From Thomas to Pumpkins! What a Day!

We had quite a busy second day of the weekend. After getting up late from our fun night last night, we piled in the car, grabbed breakfast and headed to "A Day With Thomas" near the Casino Queen. The kids got to ride on a train pulled their favorite engine, Thomas the Train.



They loved the chance to have Thomas pull their double-decker passenger car. We all rode the rails for a short time as the tracks ran on the riverfront across from the arch. Then we were off to explore the grounds.

Nicolas and buddy Ryan check out the St. Louis skyline from our train car.

They both got a huge kick out of the "train wash". Yep, just a bunch of those pool noodles hung under a tent. There were tears when we made them leave this part! Would it be wrong to hit Walmart and hang a bunch of these in the basement for winter amusement? Maybe they sell them in "decorator" colors somewhere????

We also loved that they got to see cousin Kai there too! What a fun day!

A picture with a few of our other train friends, Thomas, Percy and James.

Then we were off to soccer practice at the Game. It was the first practice for indoor soccer. They had all the kids from both time periods meet at once this week so it was crowded! They wanted to watch all of them and divide them into two groups by ability for future class times. I guess outdoor soccer at the Y did help our little Nicolas out. Even through his shyness and playing the perimeter, he must have showed some ability because he was chosen in group "1" and is playing with the "older boys." He was pretty proud of himself and so were his mom and dad.

Sorry no pictures. Hard to get any good ones through that Plexiglas!

From there we were drove to South County and the home of the famous (to us) M & H Waterjet Company.

Our friend (and co-owner) Paul said it would be a special day carved out for fun and he was right! Even as tired as they were, the kids loved riding the cars in the warehouse parking lot, playing baseball and then getting to take some of the neatest carved pumpkins home for our front porch. Who said waterjets were only for cutting through glass, tile and metal. I think they do a great job with pumpkins too!

An up close look at the water jet "cutting" into the pumpkin and making Snow White.

Paul shows off our first pumpkin. Amazing that this was my pick... spiders! Me? The girl who is terrified of spiders? Wow!

Shawn's FIRST time of ever cleaning out the guts of a pumpkin. That was worth the price of admission right there!

Who knew Cinderella was beautiful even in orange! Lexi was so excited that her "favorite princess" was available to be carved into her pumpkin. I can't wait to take her picture in costume this week next to her pumpkin all lit by candle light.

Come back and check out Nicolas' favorite racer in pumpkin form on Wednesday! Unca' Paulie is making a pumpkin special for Nicolas tomorrow. He has to design it out for him. I guess the way to a boys heart is through his pumpkin carving. Thanks Paul!

What a great day (minus the dagger sized splinter Lexi got playing while the pumpkins got cut). Now they are both crashed out in bed and praying for a LONG night of sleep.