November 5, 2011 was a very fun and very special day for one special little boy I know. ;o) Thomas Train was visiting in Perris, CA... a short drive from where we are living. Kyle loves Thomas and his friends! This event was being hosted by the Orange Empire Railway Museum (in which we are members). The membership is only $60 for the entire family for the year, and provides unlimited rides on all the trains, and street cars whenever they are running (mostly just on the weekends). Kyle LOVES it there, and we are happy to support the museum...as they are run
completely off of volunteers!!!
Our train ride was scheduled for 10:30am, so we made sure to get there in plenty of time to get parked and where we needed to be. I will never forget the *sparkle* in Kyle's eyes when he saw Thomas pulling up to the train depot! It was such a sweet moment, that I will hold in my memory forever! He lit up inside, and while he was trying to not be too excited on the outside (he's a boy...gotta stay 'cool' when possible, right?)...I could tell that he was dancing on the inside! There he was, THE Thomas Train, chugging along with steam and all... and about to take us for a ride!
 |
| Our first glimpse of Thomas! |
We boarded a passenger car, that Thomas was "pulling", and went for a 25 minute ride down the track and back. Thomas wasn't really pulling the train...there was a diesel engine at the back that was pushing and pulling the train, in all reality. But, Thomas was puffing steam, and for all intensive purposes, he looked like he was pulling the train! =)
 |
| Front row view from the platform of Thomas pulling the passenger cars behind him! |
 |
| Here is Kyle in anticipation, right before the smile, as he saw Thomas coming in the above photo. |
 |
| "HI" Thomas! =) |
 | | |
| There he goes! Choo, Choo.... |
|
We got to do some other fun things during the day as well! We got to ride in the top of a Caboose, and Kyle really enjoyed that! Here are a few photos from the caboose ride.
 |
| Mommy and Kyle in the Caboose |
 |
| Hanging out the caboose window up top to "see what he could see" |
 |
| His eyes are so deep - old soul right there! ;o) |
We got to see a real steam engine, although not running...they are getting it ready to run it soon I think.
 |
| Steam Engine |
Kyle got to play with toy trains in a large tent with tracks and train cars galore! They had temporary tattoos, and Kyle choose "Diesel 10" as his. That one seems to be his favorite right now...even above Thomas it seems. ;o) We rode a street car around the museum, and got our photos taken with Thomas. It was such a wonderful event! We literally spent over 5 hours there! We all had a great time....especially Kyle! But
I sure had a great time watching Kyle's eyes dance with excitement all day long!
 |
| Kyle and Daddy |
 |
| Daddy, Kyle, & Mommy |
 |
| Kyle's Tattoo |
 |
| Riding the street car. |
 |
| Mommy & Kyle, waiting to have our photo taken with Thomas |
 |
| Thomas up close and personal |
 |
| Thomas is #1! |
