Kidlet Day Out with Thomas (the Tank Engine)
Eating first strawberries from the garden!
Also, our across-the-street diner gave me three extra sausage links with my carryout. Mmmmm-tasty.
Grafton's also been doing all sorts of painting and touch-up work around the house, which is awesome.
I was entering some books into Kidlet's LibraryThing account, and he's up to 50 now! And that's not even counting those I sent his way before I started cataloging them, or those I'm still sorting and cataloging at my house! I also still need to add all the Audible books I've picked up, too. (to both his and my library, actually)
Yesterday was a Chad and Kidlet day. We went to see Day Out With Thomas at Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Kidlet had a grand time, which was the important part, but here's my grown-up's perspective anyway (since it's a nationally traveling show it seems worth writing a review):
FWIW, it was $18/head (actually more thanks to Ticketmaster). I'm moderately familiar with CVSR from taking my Mom on one of their tours earlier this year (thanks to Erin's rec). It was about an hour and a half round-trip train ride through some gorgeous forest and marshland in the park system.
I'd expected this would be similar, or that they'd have the special real actual steam engine out. They didn't have the real steam engine out, which was a bit of a bummer, and it was only a 25 minute ride. (it did clarify all this on the site; I was only half-aware of what it was about since Chad was making the arrangements and I just saw the confirmation email). I get why they did the shorter ride for kids, but I was looking forward to a nice relaxed trip where we could look at neat nature stuff together, and there just wasn't enough opportunity for that, nor did we make it far enough down the track to see most of the loveliest areas. We should definitely go back down for one of the regular trips with him.
We did get to walk right along-side the train down to our car, though, which was a fun chance to look up close at the wheels and various mechanisms, so we talked to Kidlet about that. And the faux-engine Thomas was cute, and Kidlet was all excited about him, so that was good (even if Thomas was actually trailing behind us instead of leading the train for most of the trip). Decorations in the cars were definitely lackluster, though. A few small Thomas posters, some crepe streamers and a few balloons on the ceiling. I was hoping they might do something a bit more immersive and performative. Not even theme music?
The rest of the event was kind of odd and surprising in several ways. First of all, absolutely no food or beverage vendors. At all. With a captive audience in the middle of nowhere? Seriously? Wow. This was more than a bit of a bummer for us, since we were in a hurry to get there in time, and were kind of counting on finding food there (thankfully Kidlet apparently likes Triscuits and Craisins, since that's all I had in my bag at the time). On the other hand, they really didn't seem interested in nickel-and-diming us to death. I was really impressed that the bouncy castle and slide were free with admission, as were the temporary tattoos and megablock playspace. We escaped having only spend extra cash on one overpriced souvenir for Kidlet (a set of three Thomas and Friends squirty engines for the bathtub for a ridiculous $17).
Anyway, what it comes down to in my opinion is that it's a good way to spend a few hours if your kiddo is into Thomas, but it's not so amazing that it's Must See/Regret Forever If You Don't territory. Also, bring your own food and beverages! And sunscreen!
Also, our across-the-street diner gave me three extra sausage links with my carryout. Mmmmm-tasty.
Grafton's also been doing all sorts of painting and touch-up work around the house, which is awesome.
I was entering some books into Kidlet's LibraryThing account, and he's up to 50 now! And that's not even counting those I sent his way before I started cataloging them, or those I'm still sorting and cataloging at my house! I also still need to add all the Audible books I've picked up, too. (to both his and my library, actually)
Yesterday was a Chad and Kidlet day. We went to see Day Out With Thomas at Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Kidlet had a grand time, which was the important part, but here's my grown-up's perspective anyway (since it's a nationally traveling show it seems worth writing a review):
FWIW, it was $18/head (actually more thanks to Ticketmaster). I'm moderately familiar with CVSR from taking my Mom on one of their tours earlier this year (thanks to Erin's rec). It was about an hour and a half round-trip train ride through some gorgeous forest and marshland in the park system.
I'd expected this would be similar, or that they'd have the special real actual steam engine out. They didn't have the real steam engine out, which was a bit of a bummer, and it was only a 25 minute ride. (it did clarify all this on the site; I was only half-aware of what it was about since Chad was making the arrangements and I just saw the confirmation email). I get why they did the shorter ride for kids, but I was looking forward to a nice relaxed trip where we could look at neat nature stuff together, and there just wasn't enough opportunity for that, nor did we make it far enough down the track to see most of the loveliest areas. We should definitely go back down for one of the regular trips with him.
We did get to walk right along-side the train down to our car, though, which was a fun chance to look up close at the wheels and various mechanisms, so we talked to Kidlet about that. And the faux-engine Thomas was cute, and Kidlet was all excited about him, so that was good (even if Thomas was actually trailing behind us instead of leading the train for most of the trip). Decorations in the cars were definitely lackluster, though. A few small Thomas posters, some crepe streamers and a few balloons on the ceiling. I was hoping they might do something a bit more immersive and performative. Not even theme music?
The rest of the event was kind of odd and surprising in several ways. First of all, absolutely no food or beverage vendors. At all. With a captive audience in the middle of nowhere? Seriously? Wow. This was more than a bit of a bummer for us, since we were in a hurry to get there in time, and were kind of counting on finding food there (thankfully Kidlet apparently likes Triscuits and Craisins, since that's all I had in my bag at the time). On the other hand, they really didn't seem interested in nickel-and-diming us to death. I was really impressed that the bouncy castle and slide were free with admission, as were the temporary tattoos and megablock playspace. We escaped having only spend extra cash on one overpriced souvenir for Kidlet (a set of three Thomas and Friends squirty engines for the bathtub for a ridiculous $17).
Anyway, what it comes down to in my opinion is that it's a good way to spend a few hours if your kiddo is into Thomas, but it's not so amazing that it's Must See/Regret Forever If You Don't territory. Also, bring your own food and beverages! And sunscreen!