Day Out Thomas aka Our Day Out with Bad Luck

So to continue yesterday's post, we took the kids to Day Out with Thomas on Sunday. Both of my kids are OBSESSED with Thomas. Obsessed.  Brady's been a Thomas freak since he was about 1 and since Brady loves Thomas, so does Layla.  I've been looking to take them to day out with thomas for a couple years now but they don't have any close to Omaha at all . I happened to see that they had one in Calera, AL while we'd be here so I ordered tickets right away.  We didn't tell the kids what we were doing and called it our big surprise.

Leaving the apartment with their Thomas shirts on. Brady's excited and Layla just wants to be left alone to eat her breakfast.  

The trip started out innocent enough until about 20 minutes into our hour and ten minute drive our low tire pressure alert came on.  Brian thought ehh it's probably nothing but I encouraged him to pull over to a gas station to check it out.  He read the tire pressures, saw that one tire was a little low, filled it up, and was ready to get back on the road.  I went over to the tire because I had a bad feeling and yep, found a huge screw in it.  So we go over our options.  See we had tickets for a 12:00 train ride on Thomas and at this point it is almost 10:30.  We decide to jump back in the car, ride back down to Montgomery, put all of stuff and us in Brian's car, and race like mad up to Calera.  But of course it's spring break season on a Sunday and everyone and their mother is traveling north on 65 from the ocean.  And then Brady starts crying that his tummy hurts.  Sigh.

I hate that feeling of being rushed so much and we just watched the minutes tick closer and closer to noon. I called the ticket office and they said they could "probably" get us on another train ride. We pull up at 11:58, run our butts to the ticket office as we heard the train pulling away. Luckily the kids didn't know what was going on (they were just thrilled to see Thomas) and they graciously got us on the 12:45 train.

Yay we made it!

They had a ton of things set up for the kids to do. Number 1 on mommy's list: get a picture taken of them in their matching shirts.

Layla's plan of action: find the messiest thing possible and get as dirty as possible. 

And of course their were loads and loads of trains to play with

And tunnels to get our arms stuck in. "HEEEYLP! HEEEYLP!!" She has a southern help call now.

And bounce houses!

If you want some birth control, go to a Thomas festival. Tons of whiny, tantrum-y, toddlers and preschoolers.  We felt right at home.

And then there was the "Meet Sir Topham Hat" exhibit that we just had to do.  Brady is sitting on a bench far away, crying. And Layla was clinging to Brian as tightly as she could. Sir Topham Hat was confused. Brian was having fun rocking Layla's pink backpack. Love that man.  Why our children are so deathly afraid of characters, I will never know.

This was the best we could get.

Probably because they were expecting this Sir Topham Hat.

After getting pictures taken we get ready to go to the loading dock to catch our train. But then Brady HAS to pee.  We get out of the bathrooms and hear the train whistle blowing.

We missed another mother bleeping train.  Bye Thomas!!  I walked back into the ticket office hanging my head. "We missed another train. Today is not our day. Any possible way we could get on another one? It's the last time I ask, I promise."  Luckily people here are nice, took pity on my poor Yankee self, and got us on the 1:30 train.

So we ate some lunch.

And jammed out to the Thomas music that was playing constantly.

Brian did too. Is it bad that we knew every single song?

After lunch, no messing around. We got in line and waited until Thomas pulled up because we were not going to missing another freaking train.

Waiting in line to ride Thomas!

We had reservations for the really cool open air part but by this point we were on a train and I didn't care if we were riding on the wheels. We were on the train.

Can't give the camera eye contact for anything but that was the look of pure joy!

Layla was tired/scared of the monsters. Brian enjoyed the snuggles yet again.

Day Out with Thomas!!

Apparently my children haven't seen sunshine in awhile.

After the train, more activities that included shoveling sand and bubbles.

And a maze. We did the Thomas maze at least 8 times.

So Thomas, even though not everything went to plan

you were still pretty neat.

And my children were out the second the car pulled out.

I wasn't paid to endorse Day Out with Thomas but if you have a train lover and it comes to your area, check it out. It really is neat and the kids really did love it. It's all they've been talking about today! :)