Alex's first train ride

For Alex’s 4th birthday, Aunt Betsy asked Alex what he wanted as a gift. Of course, Alex knowing that Aunt Betsy will give him just about anything he wants, told her that he would like to go on a real train. So on the Sunday after his birthday, Aunt Betsy, Drew, Lauren, myself, and Alex hopped on a real Amtrak train and took a hour train ride down to Red Wing, MN. He was SO excited. He just couldn’t believe how big it was or how “fast” it went. He was memorized. Lauren, on the other hand, was a bit feisty. We had to get the kids up early that day, so she was in an interesting form. It was early in the morning, so most people were resting in our train car. Once we started moving, Lauren starts singing (as most of you know – she is NOT quiet in anything she does), “Down by the station early in the morning…chug chug puff puff off we go.” It was hilarious and also made me want to get off the train as fast as we could! Then we rode on the tracks past the Mississippi River and the kids saw a few boats. Again, Lauren starts singing “Row row row your boat…” Too funny. In all seriousness though, we had brunch in Red Wing and then made the trek back home. Alex absolutely loved the train ride and it was a perfect birthday present for that little boy.