Awstin Day

Selfie!

This year I am doing something individually with each grandchild on or close to their birthday. Awstin's 3rd birthday was on the 12th so this past Wednesday we had a special Awstin day. I don't think he realized that it was because of his birthday that we did some different things than we normally do on his day with me, but that doesn't matter. We still had a great time together and it was rewarding to see him having so much fun.

I like to get a selfie with me and the birthday child before we start out on our day's adventure so we posed for the picture on the left. We had quite a few unsuccessful attempts before we succeeded. I love the way his tongue is sticking out in concentration as he was the one pushing the button to take the picture. Next we packed a picnic lunch and took it to the Martic Elementary School playground. We actually go there a lot on Wednesdays because it is a wonderful play area, but we never take food along. There is a place where you can sit up to a table on high metal stools and we always sit on them and pretend to eat food so it was special for him to actually have food along this time. I forgot to get the camera out until he was down to his dessert which was gummies. Here he is eating them.

Yummy Gummies!

From there we headed to the Choo-Choo barn. Awstin LOVES trains and I knew this was going to be a real treat for him. The Choo-Choo barn is a gigantic model train layout with 22 operating trains. Trains whiz around everywhere, over bridges and through tunnels. The only thing that Awstin doesn't like is loud noise so he has a pair of ear muffs that he wears when it is too noisy for him. He looked pretty adorable jumping all around in excitement with his bright orange ear muffs over his ears. I believe the typical stay in this place is around half an hour and we were there for one and a half hours and we only left then because I insisted. He never tired of it. Thankfully not many people were there so it was fine for him to run around. He kept going from one place to another to watch the trains and each time you would have thought he was seeing it for the first time.

Someone is a little excited :)

Riding Thomas

After leaving the Choo-Choo barn we drove around Strasburg Railroad and the Red Caboose motel. The train crosses over the road right at the motel and we were able to watch it a couple of times and wave at the people riding the Strasburg Railroad. That was the end of our day's adventure and we came back home happy and fulfilled.

Last Saturday, Steve and I took Shawn and Melissa and Jay and Kristen golfing while Josh and Julissa and Jeremy and Megan kept the grandkids (we had taken Josh and Julissa and Megan and Jeremy golfing several weeks ago). Afterward we were all back at the house and Shawn and Melissa brought a cake for Awstin. Here he is blowing out the candles.

Next birthday coming up: Alexis'!