Trains - A Holiday Tradition

We're headed on down the track...choo, choo!

For the past three years, we have taken the kids to the Trains at Northpark (TM), benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. It is an elaborate exhibit of model trains set up to mimic different locales in the USA. The first year we went, Max was very much into trains. We actually went several times that year. He was in absolute awe of the miniature engines and could have spent hours in there if had let him. All year, he kept asking when we could go back to see the trains. They are only displayed at Christmastime, so it was a long wait until the next year. After we went the second year, it has now become a family tradition to go see them! This year, amongst the chaos of the holidays, his birthday, the new baby, and planning for Christmas in New Jersey, I kinda forgot about the train exhibit. Plus, over the last year or so, I thought he had lost his keen interest in trains. But, to my surprise, about a week and a half before Christmas, he caught me off guard and asked when we were going to see the trains! So, that weekend, we headed down to Dallas and met my brother there.

This year, they changed it up a bit. It was a larger venue with lots more walking room. It is a very popular exhibit among the children and can get pretty congested. This year, they also had a little gift shop at the end (a parent's worst nightmare). Luckily, we were able to get out of there without a purchase.

It actually warmed my heart a little to see that even though Max doesn't seem to be into trains as much as Star Wars these days, he still gets excited to see those little engines chug chug along the tracks!