Sleeping in, grassy movies and candle dreams.

I didn't set my alarm this morning because I'd been waking up so early with no trouble lately. However, A.J. knew that church started at 11am, and he came running into my room at 10:47 this morning, saying, "Mom, wake up! We'll miss church!"

I felt so bad. Of course, we did miss church then. Though I know that it's not important what you look like or what you wear, it still just wasn't enough time to make it. :-/

I raked up the last little bits of grass clumps in the yard yesterday, and at some point today I will need to go find yard bags for it. I've already got six green yard bins ready for trash day, and all the other ones I found at empty houses were full and therefore unusable. The yard looks so nice, though.

Afterwards, we ate a dinner of leftover grilled hotdogs. Man, there's just something really special about that grilled taste - it makes hot dogs (which I think are pretty glorious already) just taste unbelievable. Yum. Jack wanted to play on the computer then, so I logged him on to Playhouse Disney and he happily entertained himself for the next 2+ hours. A.J. and I snuggled in on the couch and watched Home on the Range together from my Netflix. It was very cute, and I'm glad we watched it together. We then played a few rounds of Jack's new game - Buckaroo. I love a kids' game that requires such little set-up, yet is such easy fun. :-)

I talked to my mom and dad for about 45 minutes then, catching the up on the past week, the birthday party and the train ride. Finally, I had to get off and get the boys in bed - it was late! Once they were sound asleep, I settled myself on the couch again with an ice cream float and watched The Hot Chick. I liked it a lot, but then I usually do like Rob Schneider's movies - heehee.

Philip and I chatted for a bit on Messenger, and then I had to fall into bed. I took candles with me to my room to let them continue to burn out, and it always makes for such a soothing night of sleep. Raspberry dreams - ahhhh. :-)

Train Ride!

I didn't tell the boys about our plans to ride the train until I was tucking them into bed at night after Jack's birthday party. They both just kept saying, "We're going on a train? A REAL train?" and didn't believe me. I think both of them were then up at the crack of dawn, ready to start choo-chooing. ;-)

Heather arrived at my house just after 11am, and she put the extra seats back in my van while I finished getting myself and the boys ready. Jack picked out one of his new birthday shirts from Heather to wear - the 'Medusa Jellyfish' one from Gymboree (tabbyfoo and lesliepear, I thought specifically of you both). We left the house just after 11:30, and then we headed into Omaha to pick AnnieMcFranniePants up. Then we started on our way! The drive was about an hour, and the kids - whether surprised by the addition of the middle seat or just finding themselves with nothing to say [which never happens] - were quiet the entire ride. Not a peep, and they didn't fall asleep, either - amazing! We arrived in Fremont, grabbed lunch at Runza and then went on to the train station. Heather went in and bought the tickets for us while we finished eating in the van.

About 1:15pm, it was time to board the train!


A.J. poses next to a great tree after the ride.

( All aboard! )