Friday Photo Favorites

Warning: Lot of pictures of an adorable two-year old playing trains and making the most awesome sound effects.

Motor sound: Nope still after three boys I can't do it.

You know how you can't put on mascara with your mouth close, nor can one hook up trains with a closed mouth.    

It is this right here that makes me want to eat him up! 

Chubby little hands carefully, intention guiding his train. "Woooowooo" with such concentration that his body is now totally involved. 

"Uh-oh"

Getting on their level.

I could watch him all day playing. He undertakes his playing with the dutifulness one marches off to work with. It is his job!

Lately we have been hearing "Woooowooo" all over the house. We are all so thrilled to rediscover our well played with trains again.

Welcome to the Island of Sodor

The Island of Soder has been in our vocabulary now for 18 months and yet there is more wonder and awe to be discovered. Avery has begun to show interested in this magical land and is displaying advanced engineering skills for his age. The last two months he has master the skill of going up and down a single bridge and just recently has learned how to connect his train. He is currently working on pulling his train verses pushing. He has also learned a few tricks of the trade from PT.

After watching his brother closely he mastered proper train driving posture.

He is still working on the concentration tongue.

What you are witnessing here is train harmony constructed by PT with the guidance of Daddy.

Until next time...

Almost caught up...Trains and Dads

Paul Thomas and Avery wanted to show their Daddy just how special he is to them this past Father's Day. They did so with a train ride on the Texas Tarantula, running from Grapevine to Fort Worth!

Here's to you Daddy!

All Aboard!

Avery and his Daddy were a little bit less excited than PT.

The excitement of being on a real train was almost too much for his little body to handle.

Waving to the cars and watching "ding-dings" at work.

Hey Handsome!

Don't know if you can see the little dimple and the end of one of the biggest smiles ever.

Sharing a seat with buddy Daniel, times are always better spent with cousins.

Over the rickety old bridge.

That water is where we had our only causality...a phy was carried away to a better place.

That's it, right there! That smile is why the heat and a long day are all worth it. To watch your little one experience the wonder of a massive locomotive rolling into the station is simply divine.

For one quick quarter ride, we had a real cowboy on our hands.

Heading Home.

The view from the back.

Happy Fathers Day!

Start the count down....The Greats!

As we said good-bye to half of the MI crew, we loaded up the car and headed south with the other half to help Uncle Stephen relocate. We were blessed to spend time with so truly Great people, in formality and character. We visited with Great Aunt and Uncle (to the boys) and Great-Grandparents.

How many hands have conducted this train?

PT and Philip's cousin.

For one evening both boys got what they both want: a little brother and a big.

These two are sharing more than smiles!

In true two-year old fashion, he had to do everything in opposition to what we asked.

Avery delighted with Granddaddy's bird.

A picture of Greats!

Two Year Old Express

On May 30 we celebrated Paul Thomas' second birthday. We had aunts, uncles, and cousins help us celebrate, along with the commuter train, the Trinity River Express. Here are some very belated pictures from our day.

Two of the quickest years wrapped up in this little boy.

Heading to the station.

Somebody tell those guys they have babies on the track!

We had to wake up PT to go to the train.

Here it comes!

Okay I'm here...

WhooHooo the excitement builds!

Daniel was not too sure if this was an age appropriate activity.

There she be! The TRE!

Aww come on Uncle Ash, it's not that bad... a bit anti-climatic if you are taller than 4ft.

Checking things out.

Luci and her Momma are too cute .

It took awhile for PT to warm up...after a few "ding-ding" sightings he was great.

Paparazzi #1


Paparazzi #2
Hey here are those cutie-pies from earlier.

Yes, Avery came along and was as happy as ever.

Look at the beautiful urban scenery.

The idea was to all pull the poppers at the same time and surprise the kids...Mere and Jen struggled with their strings, Peter and Jer are clueless and are striking great poses. Philip and Ash are wondering why Mere and Jen are having such difficulties (really its quite simple, girls). This picture is great...it was a lot like the train ride.