  I wasn't looking forward to breaking the news to Jared.  Thankfully, he just smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I guess it was too soon after all."  Thankfully he was able to fix it and then we packed it up and stored it away for next year.

I know this is way too long of a post on a train, but it's a part of our family heirloom history.  A special piece of our history.  Memories with a special treasure.  This is after all the best place for me to store moments like this, so thanks for reading along!