Happy Birthday Kyle!

We've reached the big day! Kyle is officially two years old!

We had such a fun morning.

Grammy came into town last night and spent the night with us. Then this morning, Grammy, Mommy, Daddy and Kyle piled into the van and went to pick up Grandma and cousin Nathan. We all drove out to Scottsdale to go to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.

The first thing the boys noticed when we started into the park was the big, black steam engine sitting there. We started to think that they might have been content to just stay by the big black train without ever going in to the rest of the park. But we finally managed to convince them to move on to other areas.

Next, we needed to get tickets for the carousel and the train ride. So, off we went to look for where we got tickets. We went by a gift shop and a general store, past the carousel and then saw the sign for buying tickets.

It was pretty cute. Inside, they had benches set up to look like an old fashion railway station waiting area. Kyle was sitting on the bench, waiting for his train.

Finally, it was time.

We headed over to the train and heard the "All aboard!" call. Kyle made sure that he repeated the call, just in case we weren't paying attention. He's very considerate that way.

So, off we went on the train ride. We were in the first car behind the engine, so the boys were a little startled (as were the adults) when the very loud train whistle blew.

Away we went, down the tracks. The boys loved riding on the train. We went past a playground where Nate waved to the people playing. Then, we went by a tunnel (but didn't go in, though Kyle would have loved that...he loves tunnels).

We went over bridges and around fields, through a train repair yard and back by the tunnel (but, once again, didn't go through). By this time, both boys were waving to people, cars, birds and just about anything they could see.

At the end of the train ride, as we pulled into the station, the train whistle blew again. And, again, startled everyone. The birthday boy didn't seem to like it that time. Out came the bottom lip and it was all he could do not to start crying. It took him a few minutes, but he finally shook it off.

After a visit to the playground, we headed over to the gift shop for some Thomas the Tank Engine parphenelia (imagine that) and then over to the General Store where we were told that there was a train table set up. Both boys loved

playing on the train table.

They would have been content to stay there for a while longer, but it was getting late and we still had to get them lunch and get them home for nap time.

All in all, it was a fun morning out. The boys had fun, it wasn't too hot (well, it was getting pretty warm by the time we left) and it was a really nice day at the park.

Who knows? Maybe if Kyle is still this interested in trains next year, we'll do his birthday party there!