9-22, Georgetown Loop Railroad

SO CLOSE to getting my new lens.  I was on the website, googling reviews and getting ready to "add the item to my cart".....and then.....the riding lawn mower died.  Yes, died.  Not privately in the backyard, but on display down by the mailbox in the front yard.  And not a day later, it died at that very moment.  S*I*G*H.....I guess the lens will have to wait....more.   On the flip side, Sven has a bright and shiny, new-to-us John Deere that he's proud to show off to the neighbors.  Ha!  So, I guess if you all can stand more less-than-tack-sharp images, I guess I will have to as well.  See, I had to preface this post with the whole "I want a new lens"/"We NEED a new mower" story, because I took one of my lesser used zooms on our recent trip into the mountains.  I thought maybe, just maybe I'd learn to love it more.  Umm...no....I love it even lens.  HA!  I didn't even mean to say that....yep, I love it even less.  Oh, well.  I know my time will come and I suppose the wait will make it that much sweeter.

Over the past few months, Sven has slowly been moving to a closer-to-normal work week.  We're not there yet, in fact I don't think we'll ever be "there", but it's a vast improvement over the consistent shift work he's been doing for 2.5 years.  We've actually gotten to spend time together with him as a family for more than one weekend in a row!  How about that?!  This last weekend we spent a day up in Georgetown in the mountains.  Sven's friends had recommended the train ride.  We've discovered another military perk:  free passes to military and dependents.  Hot dog!  We had a nice drive to the mountains, a nice lunch, a nice train ride and a hellish ride home (2 overstimulated children who each want something different restrained in an automobile stuck in mountain traffic = grief for parents........really, I should have taken a video of Emalie's complete meltdown-- streaming tears and all---- "Watch ELMO!  Emalie like Elmo.  WATCH ELMO!!!).  But, we survived and lived to blog about it.........

"Engine #9"

Emalie was so scared of the train whistle.  Here she is clinging to Sven while we wait to board.

Nikolas always knows how to get her to smile.

Sitting in the open railroad car.

If Emalie wasn't scared while we were waiting to board, she was absolutely petrified now.   She hated the whistle and clung tighter every time it sounded.

We've arrived at the next little town up the mountain and were waiting for the train to pull out again.  I think Nikolas is almost asleep- he had a late night fishing with a friend the night before.

Remember the traffic I mentioned in the intro?  At one time they joked that we, on the train, were going faster than the traffic on the interstate.  Gulp....the interstate we have to take back home.

And just like that she was having the time of her life.  Kids!

"Freight Car 1150"

"Parlor Car"

"Devil's Gate High Bridge"

After the train ride, we drove into town to take a look around and get some tea. Georgetown is so quaint!   The main street reminds me of Hamilton in a lot of ways.

"Georgetown Bench"

"Georgetown Planters"

 And to think.....as I type this, it's snowing up there now!  Whew.  That was a close one!

9-13, Emalie Missing Nik

A few weeks ago, Nikolas was gone for 3 days and 2 nights for a class field trip to the mountains.  This "Outdoor Ed" outing was his first time away from home (other than a sleepover here and there over the years).  Nikolas handled his time away from home better than the rest of us.  I'd say Emalie fared the worst....with mom a close second.  By mid-afternoon of day one, the house already felt too quiet.  Nikolas had been worried about Emalie missing him, and boy was he right.  By the morning of the third day, she refused to take off his night shirt.  (I never thought I'd have to use a 'parenting trick' for a sibling situation!)  The stress of his trip was made even worse because it was during the time of the heavy rains and flooding here in Colorado.... a time when you want your loved ones near because other families were experiencing such devastation.  By the time Nikolas made it home (a long trip home with all the road closures), we were so relieved to have him back where he belongs.  I guess getting what you want (ie, a quiet house) isn't always what you want after all!

Nikolas' 'love note' (as one friend commented) for Emalie....
who can't read.  Too cute.

"Rain, rain go away....WHERE IS NIKOLAS?!"

"No, Mom....I don't want to look at you."

"Fine.  I'm looking at you.  Are you happy?
I'm not!!"

 And in case you were wondering, Nikolas DID have a great time on his trip!