Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

We took a trip out to Strasburg Railroad to ride the train because Katie has been asking every day if she can go on a train since she went on the West Chester Railroad a couple of weeks ago. When we decided we'd go, the weather was beautiful and the forecast called for possible thunderstorms in the late afternoon. Well, here's my tip: Don't rely on the weather man! We got about 1/2 way there (around 11:30am, far off from "late afternoon") and this happened:

It seemed like the storm was lightening up and in the direction we were headed the sky looked clear, so...

The rain finally stopped but after seeing this we should have known more was on the horizon. They say cows lay down when rain is coming.
We finally got to the station and the weather looked like it was going to hold out and we'd get to enjoy a nice ride on the train.
We got our tickets and were ready to board our coach car.
But then the sky opened up again...
We made a dash for it and we finally got on the train. Here's Katie looking pretty wet and frazzled!
As they say though, the train must go on. Oh wait, that's the show, but you get my point! The conductor gave us the low-down on the history of the train before we took off.

Some of the beautiful scenery of the Amish landscape

Katie checking out the corn growing next to the tracks

Me taking a picture of...

Joseph taking a picture of me!

The locomotive had to switch to the back of the train so that it could become the front and we could head back to the station.

Katie relaxing with her milk AND water while we waited for the train to get going again.

Joseph calls this picture "Mini-Maddie"

These are my two favorite pictures from the trip.

Joseph's Train Pictures

Here's some of the pictures Joseph took of the Strasburg Railroad trains. No explanation necessary, they're just for your viewing pleasure! :-) I love the last one. It looks so old!

Red Caboose Motel

Ok, this is the coolest motel ever! Joseph and I decided when Katie is a little older and would appreciate it better, we are definitely staying there for a weekend! I have to admit, it didn't look like Marriott-esque accommodations but the cool factor of sleeping in a caboose makes it worth it!

Today's A Good Day For A Trip, CiCi!

Katie and Juli took their first train ride today and loved it. Well, Joseph reminded me they have been on the train in Magic Kingdom but I think this qualifies as the first ride because we sat in a passenger car and it was not at all like a ride at an amusement park. It was lots of fun though!

We rode the West Chester Railroad with Karen, Chris, Maddie, and Chris' mom Diane. There was supposed to be a flea market at the station but it was one measly table with stuff you couldn't even give away. Pretty funny!

Choo-Choo!

Maddie, Katie, and Juli in front of the train.

Standing there was totally freaking Katie and Juli out!

Juli enjoying the train ride as we moved slowly past the train yard.

Note the scoot away from the window once the speed picked up!
She did warm up to it and as we bounced along she told me "CiCi, this train is really dancing!"

Katie on the other hand loved looking out the window the whole time and didn't even want to turn around to smile for a picture.

Tree #1 - Uh oh! Debris on the track! It's just a little one though...

Chris, Maddie, Diane, Karen

Tree #2 - Umm, we might be here a while!
Actually, kudos to the guys cutting through the trees. They got everything cleared pretty quickly.
Thank god because let me tell you it got hot quick in that passenger car once we stopped moving!!!

The conductor gave the girls lollipops since they were so good while we had to wait for the tree to be cut off the tracks.
Here's Juli's aftermath...

On the ride back to the West Chester station, the girls read their Thomas books that they bought at the Glen Mills station.

Katie took this picture of Juli. She's such a talented photographer. Maybe Daddy can give her some lessons!

After the train ride, I drove the girls past West Chester University, since it was just around the corner, to show Katie and Juli where their Mommies went to school. Katie asked if me and Aunt Sandy were in the 'big kid's class', LOL. I stopped to take a picture of the building we lived in our first year and Katie said "if you want, I can go inside with you and take a picture of your old home." Aww, sweet offer but they were so tired and crabby (they were tired headed TO the train and never napped). Otherwise, I would've gotten out for a few minutes and walked around the campus a bit. Oh well, maybe next time...

Here's our old home
(taken on a drive by)

For more pics, check out Sandy's blog or Karen's Shutterfly pics (I'll have to add that link later.). Oh, and thanks to Juli for the title of this post, :-)

Waiting...

Tonight Katie and I met Aunt Karen at the train station in Croydon since she came up to stay at our house to go to work at the swim club tomorrow. Katie and I were over that way so I could get my dress for Chrissy and John's wedding to the seamstress in Bristol so Karen and I figured it'd work out best to meet there instead of near home. First we were waiting at the Bristol stop and Katie was completely impressed that Aunt Karen was coming on the train. Every time one passed she would get super excited and say "Maybe Karen is on THAT one!" We realized that Karen's train was running late so we were able to meet her in Croydon instead. It was good timing, as soon as we got there so did her train! :-)

Katie waiting patiently!
Ok, this waiting thing is getting old, but Aunt Karen is worth the wait!

After we picked Karen up, we decided to go to Georgine's for some chicken parm. YUMMY! On the way there, we drove past our (me, Mom, Dad) first house to show Katie where I lived when I was little. She loves to hear stories about "when I was her age" so I knew she'd enjoy this!

1002 Hillary Ave