Thomas!!!: Coronavirus Week 75

Last week was a busy one!  We started it all off with a long, relaxing day at the pool and a hot dog party with Aunt Nancy! 

We also biked to the library to get the kids' rewards from the Summer Reading Program.

We also tossed in a visit to Great Grandma's on Tuesday, a funeral for Alex and I to attend on Wednesday while Oma came to our house to play with the kids, more practice with the chickens on Thursday and a whole lot of normal life stuff as well.  

Friday morning, we woke the kids extra early (before 6:30am), climbed into the van, handed them each a donut and headed East.  We met our friends and made a 2 hour drive to the Flint area for a surprise long awaited event - Thomas!!!  We were unable to attend last year as it was canceled due to Covid, but Elam had mentioned it many times in the past couple of years, so we were excited for him to discover our purpose.  His initial reaction was a lot less excitement than we expected, but as he was under scrutiny from everyone with us, it wasn't surprising.  

He soon found his excitement however!

Even though they were older, even the girls were happy to be there again, on this our family's 8th Day Out With Thomas event.

When it came our turn to ride with Thomas at just before 10am, Elam was ready to go!

Masks were required to ride, which was just fine with all of us, given the multitude of people and the Delta variant threat around us currently.

At 10, we were off!

We had a slight delay about 5 minutes into our ride, when the train suddenly came to a stop.  After our visit 2 years ago when another train ride just after ours broke down on the far side of the track for over an hour, we began to have a little concern.  However, in about 5 minutes, we were on our way again.

Elam loved the ride, but we were all glad to be released from the stuffy, hot train car and the ability to remove our masks for some fresh air.  Already a hot day, it continued to rise in temperature and humidity all day, so we were glad to have had our ride early in the morning.  We made our way to watch the magic show, which is always a highlight of our visit to CrossRoads Villlage.  Then, while lunches were being gathered from the vehicles, Becci and I took the kids to get their temporary tattoos and play in the bubbles!

Just as we were finishing with the bubbles, Alora got a bloody nose that continued to gush for nearly 20 minutes.  Just as Daddy went to see what the First Aid station might have to offer us, it began to slow and then finally stop, thankfully!

After lunch, Elam was anxious to watch Thomas leave the station so he could wave.

We watched him do this a couple more times during the afternoon, it was another highlight for Elam.

We also met up with Sir Topham Hatt.  This was the first time none of the kids were afraid!  Elam marched right up there and gave him a high five!  He was a bit concerned about Sir Topham's face, especially the holes in his eyes, but when I explained that it was not the real Sir Topham, but instead someone in a costume, things were just fine.

Everyone had a great, though hot, time at the village and with Thomas!!!

Mid afternoon, we left the village in search of another of Genessee County's parks, For Mar Nature Preserve.  There, we peered in the windows of a tree house and walked some shady trails.

We also spent a bit of time inside the Welcome Center, where the air was cool and there was a room full of things to learn and discover.

Later, we explored the butterfly house, watched some geese, and held down the cool grass while the kids read some comic books they got from the welcome center.

Our final stop of the day was Stepping Stone Falls, also nearby.  By then we were all so hot that had there been a safe/clean spot to get into the water, we all would have done it!

After our time at the falls, we headed back toward home, with a stop for Arby's and some time to eat at a nearby park before making the final long trip home.  It was a fantastic day full of fun and discoveries that passed by all too soon!

The fun didn't stop there, however!  Saturday morning, we were back at it, this time it was Mommy and the kids at Sandy Pines with Grandpa and Grandma.  We started our fun with a boat ride and some tubing from 11:30-1:00, joined by Grandpa & Grandma's neighbor's granddaughter.  Alora and Tierney rode on the tube first.

Ezri went with Faith

Then Mommy & Elam went out for a much slower, less bumpy ride.

A few times he wanted to be done, he definitely did not like going fast or bouncing, but he made it around one loop and then was happy to be back just riding on the boat, watching the girls.

Alora spent her time relaxing in the sun when she wasn't tubing.

Ezri and Alora went out together for a very fast and bouncy ride, which they loved!

Tierney and Faith, buddies now, chatted away as they watched.

As the lake got busier and the tummies hungrier, we tossed all the kids on the raft for a slow ride back down the channel.

After lunch, and for most of the rest of the day, the kids tried out, learned how and the mastered the art of kayaking.  Mommy went out with Ezri and Alora at first, but we found the other side of the channel was hot and full sun, so we stuck to the shade and the kids just paddled their hearts out.  Dinner, when Daddy joined us, only made them pause, and then they were back at it.  Tierney and Elam also got pretty good at meneuvering the kayak.  When they weren't in the boat watching from a comfortable seat, or kayaking, they were swimming in the channel.  

By 8:30, when we finally went home, they were fully saturated with lake water and happy as could be with dreams of returning soon to kayak more!  It was a great day with Grandpa & Grandma!